TOPIC:
What do we think about our workplace?
Hear directly from the ZenLink team about their experiences working at ZenGroup!
Please tell us about your role and responsibilities.
Shimooka: To prepare for the launch of ZenLink, I am responsible for finding new clients interested in our service through webinars. When reaching out to potential clients, I usually send emails or make phone calls to encourage participation in ZenLink webinars or individual online meetings, to better introduce the ZenLink service and work toward closing deals.
Fun fact, we hold four webinars per month targeting at least 10 participating companies per session, which is equivalent to about 40 companies per month! Although the webinars started in April of 2025, we will track the number of leads and conversion rates on a monthly basis, and strive to improve our processes for smoother execution.
Nakai: Through ZenLink’s service, I help domestic companies in Japan expand their sales channels overseas. I usually approach EC stores whose products already have international demand within the ZenMarket service or companies whose products fall into categories with the potential to be popular. I provide all potential clients with information about the ZenLink service through online meetings or in-person visits.
In addition, I try to raise awareness of ZenMarket by hosting webinars and communicating with partner companies. I also follow up with all clients who finalize contracts to ensure satisfaction.
Masutani: I’m the unit leader of the ZenMarket domestic sales team. Mainly, I introduce our cross-border e-commerce service to Japanese companies interested in expanding sales globally. I also work with alliance partners to support clients with internal business challenges that are difficult to solve alone.
Karimori: As a sales assistant, my responsibilities are quite diverse. I handle communication with existing clients and alliance partners for external tasks. Internally, I coordinate with internal marketers on ZenLink initiatives, support promotional and filming projects for ZenMarket, and act as a bridge between the marketing team and external stakeholders. I also make preparations for events, create design materials, and issue invoices.
What part of your job do you feel fits you best, and why?
Nakai: Most of my work involves holding online business meetings with domestic companies. I enjoy being able to connect with so many different companies and people while in the office. I also enjoy the communication style on my team. We are comfortable talking about interesting everyday topics, but when it’s time to work, we switch gears quickly and get to work quickly.
Karimori: I feel cross-department collaboration fits me best. I originally worked in another department at ZenGroup and used English regularly to interact with marketers. Thanks to the experience in my last role, I’ve built strong relationships across different teams and that helps me facilitate smooth communication and proposals.
How does your team collaborate?
Shimooka: We share updates daily during morning and evening meetings. We also have weekly meetings on Mondays that include the sales assistants. If any problems happen during the day, we report and discuss them during our meetings. If the sales team cannot resolve a problem alone, we hold meetings that include our sales assistants to find solutions. We also use Asana to make sure coordination with other departments is not missed.
Karimori: We hold weekly team meetings and make active use of our team Slack channel. Since there’s a lot of small but important information that helps sales activities run smoothly, everyone shares even minor updates in the Slack channel.
What do you hope to accomplish within the next 6 months as a team member?
Masutani: There’s a lot I want to achieve! As a member of the sales team at ZenGroup, I hope to increase awareness of the ZenLink service and expand our client base. As a team, I would love to improve team morale and motivation by organizing dinner gatherings in addition to our regular lunch meetings.
Karimori: In six months, we’ll be heading into the year-end sales season. I’d like our entire team including sales, assistants, and marketers, to be fully prepared to outperform last year’s results and strengthen our client base.
Any memorable moments with your team?
Shimooka: Rather than one specific moment, I would say that since I came from a more analog work environment, I initially struggled with the use of online tools and webinars after joining ZenGroup. Even now, I still sometimes run into some issues. However, instead of being criticized by my colleagues, I’ve always been encouraged to grow. Thanks to that, I’ve been able to focus fully on improving myself. I’m very grateful to be in such a supportive workplace with a great team.
Karimori: Back when it was just Masutani-san and me on the team, I remember how excited we were when we made our first ZenLink sale. We only had a few clients then and weren’t sure if our clients could successfully sell their products overseas, but then one of our first small transactions went through! We celebrated with a lunch outing.
A message to those considering joining your team.
Nakai: I came from a completely different industry, but thanks to the strong support from the team, I was able to learn my job quickly!
If you’re someone who is looking for an exciting work environment and wants to build something from scratch, this is the perfect team for you. Come join us and let’s build something great together!
Masutani: ZenLink is a service that just launched about a year ago.The service is growing every day, and as a member of our team you can also feel personal growth. You’ll probably find your days flying by here, because that’s how focused and involved you’ll be in each task. Of course, work doesn’t always go smoothly, and you might face challenges. But don’t worry! The team is here to support you to tackle challenges together. Let’s change the cross-border e-commerce industry together!
