Registration is closed for this event

Ms. Yumi An King

Intelligence with a Face:
Storytelling and the Rise of Human-Centric Virtual Humans from Japan

Tuesday, October 28, 2025 | 12:50 – 1:50 PM (Lunch will be provided) 
Room 440, Geffen Hall, Columbia Business School (map)
(645 West 130th Street, New York, NY 10027)

Notes: This event is limited to current Columbia University ID holders, Columbia alums, and CJEB affiliates, and is part of CJEB’s Japanese Management Leadership Program.

Featuring:

Yumi An King

Executive Director, Aww Inc.


Moderator:
Dr. Yumiko Shimabukuro
Faculty, School of International and Public Affairs, Columbia University; Co-Founder, Japanese Management Leadership Program, CJEB

What you'll learn:

  • How Aww Inc.’s Virtual Humans have shaped culture, built fandoms, and powered Japanese and global brand campaigns
  • Why Asia leads the way in virtual IP adoption and acceptance
  • The next frontier: AI agents with human-like faces? Opportunities, risks, and questions of trust

Biography:

Yumi A King, known as “An” in her community, is a creative executive at the forefront of storytelling, technology, and cultural innovation. Based in Tokyo, she is a multicultural entrepreneur and creative director recognized for her expertise at the intersection of arts and culture, technology, and emotional resonance.

She began her career in film before co-founding Aww Inc. in her twenties, where she now serves as Executive Director. Under her leadership, Aww has become a global pioneer in emotionally impactful digital storytelling, best known for creating imma, Asia’s first virtual human. The company has forged pioneering partnerships with NVIDIA, Epic Games, and Microsoft, continually redefining the possibilities of digital transformation.

Over the last decade, Yumi has spearheaded collaborations with more than 100 global brands, including Disney, Porsche, BMW, Coach/Tapestry, Amazon, Nike, Meta, and Unilever. Her culturally insightful, technology-driven campaigns have been covered by over 3,000 international media outlets and featured in Forbes, Bloomberg, ABC News, and TED.

Beyond commercial work, she engages with contemporary art and music, collaborating with Gallery Perrotin, Lincoln Center, Sophie Calle, and Kelsey Lu. A 40 Under 40 nominee, Yumi is a dedicated advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion across the creative and tech industries.

Admission and Contact: 

You must register to attend this event in person.

Special Notes:

● This event is limited to current Columbia University ID holders, Columbia alums, and CJEB affiliates, and is part of CJEB’s Japanese Management Leadership Program.

● This in-person-only event will not be livestreamed.

● Please be advised that this event may be photographed, so your image may appear on our website later. If this is an issue, please let us know.

● Please bring a government-issued ID or Columbia University ID to access Columbia Business School

If you have questions about the event, please contact us at cjeb@gsb.columbia.edu. 

When
October 28th, 2025 from 12:50 PM to  1:50 PM
Location
645 West 130th Street
Geffen Hall, Room 440
New York, NY 10027
United States

CENTER ON JAPANESE ECONOMY AND BUSINESS (CJEB)

Established at Columbia Business School in 1986 under the direction of its founder, Professor Hugh Patrick, and led currently by its director, Professor David E. Weinstein, the Center on Japanese Economy and Business (CJEB) promotes knowledge and understanding of Japanese business and economics in an international context. CJEB is a research organization widely recognized for its vigorous research activities, international symposia, conferences, and lectures, held in New York City and Tokyo, which provide prominent speakers from the public and private sectors a forum for collaboration and reflection on Japan, the United States, and the global economy. For more information, visit business.columbia.edu/cjeb.