Global Perspective + SCA HR General Manager

Prior to joining Sojitz, I spent 20 years in different sectors of the international logistics and supply chain industry. I have worked primarily on the corporate side in human resources, but I also have experience on the business side and have been on secondment to subsidiaries. Geographically, most of my career has been focused on the Americas region, including two international assignments in Brazil. I lived in many countries throughout my career, but after 20 years away, I decided that I wanted to return to my home state of New York. It was at this time that I first learned about Sojitz. I had heard about Japan’s general trading companies before, but I knew very little. Upon doing some research, I learned that Sojitz is active in a wide range of business fields and involved in many interesting initiatives. Sojitz Group also seemed like a place where I could utilize my past experiences, so I decided to apply. I joined Sojitz Corporation of America (SCA) as the general manager of the Human Resources & General Affairs Department in March 2022.

Actually, my first visit to Japan was my business trip to Sojitz’s Tokyo headquarters in November 2022. During this trip, I had many opportunities to speak with the HR team at Tokyo HQ, and I learned a great deal about the various HR initiatives being implemented. I also met with the general managers of departments that have business in the Americas region in order to strengthen my connections with those organizations. By experiencing Japanese culture firsthand and communicating with HQ staff, I gained a clearer understanding of the company and its policies. I also got some great ideas and inspiration for initiatives to implement back at SCA.

I like the fact that Sojitz takes a long-term approach to setting and pursuing its goals. I also feel that there is a genuine intent at Sojitz to add value to society. Many companies say that their mission is to make the world a better place, and these statements can come off as disingenuous. However, I feel that Sojitz truly prioritizes creating value both for the company and for society. Sojitz Group’s Corporate Statement of “creating value and prosperity by connecting the world with a spirit of integrity” has been instilled in each employee as our fundamental approach to business.

What I find interesting, and a bit unfortunate, is that Sojitz is not as well known outside of Japan. Being a general trading company means that it’s not our logo on the products we handle. That maybe can’t be helped, but if more people knew our company name, I do think that it would make things easier for us when we are trying to start new business from scratch or vying for a contract against a company with high brand recognition. I think one solution to this issue is strong storytelling. For example, I personally love the story of Sojitz’s involvement in the birth of Nike Inc. I’m sure there are plenty of similar compelling stories playing out today across Sojitz Group, and I think it’s important to seek out those narratives and share them with the world.

In terms of short-term goals, I am currently focused on ensuring that employee feedback and perspectives are being heard here in the region. During my visit to Tokyo, I learned about Sojitz HQ’s efforts to gather feedback and opinions from employees, such as through the employee engagement survey and 360-degree survey. I would like to introduce this type of employee-centered survey in the Americas region as well.

Although COVID-19 guidelines have recently been relaxed in the U.S., we are still using a hybrid working style at most locations, with many people working from home. I feel that in-person communication and collaboration between employees has become somewhat limited. In order to encourage innovation and develop stronger teamwork, we need to listen to employees and introduce measures that address their concerns. I was able to have in-depth conversations about these topics with the HR team at Tokyo HQ, and I hope to continue to collaborate with these colleagues during my work in the U.S.

I think that Sojitz has changed a great deal in the last decade. I understand this transition as more of an evolution, rather than a single drastic change that happens all at once. In terms of long-term goals, my aim is to support this evolution by building a framework that supports our employees as they navigate the company’s ongoing change and growth. One way to achieve this goal might be by creating a platform where employees can share their stories—whether personal anecdotes or a work accomplishment. Employee-centered stories that highlight their Sojitz careers can be a source of great inspiration for present and future colleagues. My dream is that these individual experiences and legendary accomplishments can be passed down and ultimately become part of the greater Sojitz legacy.

Note: Employee titles and affiliations reflect those at the time of the article’s publication.