Kei Hayase, Lead Partner of Consulting and Talent Recruitment at Strategy & Consulting Co., Ltd.

■ Profile

Consulting leader in the automotive, mobility, transportation, aerospace, manufacturing, and chemical sectors. With over 20 years of consulting experience, primarily in the automotive industry both domestically and internationally, he has been involved in management strategy formulation, business planning, market analysis, and future trend forecasting. Since 2021, he has also been in charge of recruitment.

This is an attractive firm that utilizes its expertise and supports business managers with a professional mindset to solve client management issues. It also allows for dynamic collaboration beyond nationality and gender, allowing for international success.

■Please tell us about the characteristics and appeal of the industry.

　Consulting is the business of solving clients' management issues by collaborating across industries and countries, leveraging a third-party perspective and expertise. Rather than providing products or services to the world, it is a job that involves supporting business managers from behind the scenes, with a mindset similar to that of professionals such as lawyers and doctors.
　The appeal of this job is the dynamism of tackling social agendas such as the SDGs head-on and working with a variety of people to solve them. Another great thing is the gratitude we receive from our clients when we utilize our expertise to solve their business challenges and complete a difficult job, and the joy of seeing how we have contributed to society.

■What kind of people are you looking for?

　We are attracted to students who are not only skilled and intelligent, but also have the mindset of wanting to contribute to the industry and create a better society. Furthermore, because we must constantly improve ourselves in order to continue to meet the high expectations of our clients, we want students who have the drive to grow and the passion to tackle new challenges. We are looking for students who can take even small steps and take action, saying, "This is how I want to do it, so I'm doing this now." Such people will be able to continue growing on their own even after they enter the workforce.

Please tell us about the appeal of your company.

　Our company is deeply rooted in globalization and diversity. As we work across industries and countries, we need people with a variety of values ​​to achieve our goals. For this reason, we actively hire foreigners, and our strength lies in our close global collaboration, as well as our recognition that gender, nationality, and age differences are not a given.

■Please give us a message for university students

　I believe that getting a job is an important decision in life, but first and foremost, I want you to make sure you make the decision without any regrets. The COVID-19 pandemic is a difficult time, but I hope you can take it in a positive way and take on the challenge of doing things that can only be done now. We at the company are looking for that kind of attitude.

Student Newspaper April 2021 Issue by Taichi Nyoi, 4th year student at Komazawa University