Kana and Bianca, Welcome to The Plant! Vol. 2

In this second column, writer Goro talks to Kana Hihara, a project manager at The Plant, and Bianca Codognet, an account manager at The Plant. They discuss their specific jobs and time management techniques, as well as their perspectives on empowering women working in the IT industry. Each of them is responsible for building e-commerce sites for global companies.

Kana (left) and Bianca (right) are ambassadors at The Plant.

Goro:
I would like to start by asking you about your daily schedule. This is a question that many interested in working in the IT industry may want to know.

Kana:
I start working a little later in the morning. When I don't have a meeting first thing, I sometimes wake up just before 10:00 a.m. If I wake up early in the morning, I go to the gym and then check my emails while eating breakfast.

My work is diverse. For example, I consult and meet with clients, manage schedules for ongoing projects, hold meetings for new projects, and at times, do translation work if needed. Since I work remotely, I cook my own lunch. Sometimes I go to a boxing gym to relax during my lunch break. Due to the time difference with global clients, I sometimes have meetings at 9 p.m., but I usually finish work at 7 p.m. I have a lot of hobbies outside of work, so I go to bed late at night, usually between 2:00 and 4:00 a.m. (laughs).

Bianca:
I usually wake up between 7:30 and 8:00 a.m., although that might change a little between summer and winter. I have breakfast and watch a movie. Then I start working at 10:00. I start by checking Slack and email. I like to make a "To Do List" the night before, and I work my way down the list one by one. I often do the work I don't want to do or am not good at towards the end of the day (laughs).

In our daily work, dialogue with the client is essential, so we have a lot of meetings. Specific tasks range from preparing proposals, consulting with our product team regarding technical aspects of the project, and making presentations. Another important part of my job is acquiring and nurturing new and potential customers.

It is also very important for me to relax and maintain a work-life balance. During my lunch break, I watch the rest of the movie from the morning. I usually finish my work around 7 p.m. and go to bed between midnight and 2 a.m.


Goro:
So you both go to bed late? (laughs). What are some of the things you do differently at work, and what challenges have you taken on?

Bianca:
Yes, I do. My job is very diverse, and there are various things to do at different times. My advice to those who work or want to work in the IT industry is to partition your time and focus on one thing at a set time. For example, when planning a new project, you cannot concentrate on your work if you constantly receive chats and emails. If I am distracted by other things, I cannot finish my to-do list as scheduled, so I am very particular about time management.

Kana:
I like to take on new challenges and actively try to participate in external activities (e.g., pitch events). My first language is English, so my current goal is to create presentation materials in Japanese instead of English and give presentations without a script. The other day, we had a pitch contest with 17 companies, and I was able to pitch our company in Japanese.

Goro:
I can see that these efforts and new challenges are expanding your opportunities and improving your quality of work.
Now, let's move on to today's main topic. Is there anything you would like to say from the perspective of women working in the IT industry?

Kana:
At The Plant, there are several female leaders. We’re fortunate and privileged to look up to these female figures.

Bianca:
Of course, it may not be the case for the IT industry as a whole, but I think that the image of a workplace where women are active, as often reported by the media, is a bit like a house of cards (a bubble). People ultimately build organizations, so I feel that humanity itself is important, regardless of gender.

Goro:
That is a very interesting point of view. What are your specific thoughts on this?

Bianca:
Being a woman is part of my identity, but I don't think I should be limited by just one trait. It's hardly a factor in judging job performance. It is important to point out discrimination and raise awareness of inequality between genders worldwide. However, for the sake of women's empowerment, I believe that the IT industry can overcome these challenges.

IT is a relatively new industry, and at the same time, it is already part of the society’s crucial infrastructure, so it is easy to create new values and rules. We are in the process of creating them right now. Many companies are relatively new in the industry, and speed is vital. Therefore, many companies are committed to results, and they hire people regardless of gender. As a result, it is easier to create opportunities for women to play an active role in the industry.

In addition, the IT industry in Japan has a shortage of human resources, so the gender framework may not make much sense. What is more important is what an individual can bring to the job and to the team. This is an opportunity for us.

Kana:
It’s true that the IT industry is still very much male-dominated, and I do think that women can feel intimidated at times. I would like to see an environment where women can confidently move forward in their careers.

I would also like to see more legal support for female workers in Japanese society. The situation may be improving, but maybe not fast enough. Our society will certainly change for the better if we give more women opportunities to take leadership roles.

Bianca:
In Japan, if you get the flu and have to take a day off, many companies treat it as a paid day off. In France, for example, if you are diagnosed with an illness, the first day is deducted from your paycheck, but the government guarantees your full salary for the remaining days. As a result, employees do not lose pay whether they are off with the flu or on maternity leave. Everyone has the right to take sick leave.

I think a legal framework can help change the mindset of a society and consequently lessen inequalities between men and women.

Kana:
I also hope that the cultural norm in Japanese society, where women are expected to follow men, will gradually change.

Goro:
Thank you very much for your valuable comments on women's empowerment. It has been fascinating.
Now, do you have any message of support for those aiming to build a career in an IT company like The Plant?

Bianca:
IT systems are a critical foundation for our daily lives and a challenge for the future. We have a chance to be creative and create new tools. Those who can actively discuss different opinions with various people will have an advantage. If you have the same opinion as everyone else, you cannot create new things. Therefore, it does not matter your gender or age. You can and should express your opinions. I would like for individuals with new ideas and values to come here.

Kana:
If you are interested in the IT industry, I think you should definitely give it a try. It is an industry that is always moving and changing, and there is always something to learn and gain.
Yes, I think this industry is a leader in "cultural innovation.” Other industries tend to take the culture of the IT industry and localize it to their own companies.

Goro:
Lastly, what is your "motto" (in one word)?

Kana:
I would like to emphasize the word "Challenge". I think it is imperative that we try new things.

Bianca:
I don't have a single word, but it is "Don't hold back." It is essential to try hard, but not too hard. If you try too hard, you lose your composure and lose sight of the environment and situation around you, so I think it is important to find the right balance.

Goro:
Thank you both very much for your very valuable talk today! We look forward to our next interview.
At The Plant, each employee's various experiences create the company's culture.