Motohiro Uejima, Group Human Resources Manager, Nomura Holdings, Inc.

Building trust and cultivating humanity for the benefit of our customers and the economy.

■ Profile

Joined the company in 2001. After four years in retail sales (Toyota Branch), he transferred to the investment banking division (listed company coverage). He then worked in the investment banking TMT sector department for 16 years. He will assume his current position in April 2022.

Nomura Holdings is a leader in the financial industry. "My relationships with customers have helped me develop as a person," says Motohiro Uejima, head of the company's Human Resources Department. Overcoming the obstacles that stand in the way of a securities company and prioritizing a secure future for customers, even at the expense of the company's profits, embodies the group's values ​​of "challenge," "collaboration," and "integrity."

■Please tell us about your career history.

I joined the company in 2001 and after four years of retail sales, I was transferred to listed company coverage. After that, I worked in the TMT sector division of the investment bank for 16 years. Then, this April, I was transferred to the Human Resources Department.

Originally, I was in the Faculty of Education at university and didn't know much about economics. In fact, I couldn't graduate from university in four years, so I wouldn't say I was a very responsible person (laughs). That's why I aimed to work at a securities company because I was attracted to the sales position of dealing with volatile products, where the value lies after purchase. Another attractive aspect was that it was an exciting workplace where you were constantly required to update your knowledge.

■What are the characteristics of the industry?

People often say that "finance has an image of being difficult to approach." But from my perspective, I wonder, "Why isn't everyone interested in finance?" (laughs) Finance is closely related to the economy, so I think it's equal to an interest in the economy in general.　

For example, one of the jobs at a securities company is to match and connect people who need risk capital with investors. Every company needs capital to expand, so without services that act as an intermediary between companies and investors, companies cannot grow. One of the great things about working here is that we directly cooperate with companies in their value-enhancing activities, and the securities we sell also become investment products for investors.

　In the past, I was involved in a large-scale deal in which a Japanese company acquired a US company. During this M&A, the acquisition price was so large that it became difficult to raise funds through bank loans alone. This was because banks have limited exposure to lending to a single company. Therefore, we sought to raise the necessary funds directly from individual investors. We raised 300 billion yen in retail bonds. In a world where even 10-year government bonds only carry an interest rate of around 0.6%, the high coupon of over 1% for a 4-year bond was very welcomed by individual investors.

However, because individual investors invest less per person than institutional investors, we had to gather tens of thousands of investors to reach the required amount. It was a difficult challenge, but we managed to find a way and raise the required amount.

　Personal financial assets are thought to have the potential to move significantly in the future. It is said that approximately 1000 trillion yen in cash is dormant in the financial assets held by individuals. The investment products offered to individual investors also need to change. Going forward, we would like to enhance our fundraising support for "unicorns," private companies with a corporate value of over $1 billion (approximately 125 billion yen).

■What are the characteristics of the Nomura Group?

As a key player in the economy, the appeal of this job is that you can interact with anyone.

It is said that we are living in an era where people can live to 100 years old. With wages not increasing, people are worried about what will happen in old age. Therefore, financial education is needed to teach people how to properly manage the money they have now.

Although management is often seen as a bad thing, it can be handled correctly if you learn how to do it. We also believe that the essence of finance is "creating trust," and we place importance on whether the people providing the service are trustworthy. To achieve this, communication skills and the ability to provide solutions are also necessary.

However, looking back, I cannot say that I was able to keep all of my promises to my customers from the beginning. I visited my customers many times to talk with them so that they could get to know me better, and I think that this helped me to hone my character. You can also learn about your own character through interacting with people. I think this is one of the great things about working at a securities company.

　Our company's values ​​are "challenge," "collaboration," and "integrity." For example, I was forced to think about "integrity" when I became an M&A advisor. In that M&A project, the deal was close to being finalized, but continuing the project could have been detrimental to the client. If successful, we would receive a large success fee. On the other hand, if we stopped midway, we would lose that fee. I was hesitant, but I decided to be honest with the client and explain everything. The client was also hesitant to cancel the project, but I advised them that if it wasn't in their best interest, they should stop, and we were able to gain their understanding. When I consulted with the company before making this decision, not a single member opposed the cancellation. At that moment, I was reminded of the integrity of the company I work for and was happy.

Additionally, we aim to embody "skill," "speed," and "spirit." We are required to continually improve our expertise, respond quickly to a market where needs are constantly changing, and achieve new things. None of these are sufficient.

Nomura is a company that values ​​merit. We have a culture where taking on challenges without fear of failure is praised. Those who work hard are given higher-ranking jobs. We do not discriminate between liberal arts and science backgrounds, and the image of an athletic club is quite different from what it actually is. Currently, the ratio of new graduates to experienced recruits is half and half, and those who have transferred here come from a wide variety of industries. It is a company that recognizes diversity. There are also no barriers between me and the president and executives, and I feel that it is a company with a good atmosphere.

■What kind of people will be needed in the future?

In recent years, I feel that many people have their growth-oriented arrows pointed only at themselves. Of course, it's wonderful to have a strong desire for growth. However, our purpose in existence is ultimately to support the growth of society. Nomura's work is a team effort, so if we become self-centered, we risk neglecting the company and our customers. I think that even those of us who actually work there sometimes fail to understand this. I say this with a sense of self-reflection, but the very value of our existence lies in valuing "customers" and "the economy."

Companies must change in line with society. We are making efforts, but it will be difficult to meet those expectations with just our current staff. That is why we have high hopes for young, new talent. The Nomura Group celebrated its 97th anniversary this year. We sincerely hope to find people who can lead us through the next 100 years.

■Message to university students

Find your own values. When you're job hunting, you're inevitably drawn to the company's name and brand. It's difficult, but find what you value through experience. There are some things you won't know until you actually try it. First, try to get a feel for it and see what you can learn from it. After that, we hope you'll choose our company as a place where you can pursue your own values.

Student Newspaper Online September 26, 2022 Interview by Akari Mikamiyama, 9rd year student at Komazawa University