Nao, nicknamed Tara-chan, is a Head of Sales at Indeed, based in Japan. Her favorite hobbies are traveling, eating exceptional cuisine, jigsaw puzzles, and watching movies. She shares her path to Indeed, how to build an inclusive team, and advice for those interested in advancing their career.
As a graduate, Nao joined Recruit, the parent company of Indeed, in 2007. She had previously worked as a sales manager in the food and beverage industry, in addition to planning and business development for the travel industry. She was once on a business development team that promoted overseas expansion – working with diverse people from different groups and nationalities to enter the global market. Later Nao moved to a multinational travel tech company, where she served as the Managing Director of the Japan office and Senior Vice President of Sales, Client Success, and Operations. In spring 2022, she took on Indeed Japan’s Head of Sales role. She has built her career by choosing to work in an environment with room for growth.
Understanding differences is key to inclusivity
Before joining Indeed, you worked in various roles, including sales, planning, business development, and global expansion. Have you been consciously choosing new challenges?
I want to move on to a new challenge when I feel I have done all I can in one role. I grow the most when I’m outside of my comfort zone, and am happy to jump into new opportunities when I feel I have achieved what my role has offered me.
Do you remember a time when diversity had a positive impact on your work?
In business development, I worked with a team of people from diverse backgrounds to launch something new. In that environment, we developed a relationship based on trust and fostered conditions where each of us felt comfortable proposing ideas and providing feedback. This experience taught me that having diverse perspectives and constructive discussions were critical in building a good team.
While it may seem easy, it can be challenging to understand people with different ideas and values from your own. What do you do when you come across an opinion that you do not share?
I ask myself, “How did they come to this conclusion?” “What is the context behind this idea?”
When I see things from their perspectives, it becomes easier to understand opinions and values that I do not share.
The same applies to managing people. It’s easier to understand a person when you know their career background. I believe that knowing someone’s background is very important in understanding others.
How to build inclusive teams
There are many cases where organizations that aim to be diverse and inclusive don’t quite achieve their goal. Do you have any tips for building teams where diverse people can utilize their strengths and complement each other’s weaknesses?
Balance is essential. It is good to have a mix of people with different opinions and ideas, but if it becomes a one-on-one conflict, discussions can fall flat and sometimes make people emotional. I’ve found it helpful to have an objective third party present when discussing a delicate topic. When forming a team, I try to build relationships with multiple parties to keep that balance.
How communication has helped to fuel Indeed’s growth
Currently, the percentage of women in management positions at Indeed has yet to reach the 50% target goal we’re working towards achieving by 2030. Do female members ever ask you for advice on their future careers?
Yes, many women are anxious about their future. When they ask, I tell them that various types of people can work utilizing their strengths and competencies through our business much more than before. Indeed Japan grew by focusing on client acquisition, evolving significantly and rapidly by acquiring market share. However, our business has changed to focus on existing clients and fostering these relationships more. Because of this, the behavior that leads to success will change. The ability to communicate and deepen relationships with customers will become a significant asset. This can create an environment that would make it easier for a diverse range of people to achieve results and be valued.
An inspirational mission
Finally, what is the secret to working the way you do?
It’s essential to know what you like, what inspires you, and to make your own choices.
Whenever I become passionate about my work and really dive into it, I always think “why” more than “how.” It’s an essential attitude to achieve the goal of clarifying the background and reason behind my passions. My feelings are a sign that I am immersing myself in my career. I’d like to continue to choose work that allows me to feel this way. Working helps improve my skills and refines my way of thinking. Meeting different people and learning new things from them is exciting, and the thought of keeping lifelong relationships with the people I meet along the way makes every day worthwhile. When I expand my worldview, I have more options and can help others grow while giving back to the world.
