Staff Interview with Jiro Leal Yanome

Get to know Immerse Education's staff!

Jiro Leal Yanome
Jiro Leal YanomeInterviewed in 2022

Jiro, though born and raised in Mexico, is British citizen and a proud father of a 18 month old daughter. Jiro is a qualified English teacher. He loves working in education and is living proof of the transformational power of educational experiences.

What inspired you to work for Immerse Education?

I believe that educational experiences can have a profound and long lasting effect on individuals and it can go on to shape their lives. This is what happened to me growing up and I can see how the programmes offered by Immerse will change young people's lives. I've always felt very strongly about believing in what I do and that comes easily at Immerse.

Why do you do what you do?

I really enjoy speaking with people from different parts of the world and I especially enjoy sharing in the excitement that participants and their families feel when they enroll on one of our programmes. It is a fantastic experience to go through the process with them and then be able to hear their thoughts and results when they finish the courses.

Three people on skis

Learning to ski in the Kazakh alps with colleagues

What is your favorite part of your job?

I love interacting with people from all around the world. This sharing of cultures, however brief it may be, makes everyone a more empathetic and understanding person. Meeting new people who may not share your point of view will always make you take a step back and reassess your own thoughts and opinions. This can only help you grow as a person.

What advice would you tell your pre-travel self?

Don't worry about every detail or not having everything planned, some of the best experiences you will have will come spontaneously. Sometimes when you plan every detail, you can miss out on the most enriching and memorable things about a place. Talk to everyone you encounter and most importantly, thank them for sharing.

Eating together on a Immerse Education course

End of course meal with Russian and Kazakh students

Why should someone choose Immerse Education over competitors?

Every company will say that their customers are at the heart of what they do and many of them will definitely have this in mind in their decision making process. However, I have seen many companies where customers quickly turn into numbers. At Immerse, there is a genuine passion to provide transformational experiences to our participants and we will try to make each participant's experience as unique as possible.

What is Immerse Education's mission and how do you continue to work toward it?

Our mission is to become the most trusted and respected educational provider and the first name that comes to people's minds when thinking of high quality academic summer programmes in the UK and around the world. Our team is constantly creating new programmes based on participants' suggestions as well as educational trends. We embrace change and technology but most importantly, we listen to our participants and their families and push ourselves to keep improving.

What do you hope participants take away from your programs?

Firstly, an incredible experience of learning in some of the top universities in the world. Secondly, a sense of achievement and success for having stepped out of their comfort zone and going beyond their own expectations. Finally, a sense of belonging, not only in their respective groups, but also as part of a global community of like minded people who have no limit to what they can achieve.

Jiro with a view of Budapest in eh background

Discovering Budapest

Why is it important for people to travel abroad and experience new cultures?

There is no better way to become a global citizen than by sharing your own experiences, thoughts, ideas and opinions with others who have a completely different world view. Personally, I never felt as proud of my nationality until I left my country. Immersing yourself in different cultures will always lead to reflection and a questioning of personal opinions in the best possible way.

Why do you think learning a new language is important?

Speaking a different language is one of the most valuable skills a person can have. Not only does this help professionally, it also opens a vast new field of opportunities personally. If you can speak the local language when you are traveling, you are more likely to have far more enriching experiences than 'tourists'. People open up so much more when you say even one word in their language.

What does meaningful travel mean to you?

To me this means it must be fulfilling personally. For one person this could be a lazy poolside holiday for a week to reset their mind and recharge their batteries. For another it might mean an arduous trek through difficult terrain to reach a remote site they have dreamt of visiting for a long time. For me, it's mostly about discovering a place's identity through its people, food and outlook on life.

How is your company handling Covid protocols? What should participants know about your Covid readiness? How are you assisting participants with navigating the new travel landscape?

We are following government guidelines and as all restrictions have now been relaxed, we are encouraging participants to make the most of the programme. We are still cautious and ensure that all emergency protocols are in place. Mostly, it's about restrictions they may have in their own countries and finding ways of helping them experience our programmes in the best possible way for them.

Recent Interviews

Recommended Programs

Immerse Education

Immerse Education

Immerse Education