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Chiaki Hayashi, a Waseda University alumna, founded Loftwork Inc. in 2000. Loftwork Inc.<\/a> is a creative agency helping new businesses through design and information technology. Currently, the agency is responsible for 530 projects per year. We had an opportunity to speak with Hayashi and asked about how her career unraveled and her expectations for Waseda University.<\/p>\n \u2500\u2500How did you spend your student life?<\/strong><\/p>\n I graduated from the School of Commerce<\/a>, but to be honest, the most memorable classes are French, philosophy, and bookkeeping. The class I worked really hard for was Professor Onzo\u2019s marketing seminar<\/a>. I was drawn to the larger aspects of marketing. In his seminar, I learned about the story behind how top-selling products overlapping in categories, such as conditioner-shampoos, were developed, why Afternoon Tea became a hit-seller, and the mechanisms behind consumer behavior and activities.<\/p>\n \u2500\u2500Was there any particular career you considered as a student?<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cThink of me as a white palette. I can do and be anything.\u201d<\/p>\n I knew I wanted to work in an environment where I could be myself. It\u2019s just that when I started job hunting, businesses suddenly downsized the number of new hires because of what they called employment ice age, a difficult time for the Japanese economy. At job interviews, I felt as if employers did not bother with ordinary people and were pressuring me with the question, \u201cWhat can you do?\u201d I was baffled since I had lived a simple life, and I did not feel unique. Interview manuals suggested not to list \u201creading\u201d as a hobby, but I actually loved to read and didn\u2019t have any other talent. I didn\u2019t want to lie to myself, so I remember telling the interviews to \u201cthink of me as a white palette. I can do and be anything.\u201d The point is, even an ordinary person like me can succeed as long as you are willing to put your heart to it. You don\u2019t need to worry about not feeling special.<\/p>\n \u2500\u2500After graduating, you worked for Kao Corporation, studied abroad, became a journalist, and established Loftwork. Tell us more about it.<\/strong><\/p>\n At Kao Corporation, I worked for the marketing department with a focus on cosmetics, but in order for women to truly feel beautiful, cosmetics was not enough. I faced the reality and hardships of answering to the intrinsic needs of women. In addition, I discovered that many Japanese women showed concerns towards how they worked. With that, I decided to find new alternatives for working women and share that piece of information by studying journalism abroad at an American graduate school. Afterwards, I worked as an assistant for an economic news reporter at Kyodo News and established Loftwork Inc. with a friend. Things didn\u2019t go as planned along the way, like getting rejected from the graduate school of my top choice and not getting my dream media job. However, looking back, I feel there is no set path of the way things have to be. There\u2019s more than just one answer in life.<\/p>\n \u201cWe shouldn\u2019t decide the final destination of our projects. This way, we can realize the true value of things. That\u2019s probably the most ideal.\u201d<\/p>\n Doing your best for what your heart desires is priceless, but letting go of your ideals and following a different path than you expected is equally precious. If you work hard in your given path, you can find your own, unique way of life from there.<\/p>\n \u2500\u2500As a company, what does Loftwork do?<\/strong><\/p>\n Loftwork Inc. is a creative agency where it helps people start new businesses through design and information technology. A unique feature of our agency is \u201cto journey without looking for answers.\u201d We shouldn\u2019t decide the final destination of where our projects are heading. This way, we can realize the true value of things. That\u2019s probably the most ideal. Of course, we can lead our clients towards the goals because we have the knowhow on understanding what people are looking for and facilitation methods to merge ideas together for maximized outcomes.<\/p>\n \u2500\u2500What is a project you are currently working on that you are excited about?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\t\tAcquired marketing skills at the core of work<\/h3>\n
More than just one answer in life<\/h3>\n
Creating a forest where bears dance out of delight<\/h3>\n