I joined the company due to my interest in a system that proposes individual offers tailored to the need for chat commerce.

– I heard you were in sales in your previous job. What made you want to challenge yourself in the role of a communication designer (CD)?

In my previous job, I worked in sales at a human resources and advertising company. In a supportive environment, I was able to hone my sales skills thanks to great supervisors and clients. I believe I learned a lot during my first career as a working adult. However, through my work, I felt a sense of frustration that advertising as a product could only appeal in one direction. While thinking about whether there were new forms of advertising or ads that could be close to users, I encountered ZEALS' chat commerce product. I found it appealing that it grasped insights such as customers' issues, concerns, and needs through chat, made appropriate proposals based on that information, and created a new system that led to results.

I also felt that my previous sales experience, particularly in making proposals according to user and client needs, could be utilized in the role of CD. Furthermore, I found interest in the writing I had done as part of my work, and the senior employees and executives I met during the interview were not bound by traditional employee traits in a good way, which was a decisive factor in my decision to join the company.

– You were attracted to the chat commerce system and joined as a CD. Are there areas where your previous experience is being utilized?

There have been many instances where my sales experience has been beneficial. When proposing communication strategies during regular meetings and kickoff meetings with clients, I feel that because I have a background in sales, I can explain things to clients clearly and confidently. Especially when delving deeper into client issues or making comprehensive proposals that align with those issues, I consult with account planners (AP) but knowing the AP's actions in advance allows us to cooperate more smoothly, which I believe is beneficial.

By the way, I think that all salespeople have a consciousness about achieving targets. CD also has numerical targets. When achieving those targets, I believe it's important to consider any strategies that could convince the clients, and even if we are close to achieving them, it's also crucial to make a last push to finish strong. My sales experience is helpful in this regard. While I face end users, being conscious of delivering a good experience through chat, I also never forget that the clients are the ones paying for our services. Since I joined mid-career, I am committed to utilizing the strengths brought by my sales experience to deliver value.

Because they can see value in what they have challenged, it is important to notice and find things themselves.

– It seems you are fully utilizing your background in sales.

At the time of joining, I wanted to become someone who could leverage my strengths as someone from a sales background to become a talent that people would think, "There haven’t been many types like this before." I believe that transitioning from sales to CD is a minority, which is why I wanted to have the stance of understanding what APs are looking for.

For example, when frequent communications are happening with clients, it's better to shift to support as much as possible, and as a CD, I think about how I can help the AP while also considering the customers' needs, such as wanting me to "Conduct rapid PDCA cycles" or "Be proactive with proposals". I am conscious about collaborating with APs to progress the business.

– Conversely, since joining ZEALS and taking on the role of CD, were there any new skills you had to acquire? Also, if there were barriers you had to overcome to succeed at ZEALS, please let me know.

My previous company was a large organization, and it felt like it was more about achieving maximum results within a predetermined framework than creating my own work. On the other hand, ZEALS requires one to actively construct the way they work without being bound by existing manuals or guidelines. Looking back to my early days, I think I had a conservative side and sometimes delayed my actions by overthinking. At ZEALS, it’s also necessary to get used to a rapidly changing environment. Delivering results is a fundamental requirement, but even if there is failure, the company values the challenge and the process itself, which is characteristic of its culture. It is essential to actively challenge yourself and raise your hand. I believe it is important to notice and find opportunities on your own because various chances are available.

For instance, about six months after joining ZEALS, I was given a significant mission. Until then, I had been responsible for push content (short content created for users who had already added the company as a friend), which was relatively limited in scope. However, six months after joining, I was entrusted with planning and improving pop-ups and diagnostic content, which had a more comprehensive and significant impact on operations.

What stands out most is that my stance of "It's okay to be rough, but let’s first produce an output" was appreciated. Given my position as a mid-career hire, I was naturally inclined to avoid failure, but ZEALS has a culture that prioritizes challenges and improvements over failures. As a result, by actively receiving feedback on my output and accepting it candidly while continually improving, I was able to grow significantly.

At ZEALS, it is also required to communicate my opinions on points I do not understand, rather than just accepting feedback. Thanks to this feedback culture, the environment is set up to continue challenging myself without fear of failure. Being entrusted with a significant mission just six months after joining and the experience gained in the process has been invaluable for my personal growth.

First, try challenging yourself, and perform a lot. By accumulating experience, you increase your repertoire and can make accurate decisions even in tense situations.

– You have been a CD for over three years. Have there been changes in external environments such as customer requests?

The increase in competitors has led to more opportunities to participate in performance competitions against them. In this environment, I strongly feel the necessity to continuously evolve as an individual and as a team, not just relying on sheer "enthusiasm". With the determination of "I absolutely must win!" I committed fully to the goals.

In particular, during competitions, I focused on not just the measures to win but also on incorporating the successful experiences gained into daily action plans and sharing them with the team. Specifically, I worked on close collaboration with APs, involving managers in proposals, and taking a speedy approach to devise strategies and implement PDCA cycles. Through rapidly and efficiently managing this entire process, I realized that utilizing our knowledge, enhancing the volume and speed of PDCA, and providing high-quality creative work were essential to winning against competitors.

By continuing to challenge myself, I accumulated experience, which became my repertoire, allowing me to make accurate decisions even in tense situations. As a result, collaboration with APs and decision-making within the team became smoother, forming a foundation for generating results.

– You have had a variety of experiences as a CD. What kind of career are you envisioning moving forward?

As I enter my third year after joining, I am fulfilling the role of a leader and find it rewarding to support the growth of my team members. Especially when I see members who started as interns acquiring skills and moving up in their positions, I reaffirm the importance of my role.

The ideal skill set I envision can be likened to a pentagon. The first is skills as a CD, the second is marketing, the third is design, the fourth is data analysis, and the fifth is interpersonal skills cultivated in sales. I aim to support the growth of my team members while balancing the honing of these five skills and contributing to the entire business. Rather than being a specialist, I aspire to evolve into a generalist who can provide value across a wide range of fields.