To become a talent that is sought after in any era, the key is the "evolution of technology."

— Please tell us the reason you decided to choose Zeals for your first job after graduation.

"I wanted to become a person who is needed in any era."

In recent years, I feel that the impact of technological evolution on society has been rapid. It is clear that as the world changes at an increasing pace, the people and skills that are in demand will also change. I decided to join Zeals because I wanted to become someone who is flexible to change, not bound by conventional wisdom or what is considered normal, so that I won't be left behind in the next era.

AI is one of those major changes. Zeals is at the forefront of utilizing communication AI in its products and is positioned in the rapidly evolving generative AI industry. By being swept up in that wave of change and also being a catalyst for it, I believe that "I can directly contribute to the growth of the company = I can grow myself." Rather than choosing the path to large companies that many job seekers might take at least once, I thought that by gaining experiences in different places, I could become a talent that is sought after in any era.

"I want to gain experiences that are different from others"—A unique student life that seized the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity

— Thank you. First, could you tell me about your upbringing and key points in your educational journey?

I was born in Fukuoka and lived in Tokyo from my first year of junior high school. Visiting various places with my travel-loving grandparents sparked my interest in tourism. When it came to university, I decided to attend a university in Malaysia instead of a university in Japan. I majored in tourism and also had the experience of serving as a representative in the HELP University branch of the Pacific Asia Travel Association during my time there.

— Why did you choose to study at a university abroad? Why Malaysia?

I chose to study at an overseas university because I wanted to gain experiences that are different from others. I chose Malaysia for the same reason. Since most students choose to study abroad in the United States or Europe, I thought that if I went to the same area, I would get lost among them. By going to a Malaysian university strong in hospitality and tourism studies, I could gain experiences that are unique. For example, if I were to say, "I had an experience in Malaysia," I thought that next time we meet, they would immediately remember me as "the person from Malaysia!" (laughs)

— Were you able to have experiences that were indeed different from others?

One of the most memorable experiences was when I served as a representative of the HELP University branch of the Pacific Asia Travel Association in my second year of university. Together with members from various nationalities, we invited people active in the Malaysian tourism industry for events and held exchange events with universities in Canada and the Philippines. As a result, I was invited as a panelist at the annual summit held in the United Arab Emirates and spoke on behalf of the students.

By the way, the number of Japanese students studying in Malaysia has been increasing recently. To avoid getting lost among them, I made sure to proactively challenge myself and be conscious of not missing out on opportunities.

— You seem to have a strong impression of making decisions on your own and moving forward. What do people around you say about your personality?

"You have a strong sense of responsibility."

In middle school, I served as the class representative, and in high school, I volunteered as a member of the executive committee for the cultural festival. I am often told that I have leadership qualities, but I was not the type to want to be a leader right from the start. I became the class representative due to the recommendation of my friends, and I remember feeling the expectations from those around me, which was tough (laughs). However, as I progressed with the activities, I realized, "Being a leader allows me to develop various skills," and I began to take on responsibilities proactively.

The first career I pondered over, and why I ultimately chose Zeals

— While attending a university abroad, how did you proceed with your job search?

I felt a sense of urgency that "I need to start job hunting early so that I won’t be outpaced by students in Japan" and started my job search from March of my second year of university.

I was considering the tourism industry, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there were few job openings, so I began looking at many positions in the IT industry that were actively recruiting early on.

— You were learning about tourism, yet you were interested in the IT industry!

Before I found Zeals, I had my sights set on a mega venture advertising agency as my top choice. At the same time, I was exploring other companies through One Career to broaden my view of industries, and that’s when I came across Zeals. The keywords "Breakthrough from Japan to the world" and "cutting-edge" piqued my interest, leading me to apply.

I still remember my first experience participating in Masa's TOPLIVE, where I was filled with excitement from the passionate discussion and resonated with the company's values, discovering new possibilities.

— Please tell us what ultimately led you to choose Zeals.

Ultimately, I was torn between three companies: the advertising agency, a tourism-related company, and Zeals.

The first offer I received was from Zeals, but during the final interview, Daisuke (Executive Officer Watanabe) said the following:

"You don’t have to give me an answer right now. I will wait for your answer until you finish your other final interviews."

Moreover, Daisuke, who has a background at CyberAgent, fairly explained what can be done at Zeals versus other companies.

It was thanks to his advice that I was able to take my time to consider which company would be best for me to join. Ultimately, it was the fact that I could utilize my global learning and experiences at Zeals, which aims for the world from Japan, and directly contribute to the company’s growth that became the deciding factor.

Excitement about AI that dispels fears, as I want to make "Zeals known" to people around the world

— Right now, Zeals is at a turning point in leveraging communication AI. As a prospective hire, how do you perceive this movement?

I am excited, feeling that "I am in the midst of something new happening!"

Being a bit of a trend follower, I enjoy keeping up with trends. While some may see immersing oneself in a new environment as a risk, I find it reassuring. I don’t want to be bound by the old and want to keep up with the new. Therefore, when I heard that Zeals will change the way of marketing through the power of communication design and AI, I thought, "Lucky!" (laughs) I made sure to engage with ChatGPT extensively to avoid missing out on information and also utilized it during my internship at that time.

— Did you ever feel anxious about it?

Betting on a startup comes with a certain level of commitment. I also heard about various challenges Zeals has faced at events. However, they have overcome adversity and turned it into opportunities. I feel that the excitement and the belief that whatever happens next, I will overcome it, outweigh any anxieties I might have.

— Finally, please let us know what you hope to achieve at Zeals.

"To make truly personalized communication the norm worldwide."

I believe the products of Zeals will support people in living more enriched lives through AI x communication, helping them discover their interests and passions. In a society overflowing with information, I want to deliver truly personalized experiences and increase the number of surprising encounters with people and things.  

Moreover, I have the ambition to be known worldwide as the company that first undertook this task. To do this, as a new graduate, I want to do everything I can. I want to leverage my past global experience, and because I am inherently responsible and have leadership skills, I intend to voice the challenges I want to take on and become a presence that is acknowledged by others!