Excited by the Vision in the Job Posting
In my previous role at an international consulting firm, I specialized in risk consulting related to internal controls and compliance for clients. After about six years, I started contemplating a career change for two reasons. First, I wanted to support business operations from within the company as a member of the team, rather than as a third-party consultant guiding clients’ decision-making. Second, I was looking for an environment where I could better utilize my language skills, which are also my strong suit. Most of my clients in my previous job were Japanese companies, so I had fewer opportunities to use foreign languages than I had expected.
My sincere wish was “to contribute to a Japanese company next,” and when I found Nissan, which boasts a diverse corporate culture despite being a Japanese company, I was drawn to it. Nissan operates globally, and I felt that I could work on large-scale projects that match my aspirations. Above all, I was excited when I read the job description. It didn’t feel routine at all—in fact, I had an intuitive sense that Nissan would give me the chance to take on new challenges, which became the decisive factor.
Strengthening Compliance Systems in Collaboration
with Global Group Companies
Currently, I am responsible for developing and managing compliance systems for the entire Nissan Group, including overseas subsidiaries, within the Global Compliance Office. Working closely with other divisions and international group companies, we formulate compliance policies and plan and execute various initiatives. Recently, we have been focusing on designing measures to manage our suppliers from a compliance perspective.
When engaging with overseas offices, we pay close attention to local laws and regulations related to compliance. Each site conducts its business activities in accordance with the laws of its respective country. It’s crucial to understand their circumstances and align our strategies with the direction we want to pursue, creating the most appropriate rules and standards.
What I find especially rewarding is working with a strong sense of ownership. Currently, I am implementing measures from an internal perspective, drawing on the risk and compliance knowledge I accumulated during my consulting career. While this involves various responsibilities and challenges, the fact that I can directly influence and change the company gives me a profound sense of fulfillment.
Diversity Beyond Expectations
- How “Appropriate Consideration” Creates a Comfortable Work Environment
One of the reasons I chose Nissan was its corporate culture of global scale and diversity, but honestly, it exceeded my expectations. The first thing that surprised me was that, no matter which floor I visited at the Yokohama headquarters, I saw employees of various nationalities engaging in conversations in English as a matter of course. I also don’t perceive any gender-based opportunity inequality. Female managers are common, and executives who are raising children and working shorter hours do so naturally.
Diverse ways of working—such as balancing childcare or nursing care—are normalized, and I believe that colleagues and the organization are offering “appropriate consideration and support” so that employees do not feel any sense of inferiority.
On the business side, however, the size of the group and the complex interconnections among organizations often make implementing certain initiatives challenging. Still, if you change your perspective, you realize that the actions we take can have a significant impact on many stakeholders, both domestically and internationally. The true joy of working at Nissan is the sense of collaboration—working with various stakeholders, building consensus, and gradually advancing our business.
As a Global Company, My Aspiration is to challenge
Foreign Assignment and Understand the Front Lines
In my personal life, I am currently raising children. I work full-time, but I balance my work and family life by combining office attendance with telecommuting. At the Global Compliance Office, we regularly hold meetings with overseas offices in different time zones. By carefully coordinating meeting times to suit each location, we’ve managed to prevent irregular working hours, ensuring a stable work style.
One of my future goals at Nissan is to be transferred to an overseas group company. I previously worked at a company where I was assigned to a Shanghai office, and I found it very rewarding to be able to drive business initiatives with a high degree of discretion, especially because the scale of the overseas base was smaller than that of the head office. Currently, I am working on developing the Nissan Group’s compliance system from the headquarters perspective, but I also have a strong desire to visit local sites and gain a deep understanding of the on-the-ground realities.
Since I recently joined Nissan, there are many things I need to catch up on regarding the company and the automotive industry. However, I want to leverage my experience and strengths to think about what I can do for Nissan, actively engaging in the company’s future growth.