I joined a major automotive parts manufacturer as a new graduate in 2016 and worked there for about eight (8) years. For the first three (3) years, I was in charge of quality assurance for hardware products. After that, I moved to an autonomous driving software project, where I was involved in system evaluation and development. I majored in information science at university and originally wanted to work in software design. However, I was not able to get my preferred position when I first joined the company. Fortunately, during my third year, I was given the opportunity to do an internal transfer and was able to move to a software development department more aligned with my background. There, I worked on software development in the autonomous driving field, which became my main career at my previous company.

Even though it was an autonomous driving project, my area of responsibility was only a small part of the whole - and I found the environment neither as exciting nor as free as I had imagined. In addition, the working style of "following instructions from above" - which is typical in major manufacturers - was widespread, creating an environment that was not challenging. The seniority-based promotion system was deeply rooted, with customs such as "taking a number of years to get promoted". As I continued working in that kind of environment, I developed a strong desire to "grow in a place where my abilities would be properly recognized", and thus, I began looking for a new job.

I did not really think of joining major firms. That's because I had a strong desire to join a growing company and experience the process of building it together. In a large organization, starting something new requires many layers of approvals, which I felt lacked a sense of speed. In that respect, I believed that a startup consulting firm would allow me to quickly put my own ideas and opinions into action, and I'd also have the opportunity to be deeply involved in building the organization itself.

I interviewed with several startup consulting firms, but I strongly resonated with President Sumita's values when we met during the final interview - particularly his belief in "giving back to employees". There are not many companies where the top management genuinely feels that way, and that is exactly why I wanted to contribute to such a company. I was also attracted to the culture that supports employees in investing in themselves and taking on new challenges.

As expected, I find the environment to be very challenging. Previously, I was involved in development at an automobile parts manufacturer, but now in my current consulting role, I am engaged in work from a more upstream phase, always considering, "What do clients truly need?". As a project manager and scrum master, it's rewarding to lead projects while bringing the team together. I am particularly mindful of "communicating concisely and to the point". From an engineer's perspective, we tend to provide a lot of detailed information, but I've realized that organizing and sharing only what the client is really looking for can significantly impact how well they understand and evaluate our work.

At first, there were a lot of things that I struggled with - such as the consultancy-specific terminology and the way of explaining things with proper context. In my previous job, I often reported every detail, which led to responses like, "So what were you trying to say in the end?" Now, when I prepare materials and present reports at regular meetings, I try to prioritize what the other person is most concerned about. I also took the initiative to conduct training for other project members. As a result, not only did my own explanation skills improve, but the team's ability to explain things also got better, which was recognized and appreciated by our clients.

Everyone is really enthusiastic, and there are many young members as well. What's interesting is the supportive atmosphere - if you say "I want to take on a challenge", the response is often, "Then give it a try". For example, new initiatives are constantly being introduced based on employee feedback, such as the launch of internal working groups to build the organization or the overhaul of recruitment and evaluation systems. The President often invites us out for meals, too, and I'm frequently surprised to find out that such great restaurants exist. (laughs) Hearing all sorts of stories during those times motivates me and makes me think, "Someday, I want to be able to casually go to restaurants like this myself".

First of all, I want to contribute to the major goal of taking the company public. I want to be deeply involved in the process of building the organization, where all members can grow and, as a result, the company can grow as well. I would also like to use my experience and knowledge to train junior colleagues and share the know-how I gained from projects with the company - spreading the value that only I can provide. Ultimately, I would like to help create a company that we can all look back on and say, "It was tough, but it was fun."

For those who want their abilities to be fairly recognized or those who are looking to take on new challenges in an environment where they have the freedom to do their own thing, I think Berkeley is the perfect place for you. If you are someone who thinks, "I want to be involved in the upstream phase of the project, not just a specific part. I also want to help shape the organization internally as well," then I would love to work alongside you. If any part of this resonates with you, let's have a conversation. As someone who came from a major manufacturer myself, I often think, "I wish I had moved sooner!". For those with similar aspirations, I believe this is a great opportunity for you to experience tremendous growth.