Mr. Yogendra Puranik is a pioneering figure in governance, education, and technology with a legacy of breaking barriers and redefining cross-cultural leadership. He made history in Japan as the first Indian- and Asian-origin Assemblyman elected through general elections, marking a major milestone for representation and inclusion in Japanese public life.With a career spanning over 27 years, Mr. Puranik brings a rare combination of technical acumen, strategic insight, and multicultural fluency. He is also Japan’s first Indian-origin Gazetted Civil Services Officer (GM rank) and the first foreign-origin Public School Principal, further cementing his reputation as a transformative leader in both governance and education. Currently leading the Edu-DX team in the Government of Japan, he focuses on leveraging digital tools to reform the education system for future generations. His career has spanned diverse industries including IT, retail, banking, finance, insurance, manufacturing, and supply chain management, with a deep understanding of Japanese society, systems, and markets.