1. Identity over obligation
Junto joined the family business out of love and duty during a deeply emotional time, but eventually realized he had to return to who he truly was: a creative, people-centered person.
February 12, 2026
Junto Nozawa '02 on Resilience
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Summary
Key Takeaways
2. Every environment teaches you something
Whether it was managing 420 factory workers in China, negotiating with gangsters, or scouting factories across Southeast Asia, every chapter built skills he never could have gotten from a single career track.
3. Family businesses are real businesses
The emotional weight of family expectations doesn't remove the hard realities of operations, labor law, politics, and market forces. He had to navigate all of it simultaneously.
4. Starting over is not failure
After leaving the business and facing months of job rejections during COVID, Junto kept going — driven by the support of his wife and a quiet, unshakeable passion for design and technology.
5. The people beside you matter most
His wife Sandy's unwavering encouragement during his lowest point was what kept him moving forward.
"We only have one life. I did my best for them, I did it with no regrets. But it's okay to leave. It's okay to start over. There's always a light at the end of the tunnel."
— Junto Nozawa
Reflection Prompt
Is there something you've been holding onto out of obligation that might be pulling you away from who you truly are?
Next Gathering
Join us for dinner, inspiring stories, and warm connections as we welcome new Hong Kong families into the Babson community.
Jun
11
Invitation
Babson Summer Reception 2026
Spend an evening with the Babson Hong Kong community on June 11, 2026 (Thursday), featuring Fred Kiang '70, MBA'75, H'19 and James Hung MBA'71, P'99 '01.