Our Inside Scoop series gives you a closer look at what life at ZenGroup is really like.
In Part 2 of our roundtable, we’re continuing the conversation with four women who lead different teams across ZenGroup.
In Part 1, they shared what they find rewarding and challenging about leadership, as well as what they keep in mind when working in a multicultural environment.
But did all four of them always plan to become leaders?
This time, we asked them about the paths that brought them to their current roles, how their responsibilities have evolved at ZenGroup, and their experiences building their careers as women.
Did They Always Plan to Become Leaders?
Riho and Dzvinka both joined ZenGroup as individual contributors before moving into leadership roles. Shihori and Nana, on the other hand, came to ZenGroup with previous management experience.
Dzvinka, in particular, says becoming a leader was never something she had set out to do.
Dzvinka: “I never really set out to become a leader. I enjoy solving problems, and as I kept tackling the challenges in front of me one by one, I eventually found myself in a leadership role. I feel that when people deliver results and are willing and able to take on more responsibility, they’re often given opportunities to take the next step.”
How Did Their Roles Evolve at ZenGroup?
Riho also joined ZenGroup as an individual contributor. She later became a team leader and now serves as Deputy Manager in HR, overseeing two teams.
Riho: “When I joined, I had no HR experience, so everything felt like a new challenge. But I felt that people focused less on what I couldn’t do and more on what I could do and where my strengths were. You don’t have to be perfect at everything. Everyone can contribute in the areas they’re good at and support each other. I think I’ve grown by adapting as the company and my role have changed.”
Another important part of Riho’s journey was having people around her she could turn to for advice.
Riho: “There are so many people I respect here, regardless of gender. When I’m unsure what to do, I sometimes think, ‘What would that person do?’ and learn from their example. I’ve also asked colleagues to help me think through my mistakes and the areas I struggle with.”
Rather than moving into her next role only after she could do everything herself, Riho continued to build on her strengths, rely on the people around her, and learn as her responsibilities changed.
Nana, meanwhile, joined ZenGroup with previous management experience. Since coming to ZenGroup, she says she has spent more of her time focused on management itself.
Nana: “In my previous roles, I spent a lot of time working as an individual contributor as well. At ZenGroup, I feel that a much larger part of my role is focused on management. Rather than doing everything myself, I delegate to the team leader while making sure we deliver the quality of work that’s expected of us. I’m still figuring out the best way to do that.”
Has Being a Woman Affected Their Careers?
All four people in this roundtable are women in leadership roles. So we asked them: “Have you faced any challenges while building your career as a woman?”
Their experiences—and how they think about the question—were different.
Shihori says she hasn’t personally felt that being a woman created major difficulties in her own career. However, in previous workplaces, she encountered gender pay gaps and a culture that sometimes treated women as a single group, which she found uncomfortable. She also shared what she hopes to contribute to her current team.
Shihori: “Whether or not someone wants to get married or have children, I want to help create a team where women can continue building their careers in management.”
Nana says she has encountered assumptions based on gender and age in the past. In those environments, she focused on developing her own professional expertise.
Nana: “I knew I couldn’t change the entire environment by myself, so I focused on building my expertise by deepening my knowledge of laws, regulations, and accounting. At the same time, I worked on my communication skills and my ability to express my ideas clearly.”
Dzvinka and Riho both say that, when it comes to their own careers at ZenGroup, they don’t feel that being women has had a major impact.
Dzvinka: “I understand that women can face challenges specific to building their careers and moving into more senior roles. But when it comes to my own career, I don’t feel that those challenges have had a major impact on me.”
Riho: “To be honest, being a woman isn’t something I’ve really thought about while building my career at ZenGroup. That said, there are times in everyday life when I notice assumptions based on gender or age—for example, people assuming that because you’re a woman or because you’re young, you must want to get married or have children. When I encounter comments like that, I try not to let them lead me to think, ‘Maybe I can’t do this,’ and limit my own possibilities.”
Thinking About Leadership? Advice From Our Four Leaders
Finally, we asked each of them what they would say to someone considering taking on a leadership or management role.
Shihori: “Management comes with more responsibility, but there are also managers you can turn to for advice and senior colleagues you can look up to. If you’re motivated to keep growing, I’d encourage you to give it a try.”
Nana: “I definitely wouldn’t say it’s easy, but I think it’s a challenge worth taking on. I’d be happy to see more people with different backgrounds join us.”
Riho: “I don’t think there’s one absolute requirement for being a good leader. Any experience can be useful depending on how you look at it. I’d love for people to share new ideas and perspectives without feeling bound by the way things have always been done.”
Dzvinka: “I’m looking forward to meeting new people and learning from one another!”
Closing Thoughts
So, what kind of career can you build at ZenGroup?
One thing that came through in our conversation is that there isn’t a single path to leadership.
What matters is how you take the experience and strengths you already have and carry them into your next challenge. We hope these four stories give you something to think about as you imagine what your own career at ZenGroup could look like.
Thank you for joining us for both parts of this Inside Scoop series!
