Profile

Lin Kobayashi is a Co-founder and Chair of the Board of UWC ISAK Japan (formerly known as ISAK), a residential high school that opened in Karuizawa, Nagano in 2014. The mission of UWC ISAK Japan is to nurture transformational leaders who explore new frontiers and make a positive impact today and in the future. UWC is an international education organization founded in 1962 which aims to make education a force to unite people, nations and cultures and prides itself in deliberate diverse student body through working closely with national committees in more than 160 countries and territories worldwide.

Prior to UWC ISAK Japan, Lin had worked for UNICEF in the Philippines, where she conducted non-formal education projects for street children. She holds an MA in Education from Stanford University and a BA from the University of Tokyo. She was selected as “Young Global Leader” by the World Economic Forum in 2012, “Change-maker of the Year 2013” by Nikkei Business, “Woman of the Year 2015” by Nikkei Woman, “Vale Greenberg World Fellow 2017”, “EV Entrepreneur of The Year 2019 Japan” and “Veuve Clicquot Bold Woman Award”. Lin also serves on the board of Asia Pacific Initiative since 2018, Japan Advisory Board for World Economic Forum since 2019, and UWC International Board since 2020.