Coming towards completion of my engineering degree, I decided that I wanted more than "just a tech job" starting out life after college but rather expand my horizons in several directions simultaneously. Sony in Tokyo presented me with a great combination of opportunities: work on cutting edge technology for cool new products, the opportunity to learn a new language, Japanese, in which I am now fluent, and experience life in a new and totally different culture. Coming straight out of an engineering program, it was a combination of opportunity and challenge I was more than happy to take up.

My main focus has changed from the hands on design work that I started out with to developing technology and business strategy at Sony Headquarters. I apply the deep understanding of technology that I developed as an engineer and combine it with knowledge of business strategy that I obtained through a company sponsored MBA degree to tackle the challenges inherent in Sony's rapidly evolving competitive environment. I work with management and engineers throughout the company to develop an understanding of business unit operations and strategy as well as the current and probable future competitive environment. Based on this understanding, I help management develop strategies that will help us grow our businesses.

Being based in the Technology Strategy Department means that I have to define, plan and execute the vast majority of my work independently. But the nature of my work brings me into contact with a large number of people inside and outside of the company with whom I sometimes end up forming ad-hoc virtual, cross-functional teams. One of my biggest challenges is getting the full cooperation of the many people in the company whom I need to have work with me but at the same time have no formal authority over.

I think that the approaches or individual characteristics that help one achieve goals at Sony are quite similar to many other companies. Having a long term vision for myself and working consistently to realize that vision has been the biggest single factor in successfully reaching my long term goals within Sony.

I think job satisfaction has two components, long term satisfaction which comes from seeing growth over the months and years and daily job satisfaction which is more a function of the immediate environment. In terms of long term job-satisfaction, things have been great. Working at Sony I have always had a great deal of opportunity for self-development. This not only includes company sponsored outside training but also the freedom to transition between different functions within the corporation. I started as an engineer in the semiconductor organization and after several years was able to move to a corporate planning function within the semiconductor organization, which was followed by a company sponsored MBA and my move to corporate strategy development in headquarters. Perhaps as a result of the company's willingness to invest in people, I find myself exposed to a large number of highly intelligent, motivated individuals through my work. Great people are a big part of my daily job satisfaction.