Please tell us about your responsibilities and missions.

I am currently working in the Sales Planning Group of the Sales Department.
Since assigned to the Sales Department in October 2015, I have been engaged in sales planning and international and domestic sales. In my current position in the Sales Planning Group, I am responsible for compiling the results of sales order activities, considering new business opportunities and marketing activities, etc. My main responsibilities are coordination of sales price optimization activities at all Vehicular Turbocharger Business Unit launching a new product (ETC:Electric Turbocharger) for FCVs and fuel cell systems that is under development and to support sales activities at overseas affiliates in receiving orders. Vehicular Turbocharger Business Unit has manufacturing and sales bases in North America, China, Thailand and Europe and cooperation with people from various cultures and backgrounds is essential. In order to accomplish one project with One-IHI, I try to communicate our goals in plain words and to have smooth communication.

How have you grown since you started working for Turbocharger Unit?

To be honest, I was worried when I joined IHI. Before that, I had only lived in Japan for one year as an exchange student and although I studied Japanese at university, I could not speak it like the natives. Furthermore, my major at university was Japanese literature and I had little knowledge of the automotive industry or vehicle turbochargers. However, I was able to gradually acquire knowledge during new employee training and practical training at the factory after joining IHI. In addition, I had an instructor with whom I could easily consult in my first year of employment regarding my work, so I could talk to him anytime when I did not understand something or made a mistake. My first job was to handle prototype work for group companies, but since then I took on domestic and international customers, and experienced a variety of sales styles and approaches. I made many mistakes and failures in my work, but looking back now, I feel that I have grown because of my failures.

Please send a meesage to those who are interested in your job.

The first thing I would like to tell you is to believe in yourself more. There are many people who say, "I am interested in the automobile industry, but I am not sure if I can do sales," or conversely, "I would like to try sales, but I am not very familiar with automobiles". In fact, there are many opportunities to learn after joining the company, so it would be regrettable to give up one of your options just because you are anxious. I realized this during the Covid-19 pandemic. The telecommuting system was expanded after the pandemic. At that time, I was able to work from home for several months prior to maternity leave to minimize the risk of corona infection since I was just before the birth of my first child. Even now, we can either "work from home" or "work at office". We can adjust our work style according to the lifestyle and work contents.