UNIQLO‘s global strategy was highlighted in a guest lecture by SBM ITB, featuring Mayank Shukla, Principal Strategist at the CEO Office of Fast Retailing Co., Ltd., on Wednesday (November 12). The event also formalized the strategic partnership between Fast Retailing, owner of the UNIQLO and GU brands, and SBM ITB.
Shukla outlined the foundation of UNIQLO’s strategy, which stems from the principle of “Changing clothes, changing conventional wisdom, changing the world.” He detailed the three main pillars underpinning the company.
The first pillar is reflection and communication. UNIQLO’s success, Shukla said, rests on the ability to understand its brand identity and consistently communicate its core values to customers worldwide.
The second pillar focuses on strengthening its business format to be competitive in the global market. Shukla explained UNIQLO’s transformation from a traditional retailer to an information-based manufacturing-retail company. This approach includes a circular model that emphasizes sustainability, from creation to extending the lifespan of LifeWear products.
The third pillar is the instillation of uniform values across countries. Shukla introduced the “Global One, Zenin-Keiei” philosophy, which encourages all employees, from store staff to executives, to think like business leaders and be active in the company’s transformation.
In a question-and-answer session, Shukla emphasized UNIQLO’s long-term commitment to sustainability.
“Globally, we have clear targets and publicize our progress, while locally, our marketing adapts to community needs,” he said.
He considered in-store communication to be the most effective channel to demonstrate this commitment, including recycling programs and community initiatives.
This guest lecture served as a prelude to the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoA) between Fast Retailing and SBM ITB. The agreement opens a global leadership internship program for SBM ITB MBA students at Fast Retailing’s headquarters in Japan.
The Dean of SBM ITB, Aurik Gustomo, called the MoA a significant milestone.
“This symbolizes our commitment to nurturing talent and developing leadership through collaboration between academia and industry,” he said.
Noriaki Koyama, Senior Group Executive Officer of Fast Retailing, emphasized the global significance of this partnership.
“This is the first time Fast Retailing headquarters established a direct agreement with ITB. We believe this collaboration can create a meaningful experience for students,” he said.
This partnership has already been put into immediate action. Two MBA students from SBM ITB, Angel Permata Jauhari (Young Professional 70 – Bandung) and Marchyani Levina (ENTREE 27 – Jakarta), started their internship at Fast Retailing’s headquarters in Tokyo since November 10, 2025. Both are directly involved in real-world projects while receiving guidance from the company’s global leadership team.
The event marked the beginning of a long-term collaboration aimed at enriching students’ learning experiences and support the development of globally minded business leaders.
