Nichicon Corporation President and COO Shigeo Yoshida

To be a company where everyone can share joy and grow

■ Profile

A graduate of Kansai University, he joined Nichicon Corporation and was stationed overseas in Singapore and Hong Kong before becoming an executive director in 2009 and president in June 2013. He is currently developing energy and environment-related businesses, including capacitors essential for electronic and electrical equipment, energy storage systems, V2H systems, and rapid chargers for EVs and PHVs.

　I grew up in the middle of a shopping district, so naturally I chose the Faculty of Commerce, but at the time I wasn't sure what I wanted to study. A friend invited me to join the Accounting Research Club, a club activity, which ultimately led to me choosing a seminar and starting my career, but now I look back fondly on the struggles I faced in planning thesis presentations and training camps, as well as the part-time jobs that were a club tradition.
　I first learned about Nichicon when a graduate from my seminar came to recruit at the end of my job-hunting period, and I immediately visited the company and had an interview. At the time, new products such as PCs and CDs were being released one after another. I wanted to work in a manufacturing-related field, and I was also interested in electricity and electronics, so I decided to join the company. I found this company through connections with friends, professors in my seminar, and senior colleagues at work, so I believe that connections with people are extremely important.

■What are your goals in your work?

　The greatest joy comes from contributing to society through our products and being recognized by the world. At work, superiors and subordinates work on the same team, so when we achieve results and people say, "This is a great company," all employees share the joy. That's why I'm always thinking about how to lead my team to success and connect with society. I want to continue producing cutting-edge products and become a company that people look forward to, wondering, "What will Nichicon come up with next?"
　I also want to work with colleagues who share my vision. I was impressed by Chairman Takeda's words, "with sincerity" and "live each day seriously," as well as his ability to put them into practice, and I have always admired such a chairman. Therefore, I am looking for proactive people who have a strong determination to never give up.

■Message

　I hope you will come into contact with a variety of people and cultures and gain as many experiences as possible. Don't stick to one field, but be interested in a variety of fields, such as literature and music. Listening to your parents, professors, and seniors is one thing, but reading books is also good. Then, discuss what you have learned with others and exchange opinions. By recognizing the differences between yourself and others and learning new ways of thinking, you will be able to discuss things from various angles. Find out what you can do and never give up. And keep challenging yourself in what you believe in.

Student newspaper April 2021 issue Sawako Ugawa, second year student at Kyoto Prefectural University