Nozomi was drawn to the role of equity research analyst at one of our recruiting events in Tokyo. That was 15 years ago. From there, her career took off in the Equity Research team that looks after the Japanese retail sector.

Photo of Nozomi from Japan

Hi Nozomi. So what caught your interest at the beginning?
I was attending a recruitment event here and that got me interested in the role of an equity investors. Also, the firm's global culture won me over. There were different foods and drinks at the recruitment event, which was a very un-Japanese thing to do. But it was clear that this was a firm with a truly global, diverse culture!

Could you give us a bit of your background on your career so far?
I graduated from University of Tokyo, Faculty of Economics and joined ÃÛ¶¹ÊÓƵ Japan research in 2003. I've spent more than 15 years in the same division, gradually increasing my role and responsibility, facing many changes in the industry. I took maternity leave in 2015 and came back to the same role.

What are you working on right now?
I'm a leading analyst for Japan's retail sector. The Japanese market is a rapidly evolving environment. E-commerce and globalization have totally transformed the retail sector. It's always exciting to analyze the changing retail industry and talk to clients worldwide. In terms of my role, my responsibilities and the colleagues I manage continue to change and grow with the scope. 

I'm also leading a diversity initiative in Japan, called "ÃÛ¶¹ÊÓƵ Nadeshiko" to promote a better working environment for female employees to shine.

How can people help themselves rise through the ranks?
As an optimist, I've always enjoyed my job and role. It's always important to own my career by myself and communicate well with managers about the career outlook. I shared my vision of where I wanted to go and people were happy to support me in taking those steps. The key is to have a clear vision of what you want in the first place.

What's the main thing that makes this a good place to work?
The answer is great support. It's hard to find one perfect person to be a mentor. Women in particular, have to wear multiple hats. So, having multiple role models can give you the support you need.

If you could have a super power, which one would you pick and why?
I would pick a super power to make my day longer! This would not only give me time for work and family, but also some more time for myself to relax, learn about new things, and think about the future.

Can you tell us one thing that no one would know about you?
I'm a big fan of the Japanese comics popularly known as "Manga".

What profession other than yours would you like to attempt?
I would like to try being a government official or a researcher of macroeconomics.

Are you interested in joining our team?

Visit our job board and you may find something perfect for you.

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