I discovered MTI through a social networking site for business professionals. I had recently completed a master’s degree in agile development methodologies so was intrigued to learn that MTI is one of the leading agile development companies in Japan. The approach of leveraging data to drive continuous self-improvement also aligns with my way of thinking so I believed I had much to offer the company. Since joining MTI, I have led and facilitated development projects of varying sizes to completion. After a stint as CTO of a Vietnamese subsidiary, I am now working as an AI engineer.

I believe that MTI provides an environment conducive to my development. An environment where lack of knowledge or experience is not a barrier to taking on responsibilities. An environment that encourages us to step up to the challenge because our co-workers are there to look out for us. When I first came to Japan, I had difficulty communicating in Japanese, but my co-workers and managers were supportive. My time spent as a CTO overseas and the career change to AI engineer have really challenged me to grow. I think it is fantastic that the supportive environment enables employees to stay motivated in the face of challenges, which lets them experience a real sense of their own growth over time.

The area of Brazil where I lived was home to a large population of second-generation Japanese and I took part in extracurricular activities to learn the Japanese language and culture. Over time, the idea of working in Japan became increasingly appealing and eventually my fellow club members and I decided to find jobs in Japan. I chose MTI for two reasons. One is the highly flexible work hours, which offer greater freedom. Another is that it allows me to handle cloud technology. I had created cloud applications in my previous job and now wanted to work with cloud computing.

MTI is a company that values the ideas and the time of its individual employees. There are opportunities to discuss your career aspirations, and the company seems to be very tuned in to the need to provide mental health support during periods when employees are working long overtime hours, for example. I work both as an AI engineer and on quality assurance as well as studying Japanese. In terms of my engineering role, I have discovered that while our team is proficient in major programming languages such as Java and Python, the various national origins of individual members result in different work styles and outputs. I feel that the comfortable work environment also helps me focus better on my studies.

I have been interested in the cultures and ways of life of other countries since I was a student and wanted to experience working abroad. Japan was a country that felt familiar because I had grown up watching animations and other Japanese television shows. After completing graduate school in Japan, I worked as a Spanish language teacher before joining MTI. Right now I am in charge of recruiting at MTI, which includes providing assistance to those who, like myself, have relocated to Japan from overseas to join the company. The scope of my work has grown over time, recently expanding into training. I have gained experience as a training instructor, for example in English language and logical thinking.

MTI’s human resources support is individually tailored to the needs of employees. As part of its welfare program, the company provides employees with support to learn Japanese and sit the Japanese Language Proficiency Test. Employees are also accompanied to complete the necessary paperwork for resident registration or when opening a bank account. As a human resources manager, I would like to make every effort to ensure that the company is a place where everyone can demonstrate their abilities free of concerns. I believe that MTI values each and every employee, whether they have come to Japan from elsewhere or whether they are recruited locally. A system has been established that allots responsibilities with due regard for individuals’ own preferences, and that makes it acceptable for employees to take time off in the event that a family member suddenly becomes ill. I believe that our greatest strengths are our openness to ideas and adaptability to situations.