Your Career Changes When You Take Action
――The “Reality of Taking on Challenges” Proven by Two NAKAMA

In the previous issue, we introduced the “UNIVA Career Challenge,” which just launched this past March. In the June issue of UNI-SQUARE, we’ll introduce two NAKAMA who can be considered pioneers in intra-group career transitions. One is Hiroyoshi Koga of UNIVA Japan, a pioneer of intra-group transfers who volunteered during the program’s inception. The other is Erina Nakanishi of UNIVA Corporation, who blazed a trail while seeking to balance child-rearing and her career.

Although their motivations and timing differed, both found “encounters” and “change” at the heart of their choices. This is not merely a story of transfers or job changes, but a tale of “challenge” that expands possibilities. Through their individual stories, we explore the essence of intra-group career transitions.

UNIVA Japan: Hiroyoshi Koga
UNIVA Corporation: Erina Nakanishi

Curiosity was the catalyst. Yet, life has taken me this far

The origins of the “UNIVA Career Challenge” date back to 2014. A new initiative for internal group recruitment was launched, and the very first applicant was Hiroyoshi Koga (currently with UNIVA Japan), who was then employed at ZYX.

At the time, Koga was involved in event operations as well as planning new business ventures. He was intrigued by the concept of “CRM”—maximizing revenue by focusing on customer satisfaction—when, by chance, he happened to spot a job posting for UNIVA Social Commerce on “UNI-SIGHT.” That’s when everything started to fall into place. “I remember seeing the job posting and feeling an overwhelming sense of curiosity,” Koga recalls.

Koga’s reason for applying was a strikingly simple one: “I wanted to know what kind of company it was”. He laughs, saying that his curiosity about “what kind of people I would meet” outweighed any anxiety about an unfamiliar environment, and before he knew it, he had applied. And from that small step, Koga’s career began to take off.

After working in the social commerce division, he transferred to Naturally Plus Japan, where he was assigned system-related duties. Four years later, he joined the team launching the new business “UNIVA Marche,” handling inventory management, order processing, and catalog production from the ground up. “Looking back, it was a great experience, but at the time, 24 hours a day wasn’t enough—I was swamped every single day,” he says.

Later, when he was transferred to the General Affairs Department, he crossed paths with Mr. Ubatani, the president of UNIVA Japan, and was subsequently transferred to the company’s Facilities Division. Twelve years had passed since his first intra-group transfer. His journey was not confined to a single company but consisted of a series of challenges spanning the entire group.

“Loving People” as His Strongest Asset

Amid numerous transfers and changes in environment, what has remained at the core of Koga’s career is his love for people.

“I love people even more than I love my work. Because I love people, I feel a sense of ‘I want to do something’ and ‘I have to do something’—and that feeling has become my driving force at work.”

Koga says that when he keeps “people” at the core of his thinking, his anxieties naturally fade away. Even when faced with unexpected events or difficulties, he explains, “It used to be stressful at first, but now I’ve even come to enjoy those challenges.”“When I encounter other people’s individual philosophies—their ways of thinking, feeling, and perceiving the world, as well as their personalities, temperaments, and approaches to work and life—empathy and a sense of shared understanding emerge, which increases my satisfaction in daily life,” he explains. This mindset has led to numerous encounters, and those encounters, in turn, have paved the way for his next career steps.

As Koga often says, “Challenges are encounters.” There are connections that can only be forged by diving into new environments. And it is the accumulation of these experiences that has shaped the person he is today. His 12 years of experience within the group prove that, more than skills or achievements, it is relationships with people that expand one’s career.

“Is this really enough?”—Frustration as a Driving Force

For Erina Nakanishi, changing roles within the group was less a proactive challenge and more a decision made while facing practical challenges.

At Naturally Plus Japan, where Nakanishi was employed, she worked as a sales assistant, handling tasks such as preparing materials and providing administrative support based on requests from sales staff, as well as responding to member inquiries and assisting with various procedures. After returning to work on a reduced-hour schedule following maternity leave, Nakanishi—like many mothers—faced an increase in sudden calls and absences due to her child’s illness, and she felt she had reached the limits of working the same way she did before giving birth.

Looking back on that time, Nakanishi says, “With a job that required coming into the office, I felt like I was causing trouble for everyone. I was constantly frustrated, wondering if it was really okay to continue like this.” It was during this time that she was approached about helping launch the mobile business.

She admits she had significant anxiety about leaving the environment where she had worked for about 10 years, as well as doubts about whether she would be able to succeed in a new setting. Nevertheless, driven by a desire to take on the challenge and the resolve that “I have no choice but to do this,” she took the plunge. In the mobile business, she was involved in a wide range of tasks, including customer support, managing subcontractors, and payment processing, before moving on to the accounting department.

Although she was unsure at first, having no prior experience, she gradually ventured into new areas by steadily building up her skills one task at a time.

The anxiety never goes away. But there are NAKAMA to help.

In this new environment, it was the people around her who supported Nakanishi.

“Even when I don’t understand something, there are people who will help me.” That sense of security gradually transformed into the strength to overcome her anxiety. Furthermore, by taking advantage of flexible work arrangements like the flex-time system and remote work, she was able to achieve a balance between work and family life. Her words, “I’m glad I took the plunge,” truly reflect that sense of fulfillment.

Furthermore, the value she feels she gained specifically from an intra-group transfer is “connection.” Nakanishi says that even after moving to a different company, there are opportunities to interact with former colleagues again, and that leads to a sense of security and support—which is the beauty of an intra-group transfer.

It is precisely because she is in an environment where she can take on tasks she has never experienced before and learn new things while working that her career horizons have broadened and her work has become more fulfilling. That first step taken amid uncertainty has expanded her potential—this real-life experience teaches us that taking on challenges is not reserved for a select few, but is open to everyone.

Finally, here are messages from Koga and Nakanishi to NAKAMA.

“Taking on a challenge is about meeting people. Without those encounters, there can be no adventure or opportunity. It also forces you to confront how you face yourself. If you’re thinking of changing yourself, please give it a try!” (Koga)

“I think many people feel anxious about diving into a new environment. But sometimes, I believe you need the courage to just take the plunge. Taking that first step with the support of those around you will surely be the catalyst for expanding your own potential.” (Nakanishi)

Everyone’s career path is unique. But what they all have in common is the fact that they “took that first step.” Whether driven by curiosity or conflict, that step creates new encounters and change.

Intra-group career moves are not just a policy—they’re an option to expand your potential. As these two stories show, what lies ahead is a side of yourself you didn’t know existed and connections you haven’t yet discovered. If this resonates with you, please take that first step.