During my four years at university, I worked as a student public relations staff member, conveying the appeal of Teikyo University to high school students, and came up with ideas and disseminated them from a student's perspective.
Some notable examples include creating "Teebo," a mascot character for Hachioji Campus, and introducing "Hachioji Ramen," a local gourmet dish from Hachioji City, to the cafeteria menu.
To bring my idea to fruition, I had to contact and get approval from a great many people, which was not only fun but also difficult, but my desire to let as many people as possible know about the appeal of the university I attend was what motivated me. I feel that the experience of trial and error I gained as a student and the presentation skills I honed are still useful in my current job.
The reason I wanted to work for Panasonic was largely because I was attracted to the founder's (the late Konosuke Matsushita) philosophy of "developing people before making things." I was enthralled by the company's emphasis on developing people, so I read a lot of books about it, and I had the impression that it was a company that made cutting-edge products that were closely tied to everyday life. Having worked as a public relations staff member during my student days, I had hoped to continue working in public relations after I got the job, and I thought that Panasonic was the only company that I could wholeheartedly empathize with their philosophy and promote their cutting-edge products.
After joining the company, I spent five years working in corporate sales, and since April 2020 I have been in charge of public relations, communicating with the media to disseminate information about the company.
The information I send out can sometimes be widely reported in newspapers or on television, so I feel a great sense of accomplishment and responsibility as I work on my daily tasks.
We will continue to strive to further spread the appeal of Panasonic, which continues to create cutting-edge products.
There are many gentle, teacher-like employees who are kind and sometimes strict in guiding us. As the company places great importance on developing people, the attitude of "listening to others" is widespread. I learn a lot from the stories of my seniors who have a wealth of life experience, and for me, it's a place where I can learn a lot, like a school that goes beyond university or Graduate School.
The management philosophy that the founder, Konosuke Matsushita, has conveyed is firmly ingrained in our employees. I feel that all employees are always thinking and practicing "how to help society." I think that it is because everyone's vectors match that an environment where they can communicate smoothly and cooperate with each other even if they carry out business in a wide range of fields is fostered.
"Human washing machine" exhibited at the 1970 Osaka Expo. It was crowded with many visitors.
I think that people who can listen to customers' stories are playing an active role. Some of our products are very expensive, so you can't trust a proposal that imposes your own convenience. I think it is important to identify what you really need from the customer's story and then make proposals and follow-up.
The job of public relations is not only to disseminate information, but also to function as a "public hearing". What is the view of the media reporting our information and what are consumers looking for in us? We will utilize the awareness gained from such outside voices in management. I think that "listening ability" is very important, and I feel that it is a background that people who are active have.
If you find a company that interests you, it is recommended that you first read the website and the press releases so far. I strongly feel that I am in a position to disseminate information, but I think that the homepage and press releases are very useful for corporate research because they are condensed contents of the company's philosophy, characteristics, and what I want to convey to the world. ..
I think it's a good idea to do a wide range of industry and company research, including fields that you are not interested in or are not familiar with. By interacting with a lot of people and information, you will notice new discoveries such as noticing the difference from the image you have. Also, it may be difficult, but I would like you to think about the future, such as 10 years from now.
