Schedule
Daily Tasks
What are your main responsibilities?
I focus on growing ZenStudio and supporting our content team—planning long-term strategy, coordinating with other departments and partners, handling admin work, and making sure the team has what they need to do their best work.
Also, solving emergencies and managing expectations are part of my responsibilities. I see myself as a bridge: gathering creative ideas and helping shape them into plans that we can share with clients.
Which tools and platforms do you use daily?
Slack for communication, and Asana for project management. I don’t do the filming or editing myself, so I don’t use tools like Adobe—those are my team’s specialty.
How do you prioritize your tasks?
It starts with knowing what really needs to get done that day. I leave room in my calendar for last-minute things that always pop up, so I can stay on track without getting overwhelmed.
Team Collaboration
What’s your team like?
They’re colorful, energetic, and emotional—in the best way. They’re the ones behind the 1,000,000 Slack emojis with my face.
They are all talented creatives with plenty of energy, far-fetched ideas, and a passion for their craft. I try to channel the chaos into productive directions so that we are able to make great projects.
What are the unique points about your team?
Everyone brings something different to the table, both in skill and personality. Channeling all that creative energy into a single project can be a challenge—but that’s what makes the work exciting.
A given project can go a thousand different ways, but there is only ever 1 end result. I’m always curious to see what they can create from rough ideas, diverse footage, and a couple of days of editing.
Do you collaborate with other departments at ZenGroup?
Almost all of them! I collaborate with every ZenGroup division—ZenMarket, ZenPlus, ZenPromo, ZenPop, ZenLink—and also work closely with HR. All of you have diverse needs for media and design support, and I try to make them all happen. That involves a lot of communication.
Slack is great for quick questions, and Asana to write out details and share updates in a public space, but I also find in person communication to be the most effective.
Whether it’s to understand an idea better, to make sure we’re on the same page, to explain a challenge and possible solutions, or resolve a conflict. Talking in person is always the best approach.
Learning and Development
How do you stay updated on the latest trends in your position?
I follow newsletters and creatives who run or manage agencies, both for insights and inspiration. One that has been very helpful is the weekly newsletter Consumed/Created from Peter Kang (https://www.peterkang.com/), originally an agency founder, he now works on acquiring and developing various agencies and writes extensively about his experiences and insights into the industry and what is needed to make an agency successful.
What are you doing for self-improvement?
Since I didn’t come from a media production background, I’ve spent a lot of time learning from filmmakers on YouTube and, most importantly, taking feedback from my team. I also continue studying Japanese and listen to a variety of podcasts.
Work-Life Balance
How do you manage your work-life at ZenGroup?
Still figuring that one out—but I go trail running on weekends and do simple workouts every morning before coming to the office. Most importantly, I make sure to enjoy quality time at home with my wife and son.
Do you have any tips for maintaining productivity and avoiding burnout?
Leave space in your calendar for the unexpected—because something always comes up. Having breathing room keeps me from getting overwhelmed or needing to work late.
And more broadly—have something to look forward to. Whether it’s a small daily joy, a weekly routine, or a bigger event on the horizon, it helps keep the stress manageable.
A great playlist is also a must at any throughout the day. I firmly believe that there are tracks perfect for any person, at any time of the day, in any situation, with any emotion, and if you’ve got the right now, everything just flows.
Memorable Experiences
Can you share a memorable experience or success in your role?
Two come to mind:
First, the development of the Unpacking Japan Podcast—it’s been a passion project for me, and the team has really brought it to life. We’ve recorded more than 150 episodes already, and if you’d told me that we’d make it this far when we recorded the first 6 episodes in those egg chairs on the 10F, I probably wouldn’t have believed you. Now that we did, though, I see more potential than ever in this project and hope that we can take it much further!
Second, our commercial shoots—each one comes with unexpected hurdles, but the team always pulls through. I’m proud of how we’ve handled the challenges. To give some concrete examples: we may have a shoot planned for a couple of weeks already, locations decided, model and props booked, and on the day; it’s pouring rain. The planned shoot becomes impossible, and deadlines as well as model schedule make rescheduling not an option. And so we have to improvise. Other examples of frequent challenges may be: a model cancelling last minute, gear malfunction, props delivery being delayed, recording studio being too small for the planned shot, and more. But nothing has prevented us from delivering the final product.
Personal Insights
What do you enjoy most about your job?
I’ve been working here for nearly 5 years now, and I’ve seen the company grow from around 130 employees to nearly 500. I’ve seen departments triple in size and new ones being formed. It’s fascinating to see how every few months the dynamics change: new shifts in the market, new unexpected challenges for the company, new members bringing in fresh perspectives and skills. And I like having the opportunity to work with so many talented people and bring out the best in them to solve problems together.
What advice would you give to someone just starting out in your position?
Be patient. Growth takes time, and so does finding your rhythm—whether it’s with your team, your projects, or your own leadership style.
