Balancing Parenting and Work

Could you please tell us about your career so far and your current job responsibilities?

After studying abroad in Japan in 2012, I transitioned from a major multinational consulting firm to ARK. Currently, I primarily handle logistics-related modules in projects and, in parallel, am responsible for training within my department. This includes developing training plans for newly assigned members and preparing training materials.

I’ve heard that you recently had a child. Are you finding it challenging to balance work and parenting?

At ARK, it is easier to choose projects compared to other companies, so if you want to balance remote work and parenting, you can discuss this with your supervisors and select projects that offer more remote work opportunities. In fact, I am currently participating in a project with a significant amount of remote work.

Are there any aspects of ARK’s work environment that make it easier to manage parenting?

When assigning projects, ARK employs a team-based approach with multiple employees involved, which facilitates task coordination among team members. Since ARK is still a relatively small company, I feel that managers have a detailed understanding of each member’s situation. Additionally, many of the managers are relatively young and of a similar generation, making communication easy and fostering an open and approachable work culture. As ARK expands and grows in size, there are plans to develop senior consultants internally, ensuring that even as the organization grows, the ability to maintain close attention to each employee remains intact.

Could you please tell us about any challenges you would like to pursue in the future?

Recently, I attended a conference hosted by SAP in the United States. What I observed is that technological innovation is advancing at an incredibly fast pace, with the update speed of AI and cloud solutions far exceeding our expectations. SAP consultants need to continuously update their skills and knowledge to keep up with customer needs. While it will take time for AI to become widespread, there is a clear increase in cloud solution projects. Although the AI business in Japan is still lagging and the Japanese market is relatively small, I am eager to pursue opportunities in the AI sector considering future trends.

(Event Details: SAP Sapphire & ASUG Annual Conference Orlando, held at the Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, Florida)

Finally, could you please share a message for those who are interested in ARK?

ARK has many dedicated individuals who are genuinely committed to making the company better. We would be delighted to welcome those who share this passion for improving the company and are eager to contribute to its growth.