Chiyoko Yamada, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Client Solutions, Dell Technologies

The winner is the one who moves forward with confidence without being swayed by information!

Executive Vice President and General Manager of Client Solutions at Dell Technologies
Chiyoko Yamada

He joined Dell in July 1995 as an inside sales representative for Large Count Out Sales. He subsequently held a number of positions before becoming General Manager of Client Solutions in February 2015, contributing to Dell's sales and profit growth in Japan. He was appointed Executive Officer in September 2016 and Senior Managing Executive Officer in February 2017, a position he holds to this day.

Yamada got a job in the IT industry, which was a male-dominated field. She was even told, "You can't get a job with a woman, so change the person in charge." How did she change her attitude and survive from that point on? It is filled with answers for students worried about their future. Explore the secret to not losing sight of yourself in an information society!

When I was a student, I didn't think too deeply about my future. I was having fun every day, and my mother was a full-time housewife, so I just thought I'd just help with the housework after I graduated.
I first got a job at a listed furniture company. At the time, there was still a trend for women to retire early to get married and have children. It was a great place to work, but I was interested in going abroad, so I quit soon after and went to New Zealand to study English for about a year and a half.
After returning to Japan, I applied to a bank during my second job search, and by chance, I also applied to a company that I had seen featured in a magazine. That company was Dell. However, the interview at the bank went so well that the time for my interview at Dell passed. I was tired after the long interview, so I called to decline, but they said, "Please come in even now." I had no choice but to go and take the interview, and during the interview, I heard their message that "Dell still has a long way to go, but they want to change the way PCs are distributed." At the time, other companies had captured a large share of the market, so I flatly declined, saying, "It's difficult to gain market share as a latecomer."
　And yet, I was even told, "Someone who can express their opinions so clearly is a perfect fit for Dell!" (laughs) So I thought, "If they say so, I might as well give it a try," and joined Dell.

My business partner told me that I couldn't talk to a woman.

At Dell, I was given clear goals, and achieving them was both fun and rewarding. My achievements against my goals were also properly evaluated, which I found very refreshing. Of course, if I didn't achieve my goals, I was evaluated accordingly, but it made me realize that it was my responsibility. I also enjoyed being able to expand my horizons by consulting with my seniors.
Of course, there were many times when I wanted to quit. In the past, there was a strong image that IT = men, and when I went to other companies to sell, they would say, "It won't work with a woman's surname, so please assign a male representative." It was tough and frustrating. However, it all depends on how you look at it. The image of IT = men won't change no matter how much you complain. In other words, you start from a negative position where no one expects anything from you. So I started to think, "Even if I can do a little, it's easy to get an evaluation that 'You're good at your job,' so I see it as an opportunity!" Making the switch is very important.

It's better to express your opinion no matter how childish it may be.

　What's attractive about Dell is that there is little gap between what you experience before and after joining the company. During interviews, we try to be completely honest and open about the company's culture and philosophy. This allows us to check whether the position is a good fit for you, which reduces employee turnover. We also encourage interviewees to let us know if they have any concerns.
　I also like the culture of open discussion. When I first joined the company, I was asked for my opinion and answered, "I agree with everyone else," or "I don't have anything in particular," and was told, "In that case, you can leave the meeting." No matter how childish your opinion may be, it's better to speak up than not to think at all. Also, you can choose your own career path within the company, even if it means working in an overseas department. This system exists to expand opportunities for employee growth. I think it's a feature that you won't find in many other companies.
Furthermore, it is recommended that managers and subordinates have regular one-on-one time to talk. In my case, it is about 45 minutes once every two weeks, where I talk about my worries and future career aspirations. This allows me to communicate with my boss and also gives me an opportunity to think about my career.

How Dell products will impact the future

　The philosophy of Dell's founder is to "create technology that drives human evolution." We are currently living in an age where new trends such as autonomous driving, digital government, virtual reality, and AI are emerging one after another, and productivity can be improved through the use of IT. IT is essential, and I feel proud and rewarded to be able to support this. I am excited about the future of digital transformation and how our products will influence this future.

＊message＊

I would like to tell students that they don't need to force themselves to decide what they should aim for while they are still students. With so much information available these days, students tend to overthink everything, which can make them look miserable. I want them to have confidence in their own choices without comparing themselves to others, and they should also be able to slowly discover their own career path while working. It is important not to be swayed by information, and to pursue what you think is "it!" There is no such thing as "if you can do this, you'll be fine for the rest of your life." That is why I believe that if you challenge yourself to do what you want to do, paths will open up.

From the April 20, 2020 issue of the Student Newspaper (by Tsuyoshi Sugata, second-year student at Nihon University)

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