Sharing the joy of managerial work

I am currently leading the launch of the GM's Buddy program (GM* internship program) as part of the CaLot women's empowerment project, alongside my duties in the Pharmaceutical Research Department. This program, aimed at raising awareness of GM work and increasing the number of female employees who want to become GMs, allows participants to work closely with several GMs and gain direct experience of their role. The key is to show participants that each GM works in their own unique way and to show all aspects of the role, not just the good. Employees often have the impression that the job of a GM is challenging but, by showing participants how we work, I hope that they will understand that there is not simply one type of manager and that they will find joy and satisfaction in the work. After much discussion and advice from those around me, we are planning to start a small-scale trial of the program in the fall of 2024.

*Group Manager (managerial position with direct reports)

The importance of establishing your own style and approach

I decided to join CaLot after management mentoring by an experienced female manager last year. When she launched CaLot, I wanted to do something for the next generation of managers, just as she had done for me. This led to me designing the program.

After returning from maternity and childcare leave, I struggled with how to approach work as I was the first person in my department to return from childcare leave. I reached a turning point when I spoke frankly with my then-supervisor and realized that I should develop my own style and approach to the situation. Constraints on my working hours made me reflect on what I could do that others could not and what was lacking in my department. It changed the way that I approached work. I believe that my current style is the result of visualizing my work, connecting individual tasks, and creating a system for cooperating with others through detailed dialogue. With research positions in particular, it can be challenging to manage your working hours, and people often believe that it is difficult to balance this work with childcare. This is precisely why teamwork, working with my colleagues, is important. I know from experience that there are diverse ways of working, so my hope is that everyone can find their own style.

Leveraging diversity leads to results

At the root of all my activities is a desire to give back to society what I have learned, to create good medicine, and to contribute to patient outcomes. The power of one person is limited. However, at Chugai, I feel that I can contribute to patient health by cooperating with a diverse group of people.

Since joining the company, I have consistently focused on improving my skills as a researcher in my current department. I hope to contribute to producing results by passing on the skills and knowledge I've accumulated as a researcher to my department and subordinates. I want to consider how to utilize each person's abilities and personalities to maximize their performance. Everyone has their own strengths and weaknesses, and while it is not easy to overcome weaknesses, I believe that developing one’s strengths can lead to effective and fulfilling work. As Chugai is home to diverse individuals, this can become our strength. I hope to bring together people with diverse personalities who can complement each other – whether through their strengths or weaknesses – and achieve the best results