Alumni Profiles
Jacob Searing
MPIA '05
Jacob Searing is a managing director at Eigo Pro LLC, providing leadership and management training to Japanese people interested in studying in California. Eigo Pro operates in partnership with the IR/PS Global Leadership Institute, escorting Japanese students and professionals to the United States, making him a valuable part of the School's international presence.
Jacob's first application to IR/PS in 1999 was rejected due to a lack of foreign language skills, no international experience, slightly higher than average undergraduate grades, and a dismal GRE score. One thing his resume did not include was his tenacity. After being rejected for admission, Jacob moved to Japan for a year and taught English while teaching himself Japanese. Reapplying to IR/PS, he was rejected once more. Stubborn by nature, he studied diligently for the GRE and went back to Japan to study Japanese full-time. In Japan, he volunteered with the local branch of the UN Habitat in Fukuoka and was hired on contract. He applied to IR/PS for the third time, and this time he was accepted.
Jacob's regional concentration at IR/PS was Japan, and, after completing his first year of studies, he served as an intern in Tokyo at Industrial Bank of Japan Leasing for a year. Upon his return to IR/PS, Jacob was selected for the IR/PS award for language achievement.
After graduating from IR/PS, Jacob went to work for Rabobank International in Tokyo, where he served as the head of Operational Risk Management. He has spoken as an authority in the area of operational risk both independently and in panel discussions at the Asia Operational Risk Symposium in Singapore.
Jacob is currently the president of the IR/PS and UC San Diego alumni chapters in Japan, and a member of the IR/PS alumni board.
