Wilson Learning Signs Letter of Intent with Thunderbird School of Global Management for Joint Program Development

Wilson Learning Worldwide Inc. has announced the execution of a Letter of Intent (LOI) with Arizona State University, including the Thunderbird School of Global Management, to jointly explore the development of advanced executive and leadership learning programs. 

The LOI, signed on November 21, 2025, strengthens Wilson Learning’s long-standing commitment to preparing leaders for a rapidly changing global marketplace and reflects the Company’s expansion of its growth accelerators—Education, Technology, and Consulting. The collaboration is intended to bring together Thunderbird’s globally recognized management education and Wilson Learning’s deep expertise in leadership and sales development to create forward-looking learning experiences for organizations across Japan, North America, and Asia. 

“This collaboration signals the next chapter of how we help organizations learn and perform,” said David Yesford, President of Wilson Learning Corporation. “Learning has always been our foundation. Now, by bringing together Education, Technology, and Consulting in new ways, we can accelerate impact for our clients and create powerful pathways for developing leaders around the world.” 

A Shared Commitment to Advancing Global Leadership 

The partnership will explore a wide range of jointly developed initiatives, including short-form executive programs, hybrid delivery models (online and in-person), and credential-based offerings designed for senior leaders and global talent. 

According to Lawrence Abeln, Deputy Dean and Professor of Global Management, Thunderbird School of Global Management, Arizona State University, “We are delighted to collaborate with the Wilson Learning Worldwide team to deliver world-class executive education programs in 2026. Through this partnership, we will provide stimulating and innovative programs to many markets and support learning and talent development within organizations in Japan and around the world. It was a great honor to visit Japan and Tokyo and to celebrate together the memorable 60th anniversary of Wilson’s founding.” 

Reflecting on the significance of the collaboration, Masakuni Negishi, President and Representative Director of Wilson Learning Worldwide Inc., emphasized that “We are very pleased to have entered into this LOI with ASU/Thunderbird toward collaboration in the field of executive education. By combining the expertise in sales and leadership development that our company has cultivated over many years with world-class global management education, we will create ‘learning environments for next-generation leaders’ that support the sustainable growth of companies in Japan and across Asia. We believe that taking on this new challenge at the milestone of our 60th anniversary is a symbolic initiative that will lead us into our next stage of growth.” 

 What This Means for Organizations 

Through this collaboration, Wilson Learning aims to provide advanced learning pathways that go beyond conventional in-house training, enabling clients to build sustainable leadership capability and strengthen long-term performance outcomes. Future joint programs are expected to support mid- to long-term talent strategies across corporate sectors and geographies. 

Over time, the partnership also aims to establish a broader global learning ecosystem—connecting organizational development efforts with higher education, credentialing, and alumni-based communities. 

”Wilson Learning—Improving Performance Through People  

Wilson Learning Worldwide is a global leader in human performance improvement solutions for Global 2000, Fortune 500, and emerging organizations worldwide. Serving clients for about 60 years in 50 countries and incorporating 30 languages, the company creates synergy between people and business strategies through an extensive range of world-class sales, leadership, and individual effectiveness solutions.  

Wilson Learning is committed to aligning solutions with clients’ priorities to increase performance impact and drive business results.  

More information about Wilson Learning is available online at WilsonLearning.com or by calling 1.800.328.7937.  

Thunderbird School of Global Management 

For nearly 80 years, Thunderbird School of Global Management at Arizona State University has cultivated visionary leaders who harness innovation and a global digital mindset to shape the organizations of the future. Committed to transforming leadership and management education, Thunderbird empowers professionals to drive sustainable prosperity in an increasingly interconnected world. As the premier institution for global leadership and management education, Thunderbird is more than just a school—it is a dynamic international network of leaders, managers, entrepreneurs, and intrapreneurs spanning both the private and public sectors.