Born and raised in Tokyo, Yoichiro “Yo” Basso is a bicultural leader who deeply values how international education connects cultures and shapes globally minded people. A proud 13-year alumnus of St. Mary’s International School, he earned his BS from New York University and MBA from UC Berkeley - Haas School of Business.
Before founding Basso & Basso Consulting, Yo spent two decades leading growth and marketing teams across the U.S. and Japan at companies including Uber, AKQA, GE Capital, and Ogilvy. Throughout his career, he built teams, led turnarounds, and found the most fulfillment in mentoring others — a reflection of his lifelong passion for coaching and helping people reach their potential.
Education has always been part of Yo’s story. His father was an English professor, his mother a kindergarten teacher, and his sister — Basso & Basso’s founding partner — has taught English at ʻIolani School in Honolulu for nearly two decades.
Married to an ASIJ alumna and raising two ASIJ students, Yo remains deeply rooted in the international school community that shaped his own life. Through Basso & Basso, he’s driven to make international schools more accessible and the admissions process more thoughtful — helping every family find the right school where their child can truly thrive.
