Interview

We heard that you are in charge of management while on shortened working hours.

In the Advanced Design Department, where I work, we engage in early development of and strategies for materials with a view to the cars of the future and common materials that span several brands. It is a challenging job, where we imagine the society of the future based on global market surveys and collaborate with various departments to work on color design.

As an assistant manager, I am in charge of management for the color team, but because I have a small child, I am working shortened hours after my return from maternity and child-care leave. It goes without saying that the support of the team is important, but for a working mother with limited time, the Remote Work Program is particularly valuable. Nissan allows employees to combine attending the office and working from home at their own discretion, and in my case, I try to come to the office about two days a week. Being able to choose a working style that fits the situation of each individual, not just women, is one of Nissan’s attractions.

What do you keep in mind when balancing work and home life?

Having a small child naturally reduces the time I can spend on work. Even so, I make sure to innovate to improve the quality of my work, such as by creating speedily using idea sources that I have accumulated in advance, and increasing the accuracy of my decisions by putting out antennae into areas other than my main work to gather information. Thanks to learning to produce a conclusion in a limited time, I have more time with my family and can do things like dropping by the bookstore on the way home from work, which allows me to have a working style with work-life balance.
What is more, new ideas that I would not have thought of at my work desk pop up when I am with my family and friends. I often get hints from my child, and my friends’ and family’s lifestyles and car usage frequently offer suggestions for work. I feel that the birth of my child has increased my opportunities for thinking about the future and greatly expanded the view that I can see as a designer.