Starting from scratch—a 10-year journey of customer development

The most memorable work I’ve done was on a project to develop sensors for autonomous driving systems. The product was designed to integrate and manage safety-related data critical to protecting people’s lives. Yet at the beginning, we had no business relationship with the prospective customer. I visited them almost every week, hoping to arrange a meeting. Sometimes the receptionist would just laugh and say, “Are you back again?” Still, I held firmly to the motto of “Never give up.” I spent nearly ten years building a relationship of trust with them, starting from scratch.

Leading by example—showing commitment

A principle from the Philosophy I value most is “Strive Harder than Anyone Else.” As a leader, it is my responsibility to work harder than anyone else—to put in the effort and never give up. Only by showing that level of commitment can a team truly come together. Also, our goal is not simply to increase sales. We share a higher purpose rooted in an altruistic mindset—to contribute to society through technology and help make people’s lives safer. Because we are united by that purpose, we have been able to bring challenging projects to a successful conclusion as a team. I aim to pass this spirit on to the next generation and continue building teams that contribute to society.