{"id":7824,"date":"2025-07-19T13:00:22","date_gmt":"2025-07-19T04:00:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/careers.zen.group\/?p=7824"},"modified":"2026-07-09T17:21:28","modified_gmt":"2026-07-09T08:21:28","slug":"a-day-in-the-life-tobias","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/careers.zen.group\/en\/2025\/07\/19\/a-day-in-the-life-tobias\/","title":{"rendered":"A Day in the Life: Tobias"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Tobias<\/h3><\/div>

Nationality: German<\/span>
\nHometown: Toulouse, France<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

Hi! I\u2019m Tobias\u2014but most people just call me Tobi. I was born and raised in southern France, though my roots are German. I\u2019ve been living in Japan since 2018, originally coming here to study the language. What started as a short-term plan gradually turned into a long-term adventure.<\/p>\n

I joined ZenGroup in 2020, starting out in the marketing team at ZenPop. Over time, I transitioned into leading ZenStudio, our creative agency. It\u2019s been an exciting journey, and one of the highlights has definitely been producing the Unpacking Japan Podcast. If you\u2019ve seen or listened to it, you know how passionate we are about sharing unique stories from across Japan.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Schedule<\/strong><\/h2><\/div>\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
7\u20138am<\/td>\nI\u2019m usually one of the first to arrive at the office. I make coffee for the team and start the day by checking emails, catching up on design and media newsletters, and reviewing social media activity.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
8\u20139am<\/td>\nTime to check Asana updates, share progress where needed, and prep for upcoming meetings. If there is nothing specific that requires my immediate attention that day, I like to use the early morning time to make progress on reports or long term plans. It\u2019s quiet in the office before everyone gets here, and that gives me space to focus.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
9\u201310pm<\/td>\nThe team starts rolling in, so I use this time to check in, gather updates, and assign tasks as needed.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
10\u201312pm<\/td>\nThis is our busiest meeting window. If I have a podcast recording that day, I\u2019ll review my question list just before lunch to keep things fresh in my mind. We also regularly have shoots in the morning, and I\u2019ll make sure the team has everything they need.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2\u20135 pm<\/td>\nAfternoons are often reserved for podcast recordings or video shoots. I don\u2019t attend all shoots\u2014just the bigger ones. Otherwise, it\u2019s meeting time or follow-ups on active projects.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
by 5 pm<\/td>\nI try to wrap things up before 17:00, check in with the team one last time, and log any final updates in Asana before heading out.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>

Daily Tasks<\/strong><\/p><\/h1><\/div>

What are your main responsibilities?<\/h2><\/div>
<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div>

I focus on growing ZenStudio and supporting our content team\u2014planning 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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Which tools and platforms do you use daily?<\/strong><\/h2><\/div>

Slack for communication, and Asana for project management. I don\u2019t do the filming or editing myself, so I don\u2019t use tools like Adobe\u2014those are my team\u2019s specialty.<\/p>\n<\/div>

How do you prioritize your tasks?<\/strong><\/h2><\/div>

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.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

Team Collaboration<\/strong><\/p><\/h1><\/div>

What’s your team like?<\/strong><\/h2><\/div>

They\u2019re colorful, energetic, and emotional\u2014in the best way. They\u2019re the ones behind the 1,000,000 Slack emojis with my face.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n<\/div>

What are the unique points about your team?<\/strong><\/h2><\/div>

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\u2014but that\u2019s what makes the work exciting.<\/p>\n

A given project can go a thousand different ways, but there is only ever 1 end result. I\u2019m always curious to see what they can create from rough ideas, diverse footage, and a couple of days of editing.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Do you collaborate with other departments at ZenGroup?<\/h2><\/div>
<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Almost all of them! I collaborate with every ZenGroup division\u2014ZenMarket, ZenPlus, ZenPromo, ZenPop, ZenLink\u2014and 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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Whether it\u2019s to understand an idea better, to make sure we\u2019re on the same page, to explain a challenge and possible solutions, or resolve a conflict. Talking in person is always the best approach.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Learning and Development<\/strong><\/h1><\/div>

How do you stay updated on the latest trends in your position?<\/strong><\/h2><\/div>

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\/<\/a>), 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.<\/p>\n<\/div>

What are you doing for self-improvement?<\/strong><\/h2><\/div>

Since I didn\u2019t come from a media production background, I\u2019ve 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.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

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Work-Life Balance<\/strong><\/p><\/h1><\/div>

How do you manage your work-life at ZenGroup?<\/strong><\/h2><\/div>

Still figuring that one out\u2014but 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.<\/p>\n<\/div>

Do you have any tips for maintaining productivity and avoiding burnout?<\/strong><\/h2><\/div>

Leave space in your calendar for the unexpected\u2014because something always comes up. Having breathing room keeps me from getting overwhelmed or needing to work late.<\/p>\n

And more broadly\u2014have 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.<\/p>\n

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\u2019ve got the right now, everything just flows.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

Memorable Experiences<\/strong><\/h1><\/div>

Can you share a memorable experience or success in your role?<\/b><\/h2><\/div>
<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Two come to mind:<\/p>\n

First, the development of the Unpacking Japan Podcast\u2014it\u2019s been a passion project for me, and the team has really brought it to life. We\u2019ve recorded more than 150 episodes already, and if you\u2019d told me that we\u2019d make it this far when we recorded the first 6 episodes in those egg chairs on the 10F, I probably wouldn\u2019t 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!<\/p>\n

Second, our commercial shoots\u2014each one comes with unexpected hurdles, but the team always pulls through. I\u2019m proud of how we\u2019ve 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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Personal Insights<\/strong><\/h1><\/div>

What do you enjoy most about your job?<\/strong><\/h2><\/div>

I\u2019ve been working here for nearly 5 years now, and I\u2019ve seen the company grow from around 130 employees to nearly 500. I\u2019ve seen departments triple in size and new ones being formed. It\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

What advice would you give to someone just starting out in your position?<\/strong><\/h2><\/div>

Be patient. Growth takes time, and so does finding your rhythm\u2014whether it\u2019s with your team, your projects, or your own leadership style.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":15464,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_wpcom_ai_launchpad_first_post":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[53],"tags":[49],"class_list":["post-7824","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-day-in-the-life","tag-essential"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t