We asked employees about how women work
in Vision
Consulting.
~ Presenters ~
Tomomi Ishizeki
Joined Vision Consulting in 2018. Since joining Vision Consulting, she has
gained tremendous trust from her clients. Although she is a mother of a
family, she is mainly engaged in training as a deputy executive officer.
Tomomi Miyagawa
Joined Vision Consulting in 2021. Joined Vision Consulting without any
consulting experience, seeking an environment where she could be surrounded
by people with high integrity and skills. Striving for self-improvement to
achieve the highest outcome as possible.
Mayuko Saito
Joined Vision Consulting in 2020. Since joining the company, she has been
working as a PMO supporting the department conducting research and managing
data to revitalize the organization,
Itsuka Homma
Joined Vision Consulting in 2021 as a graduate. Started as a mid-career
recruiter, and currently engaging in business planning duties.
Facilitator: Public Relations Department Nanaka
Matsumoto
【Q】 First of all, can you tell us what you have enjoyed
about working at Vision Consulting ("VC")?
The joy of experience, the joy of growth, the joy of work. A life is full of joy.
Ishizeki: Since joining VC, I have been with the same client, but have been able to participate
in various projects. I'm lucky I got to experience so many different projects without changing
jobs. I am also involved in the training of "junior consultants" as a deputy executive officer.
Many of the members are honest and positive, and I am able to witness their daily growth, which
I also find enjoyable.
Miyagawa: I also enjoy my time at VC so much that I am truly glad that I changed jobs. To be
honest, I was satisfied with my previous job that I didn't think of changing my workplace.
However, I became interested in VC after a senior colleague from my previous job approached me
and offered me an opportunity for an interview. Then, I found that there were many people who
were full of enthusiasm for working and had a high level of integrity, and I thought it was an
environment where I could improve myself even more, so I decided to join VC. Now that I have
realized what I wanted at that time and am fulfilled both physically and mentally, I am truly
glad that I joined VC.
Homma: I feel most enjoyable when I am able to work with discretion, regardless of age.
Specifically, this year, I was entrusted with the task of launching the disability inclusion
operations worked until we achieved our goals. Currently, I am identifying of areas for
improvement and developing new operations to achieve our goals for the next fiscal year.
Saito: From my point of view, one of the attractions that I enjoy is the speed of decision
makings. Even important decisions such as company structure development, escalation to decision
makers and decisions by decision makers are made in a matter of seconds.
I was part of a very large company before, but I never experienced such a fast-decision-making
process, and I am still amazed every day, even after two years with the company.
Matsumoto: VC is an environment where you can feel satisfaction in your work even if you are in
a different position. I feel the same way as everyone else, as I enjoy working with my seniors
and supervisors on a daily basis!
【Q】 Do you feel any gender inequality when working at
VC?
Mindset and results are the evaluation indicators. Gender or age doesn't matter!
Ishizeki, Miyagawa, Homma, Saito: Not at all!! (All voices together)
Everyone: (laughs)
Miyagawa: There is absolutely no difference in rules and conditions between men and women with
regard to the evaluation system and project assignments.
We are very careful about "harassment," especially "sexual harassment," and I feel that there is
no environment in which there is a difference between men and women, both inside and outside the
company.
Ishizeki: In the first place, there is no point in differentiating between men and women in this
industry. In the consulting industry, people who produce more results should be evaluated more
highly, and I think VC has incorporated this point strongly into its evaluation system.
Homma: There is no gender discrimination in the recruiting team! Performances are evaluated
appropriately. If you achieve good results, you will be able to take on the challenge of new
projects and the establishment of new business operations.
Furthermore, we are evaluated regardless of age and years of experiences as well as gender. We
are given equal opportunities.
Saito: I agree with Ms. Homma. Not only performance, but also attitude and mindset toward work
are considered into the evaluation items.
Specifically, there are qualitative and quantitative criteria for evaluating mindset, not just
as an evaluation perspective, but also to assess "which of the above I fall into and whether I
am able to take action.
Homma: Yes!!! And it seems to me that, in part due to that effect, our corporate members have a
positive attitude!
Matsumoto: I 'm a corporate member too, so I'll try to stay positive like Ms. Homma and Ms.
Saito!
【Q】 Can you maintain a work-life balance (WLB) when
working at VC?
The quality of private life is the quality of business! Women who shine in both public and
private life
Miyagawa: Currently, I am able to keep my WLB. In my previous project, I often had to
communicate with people overseas, so I had to work a lot of overtime due to time difference. I
talked with the project sales manager and my mentor, and they worked to curb the overtime.
As a result, I was able to move to my current project and maintain my WLB.
I am grateful to the company and those who worked with me to understand and accommodate my
request on an individual basis, even though I may have been selfish in some respects.
In addition, we do not have task overload in our current projects, as we are expected to work
within the contracted hours and deliver results.
Homma: I also keep WLB. I am off on weekends and holidays and do not exceed the overtime hours
stipulated in the agreement.
Even if I have to work on weekends, holidays, or late at night for interviews, I can make
adjustments by taking compensatory holidays or flexible working hours.
In addition, in order to avoid unnecessary overtime work, we have a system in which employees
can only work overtime after receiving approval from their supervisors to ensure that the
overtime work is truly meaningful.
This system has enabled me to make a sound judgment on whether or not I need to work overtime
even when I am flustered, and to be mindful of how to handle tasks in normal times as quickly as
possible so as not to work overtime.
Saito: I am able to maintain my WLB as well as the two of you.
My tasks are basically generated by requests from people around me, and I think the fact that I
can adjust and consult with them about their desired deadline dates even when tasks pile up is a
factor for maintaining WLB.
Also, requests made after 6:00 p.m. can be handled on the next business day, which is a big
advantage.
I think it is wonderful that the company as a whole is aware of the need to discourage overtime
work in this way.
Ishizeki: From my standpoint as a deputy executive officer, I believe that the company is making
efforts to curb overtime work for both men and women. In particular, thanks to the remote work
system, I think it is a good thing for women that they are able to be flexible, for example,
receiving delivery and taking care of children during work.
Matsumoto: I see that the whole company has a way to maintain WLB. I would like to learn from
them and try to maintain WLB so that I can do higher quality work.
【Q】 Finally, what exactly is VC's unique "environment
for women to thrive"?
This is the VC’s " Action Plan based on Act on Promotion of Women's Participation and
Advancement in the Workplace"
Miyagawa: I believe that the VC way is "to provide an equal working environment for all people”.
Specifically, I believe that we evaluate everyone's achievements fairly, justly, and clearly,
and I am very satisfied with the environment at this point. In addition to this, as I have
mentioned so far, we are able to maintain WLB, and I would like to see more female consultants
joining us.
Ishizeki: Perhaps the image of consultants as a "male industry" is still strong. In order to
dispel that image, I would like to promote "the active role of female consultants in VC.
Homma: The work environment for corporate position is also an ideal environment for women
because of "equal work opportunities and evaluations" and "equal perspectives and values for men
and women".
Saito: I am of the same opinion as Ms. Homma. In fact, there are cases where women are appointed
to important positions, such as deputy executive officers like Ms. Ishizeki, or women as
department heads.
Ishizeki: I believe that the difference between men and women is only "to give birth or not”.
Childcare is for both men and women. I believe that if we can provide prenatal and postnatal
care and follow-up after returning to work, no difference between men and women will occur. The
difference between men and women will not occur. As acting executive officer, I intend to build
such an environment.
In addition, I would like to further improve the environment for those who have returned to work
after maternity leave, as well as systems that enable women to work shorter hours or remotely at
workplaces.
In this way, we would like to further enhance the environment in which women can play an active
role, and we would like to encourage female consultants and those who are seeking fair
evaluation to join our company.
Matsumoto: From what I've heard so far, I think that VC is an environment where you can fully
demonstrate your value without experiencing of "gender inequality”.
Matsumoto: I was able to get a clear picture of the situation regarding "working women" in VC.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts today.
Ishizeki, Miyagawa, Homma, Saito: Thank you for your hard work.
Matsumoto: I have just joined the company, so I am learning daily from my seniors about my
strengths and how to proceed with my work.
I will do my best to become a valuable talent and recognized as "excellent employees" like
everyone else!!
