Otsuka People Talk
December 2013
Sales to Nationwide Chain Customers
After joining Otsuka Pharmaceutical, he worked in sales promotion in the Nutraceuticals Division for a year and a half, before working in sales for five years in the same division. In February 2013, he was assigned to the National Retail Accounts Department, which is in charge of nationwide chain customers.
- In collaboration with NHK Enterprises, Inc.
How I became interested in working at Otsuka
I was in a swimming club in high school, and during a swimming training camp I attended a nutritional seminar given by someone from Otsuka Pharmaceutical. That seminar made a lasting impression on me. Until that point, I knew next to nothing about nutrition, but at that seminar I learned that excelling in sports not only requires practice, but also an understanding of the importance of nutrition. That's why I decided to join Otsuka. I had a strong desire to help support hard-working athletes by providing nutritional knowledge, even after I retired from competitive swimming myself.
Valuing every new relationship
Diversity training on the theme of innovation
During my time in sales, I participated in a diversity training course on the theme of innovation. As part of the training, I was sent on my own to an Otsuka Pharmaceutical group company in Guangdong, China. There, I worked with local sales staff for ten days.
Founding the Otsuka Pharmaceutical Swimming Club
Working hard for the team
As I've been swimming since I was four, I've trained hard over the years. In high school, I was on a four-person relay team that set a new school record. Through many years of swimming, I have learned the skills of rebounding from setbacks, perseverance, and never giving up.
Although swimming is an individual sport, I belonged to the swimming clubs at both my high school and university, so even though I swam alone, I was actually swimming for my team. That made me want to do my best, so my team could get as many points as possible. Even after joining Otsuka Pharmaceutical, I am still doing my best for the team. This is true for me in both swimming and sales.
Starting over in Tokyo and taking on new challenges
Aiming to support top-level athletes
At the moment I have two dreams. In the near future, I would like to turn the National Retail Accounts Department into an organization that younger employees aspire to join. I think if we work hard, the younger employees will follow. By always looking forwards and never backwards, I am determined to do my best, while striving to enjoy even the tough times. If I can help convey this approach to the younger employees, I think the company will gradually become even more energized.
In the more distant future, because of my love for sports, I would like to support top-level athletes around the world.
Aspiring to become a hard-working mentor
Otsuka Pharmaceutical is the kind of company that lets young employees tackle various challenges, and tells us that it is OK to fail. However, this does not mean it is OK to fail and forget about it. Rather, if you fail 100 times, then you must get up again 101 times.
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