Nao Matsukata is a formally trained historian who has advised senior government, corporate, and non-profit leaders for over three decades. Concurrent with his private and public sector work, Matsukata taught at Harvard University and has been an adjunct professor at the School for Advanced International Studies, Johns Hopkins University, for over 25 years. 

Matsukata’s private sector work includes Senior Vice President for External Affairs with a global pharmaceutical producer, Chief Executive Officer for a boutique digital advisory firm, and Leader of practice groups at two leading law firms. His public sector work includes Policy Planning Director for the United States Trade Representative, Senior Advisor to a U.S. Vice Presidential Candidate, and Senior Advisor to a U.S. Senator. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.

Matsukata’s writings have appeared in the Washington Post, the Financial Times, the Wall Street Journal, the Wall Street Journal Europe, CNN.com, The Hill, the Asahi Shimbun, the Yomiuri Shimbun, and other major Asian and European publications. In addition, he has appeared on major cable financial networks and radio with National Public Radio. He received his Ph.D. in history from Harvard University.

In Matsukata’s own words:

I served as a senior advisor to Democrats and Republicans, a U.S. Senator, a U.S. Cabinet Member, and a U.S. Vice Presidential candidate because I believed in governance over politics. Read here that we must hold our political leaders accountable.

I served as a senior U.S. trade official, negotiating agreements with our foreign partners and promoting collaboration with the U.S. Congress. Read here that I believe preserving our national interest is the responsibility of both the Congress and the White House.

I joined a global generic pharmaceutical maker as a Senior Vice President because I believed access to medicines in Africa to fight the AIDS epidemic was important. Read here that I saw the same during the early days of COVID.

I taught undergraduates and graduate students at Harvard University and Johns Hopkins for over 25 years because I believed that inspiring intellectual confidence was a key to happiness and professional success. Read here that we should reward hard work.

I have contributed numerous pieces to major news organizations because we all win when many different views are represented in our media. Read here that we must have an open dialogue with the press.