From the Financial Industry to an AI Company
-Taking on the Front Lines of Sales with
Members of Diverse Backgrounds-
Group Alliance Business Division
Sayaka Kato
Joined Neural Group in January 2023. Currently in charge of sales and product planning mainly for digital solution services in the Group Alliance Business Division.
- You mentioned you were in the financial industry. Why did you decide to change jobs
to Neural Group?
Kato: In the financial industry, I was blessed with the opportunity to touch upon cutting-edge companies and business topics,
and to speak directly with entrepreneurs. During that time,
I naturally came to think, "I want to gain experience in creating businesses that move the market myself."
I had known about Neural Group for some time through the sale of IPOs,
and because it was one of the fastest companies to list on the Japanese market and handled cutting-edge AI technology,
I had the impression that it was an energetic company with promising prospects.
Therefore, I wanted to hear more about it and applied for a casual interview,
which was the catalyst.
As I went through repeated interviews, I was drawn to the business of creating new value in the world
through AI image analysis—a tough yet immeasurably promising business—
and to the attractive members with diverse backgrounds working there,
which led to my decision to join.
- What was your impression after joining the company?
Kato: When choosing a company during my job change activities, I placed the utmost importance on the "business domain" and the "people working there."
However, after joining, I was surprised by an environment that was flatter and easier to communicate in than I had imagined. Rather than subordinates and superiors,
it feels like a gathering of comrades with high aspirations belonging to the same company. I felt it was a company where constantly communicating one's own opinions and thoughts is required,
and moreover, evaluated positively. Because I had previously been in environments where "expressing opinions to superiors is not desirable,"
I remember feeling a little resistance to expressing my own thoughts when I first joined.
I understand now that healthy discussion is what's truly important (laughs). Since people from a wide variety of countries and backgrounds are gathered here,
I think it is an environment with active discussions.
- What kind of members do you often work with?
Kato: Interestingly, there is not a single person with an IT background among the sales members. Their backgrounds are diverse,
including general trading companies, consulting firms, and manufacturers, but what they have in common is a sense of the issue:
"How can we make people's lives more convenient through cutting-edge technology?" And at the same time, they share the perspective of
"How can we create new businesses and make them permeate society?" I work in such an environment, being stimulated every day.
Also, the distance to the engineer members is very close, so I can learn about new technologies, which is very enjoyable.
- Is there any work that left a deep impression on you?
Kato: A project to introduce a new solution to a newly opened commercial facility left a very strong impression on me.
While closely coordinating requirements definition, delivery, and construction schedules with many companies, internally I communicated
the requirements the customer sought, the functions they wanted to realize, and fine nuances to the development team, and checked the development status daily. In particular, the last 3 months until completion
were dizzying days where various adjustments and confirmations proceeded concurrently.
Because of that, the joy I felt when the solution actually went into operation after the opening, and I realized we were contributing
to the smooth facility use of visitors and the operational efficiency of the facility operators, was unforgettable. It was a highly rewarding project where I could truly feel
that the technology I was involved in was useful for people's lives and businesses.
- Please tell us if there are any difficulties in sales unique to the AI industry, or any gaps you felt.
Kato: Our sales require not just the ability to sell things, but composite abilities such as
consulting ability to deeply interview customers about their latent issues and provide solutions, as well as product planning and product management.
Our clients range widely from the private to the public sector, and industries from commerce to logistics, requiring us to respond daily to specific issues that differ for each customer.
Therefore, I keenly feel that the ability to view issues from a bird's-eye perspective and sublimate them into highly versatile solutions is indispensable.
This draws a line from traditional sales jobs; it is a difficulty unique to the AI industry, and at the same time, a great source of job satisfaction.
- Finally, please tell us if there is a certain "kind of person you want to work with."
Kato: People who like to take on new challenges,
or people who get more fired up the more difficult things are. Since we are a
company rich in change and full of a sense of speed where it wouldn't be surprising at all
if we are conducting new products and businesses one year from now,
for people who can constantly tackle things with a sense of excitement within that environment,
I think it is a fun environment where you can work while feeling your own growth.
