Achieve our product growth

Product manager New graduate hire (2021)

Keita Masunaga

I heard something like this

  • ・What is your background?

  • ・ What is your current job?

  • ・ What are the characteristics of GA?

  • ・ What are your future goals?

I want to challenge big things from a young age

When I was in college, I was especially devoted to long-term internships. As an intern at an IT company, I was involved in the operation of SNS advertisements for a news app for a year and a half in the marketing department. Also, after I got a job offer from GA technologies, I was involved in recruiting for about eight months. Before I became a member of society, those experiences that I was able to see not only the atmosphere of the company but also the people who enjoyed their work with my own eyes became my foundation.

Also, studying abroad for a year in California, USA was a big turning point. I was able to realize that "the most fun for me is jumping into a completely new environment and struggling to achieve something."

The deciding factor in joining GA technologies was that I couldn't imagine what I would look like 2-3 years from now if I joined this company, more than any other major or venture company. To be honest, I wasn't originally interested in the real estate industry. However, when I talked to GA employees, I was surprised to see that young employees were doing such a big job. The main reason I chose GA was that I felt that I could take on big challenges from a young age if I achieved results at work here, regardless of my age.

At the same time, I was genuinely impressed by the sight of the employees striving for the lofty goal of "creating the world's top company." All the employees I met were serious about their work and enjoying the process of achieving their goals. I found it very attractive and decided to join the company.

Sales and product management are both difficult and interesting

After joining the company as a new graduate, I was seconded to ITANDI, a group company, and did corporate sales for about a year and a half as field sales of the customer management system "nomad cloud" for real estate brokerage companies. In addition, as a sales area manager, I was involved in developing team members and formulating sales strategies.

By visiting a real estate brokerage company as a salesperson, I was able to understand the thoughts and business practices of the people who work there, and at the same time, I realized that many issues still remain in the field. I started to think, "I want to solve more inconveniences through products," so I transferred to a department that plans and launches new products. Currently, I am in charge of product management for the SaaS and rental management system "ITANDI Management Cloud" for management companies.

For me, who had only sales experience, planning and launching a product felt like I was in another world. There are so many stakeholders inside and outside the company, and every day I feel the difficulty of making decisions on my own based on a firm understanding of diverse opinions. For that reason, there are a lot of rewards that are different from sales. The process of moving people and organizations with my own decisions and polishing a single product is really interesting. I hope to grow more and involve more people to deliver more value to our customers.

Together with colleagues who are serious about their work

It's an environment where even young people can get a lot of discretion. This is a point that I emphasized during my job hunting, but after joining the company, I was surprised many times. There are people who have launched a new business in their first year as a new graduate and become a business manager, and I was also appointed as a sales manager in my first year at the company. There is a culture of letting things go. If you are entrusted with a job, it is assumed that you will do your best, but if you want to do a big job with responsibility from a young age, I think you will definitely enjoy the environment.

I also feel that the employees truly enjoy their work. Of course, I am one of them, but I feel that each and every one of us is working with conviction to realize the company's vision and ideal worldview. That's why I think I can seriously face my daily work and enjoy it.

One of our company's action guidelines, "GA VALUES," is "HEART (Be a good person)." One of the reasons for this may be that each individual works with the awareness of creating an environment where everyone can work comfortably.

Struggling desperately, keep overcoming the wall

I still think I have a lot of issues as a product manager. Based on the premise of "how to provide valuable services to customers," building and developing sales methods in line with strategies while involving various members such as marketing, sales, customer success, designers, engineers, etc. I realize that it is more difficult than words. That's why we turn the PDCA cycle speedily while bumping into walls every day. And I feel that it is essential for me to continue to absorb from many people, such as customers and employees. I will probably make a lot of mistakes in the future, but I want to try my best to think while I run, and overcome the obstacles one by one. I would like to keep in mind that the work I am doing on a daily basis includes the digitization of real estate operations and the elimination of inconveniences, and I would like to grow our products significantly while thoroughly taking the customer's point of view into consideration.

Also, as the organization grows, I feel that it is essential to create human resources who can launch new products and human resources who can manage. I also want to become a person who can bring awareness and enthusiasm to other members while getting the people around me involved, and I want to contribute even more than I do now.

* This article is based on information at the time of the interview. Please note that it may differ from the latest information.

Product manager New graduate hire (2021)

Keita Masunaga

Graduated from the Department of Political Science, Faculty of Law, Keio University. Joined GA technologies Co., Ltd. as a new graduate in 2021. Worked as a sales area manager after engaging in corporate sales/Saas sales for real estate brokerage companies at ITANDI, Inc. Currently working as a product manager for the SaaS system "ITANDI Management Cloud" for management companies.

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