"Speaking Up Opens New Doors" — How THT Empowers Women and Encourages Honest Communication
- 広報
- Sep 15, 2023
- 4 min read
Updated: Jan 15
Accounting and Management Group (Y.S)
Please tell us about your reason for joining THT.
After obtaining my real estate license, I worked in the residential real estate industry, where I handled a wide range of responsibilities. These included managing studio apartment rentals, converting farmland and rice paddies into residential areas, and buying and selling land and buildings. Over the year, I worked at various companies, from exploitative workplaces to reputable large companies, which gave me a broad perspective on different work environments. Even today, I often give real estate advice to others and sometimes find myself appraising friends' houses, even when they haven't asked.
Just before turning 30, I took advantage of a Working Holiday Visa to live and work in France for a year, where I met my current husband. After returning to Japan, I worked at a real estate company in Kagawa Prefecture while married. Later, when my husband got a job at an IT company in Tokyo, I decided to pursue my long-standing interest in IT. I enrolled in vocational training for job seekers and subsequently joined a systems engineering services(SES) company. However, the wages were low, and both my husband and I were working long hours, which gradually made communication between us difficult. Feeling a growing sense of crisis in our marriage, I decided to look for a new opportunity. During this career transition, I came across THT and was invited for an interview, which ultimately led to my decision to join the company.
Please tell us why you decided to join THT.
It all came down to the interview. Even though it was our first meeting, the atmosphere was so warm and welcoming that I was immediately drawn in.
The CEO and Ms. Hayama listened carefully to my situation, and our conversation naturally became very enjoyable. I clearly remember feeling my worries about harsh work environments and difficult relationships simply melt away. The friendliness of the company left me with the impression that everyone genuinely gets along well. In fact, although I had several other interviews afterward, THT became the benchmark by which I compared all of them.
By the way, it was the first time in my life that I sent a thank-you email after an interview. I remember feeling genuinely warm and happy on my way home.
How has it actually been working at THT?
This is my fourth year at THT, and I can honestly say that I've never been disappointed when it comes to workplace relationships.
Even though everyone is busy, they always take the time to patiently teach and support me. Being surrounded by people who inspire me to contribute and help in any way I can is incredibly motivating.
The more I research, the more familiar I become with the work, and the more I study, the more things start to make sense. That's why, when creating documents, I always make sure I fully understand the content before explaining it or putting everything together.
I still have a lot to learn, but being relied upon, even in small ways, gives me a strong sense of purpose.
Have you faced any challenges at work?
There were times when I felt overwhelmed by the sheer amount of things I had to learn, and I lost confidence in myself because I felt I wasn't capable enough.
On top of that, I became pregnant, I began to question whether I could, or should, continue working at the company.
How did you overcome those challenges?
I decided to speak honestly with the CEO about my personal values and the situation I was facing. As a result, he suggested the option of transferring to a different department that better suited my circumstances.
Looking back, I'm really glad I had that conversation.
What are your hopes for the company in the future?
I'm truly grateful for the kindness and consideration I receive every day from my colleagues. That said, sometimes I feel they're a little too kind, and I would actually welcome more challenges. I would love to be pushed with higher expectations, such as "we want you to become this kind of professional" or "we want you to master this skill." Being challenged in that way would help me grow and feel a greater sense of fulfillment in my work.
In that sense, I wouldn't mind being firmly guided, or even scolded, if it helps me improve.
I will soon be going on maternity leave, as I'm expecting my second child.
When I had my first child, it happened just as I was getting ready to dive deeper into my work. While I was happy about the new addition to our family, I also considered leaving the company out of concern for the burden my absence might place on others.
However, when I shared those feelings with our CEO, he told me, "It doesn't matter how many children you have. The fact that you come back and continue building your career after having children is, in itself, a contribution to the company." That comment truly moved me and inspired me to give back by becoming someone who can contribute meaningfully to the company.
My hope is that the company continues to see me as a valuable team member and continues to expect great things from me.
What are your future career goals?
I would really like to be involved in on-site work again, as business trips have been a great learning experience for me.
THT offers such a wide range of opportunities that it's hard to pinpoint a specific field I want to focus on just yet. But whether it's for my own growth or to contribute to the company, I want to continue expanding my knowledge and developing skills I can truly be proud of.
No matter the environment, I believe in continuing to learn and taking on new challenges.
And someday, I hope to become a cool mom who can even teach my kids how to code.
Please leave us a message!
Work takes up a significant part of our lives, and what motivates me to give my best every day, and to always ask myself, "What more can I do?" is the supportive and inspiring people I work with.
Let's continue taking care of our health and growing together as a team!
Listening to Ms. S's story truly warmed my hearts.
Thank you so much!
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