Her Story
About Yo
I originally came from Japan where I worked as a startup engineer, which was a pioneering role - I was the second person in my company to fill that position, and I was surrounded by all males. A Japanese recruiter found me and was trying to find a Japanese female to penetrate the American market, especially in this male-dominant area, so we started working together. When I was in college, I wanted to be an international salesperson, but I couldn't do it in Japan, so I managed to get a job as a startup engineer so I could go overseas to do my job. I came to the United States, met my husband, and once I moved here, I got my MBA in Information Systems, so I'm a little bit on the IT side. I did more operational work with Japanese companies at first, but when I moved to the chemical company, they let me do small sales. My biggest first sales accomplishment was when I sold transparent ABS to Mattel for their Lego competitor blocks - they did a Barbie version and I sold that. Now I'm doing the sales work I always wanted, so I think I'm doing okay. I managed my career path the way I wanted it.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Yo
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to my daughter. We have a daughter who is now grown, and I want her to be able to see her future through my work attitude. I keep telling her I want her to be independent, like I am. I'm married, and happily married, but sometimes people cannot get divorced because of financial reasons. I don't want her to have those burdens. I told her, I need you to be independent. So she's doing really good - she got two national honor societies, she just graduated, went to Dean's List, went to London School of Economics for one year, and now she's gone for one year for MBA and she's aiming to go to law school. She got summa cum laude, and she got international relations and international business honor society. I think because of her, I keep working.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Don't be afraid, be yourself. Customers will see it if you're in the sales field, or even purchasing side. They will know you're genuine. Be yourself. Aim high. In the chemical industry, there are not that many female sales, so if anybody's working, trying to be going through the sales position and having a hard time, I can talk, or I can listen. That's not a problem.
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