My Journey
A timeline of experiences that shaped who I am today,
from childhood cultural identity to professional growth,
and creative expression.
The Common Thread
Looking back, there's a common thread: I've always been about understanding people, structuring chaos into clarity, and staying calm under stress. I don't define myself by a single title. I thrive on observing, connecting, and guiding.
Childhood & Cultural Identity
Born in Japan, I spent my early childhood in the United States until the end of elementary school. This experience influenced me more deeply than I realized at the time: I came to think in many ways like an American, but when I returned to Japan, I was expected to behave according to Japanese norms. The resulting inner conflict left me struggling with my sense of identity. Gradually, however, that struggle gave me a unique perspective on people, cultures, and behaviors.
Technology & Discovery
Growing up, I had a strong passion for technology—I built my own PC, closely followed tech news, and watched the early smartphone boom unfold, all while thinking of myself as a 'tech geek.' That curiosity for how things worked laid the foundation for the career path I'd eventually pursue.
University IT Support
I started my career by directly helping people. During my university years in Japan, I spent two years working part-time in IT support, assisting professors, staff, and students with everything from Microsoft Office to internet issues and setting up both Macs and Windows machines. Although I set a record for most support requests resolved in one shift, what truly mattered to me was the satisfaction of empowering others to feel comfortable and capable with technology.
Student Assistant & Mentorship
For two years, I served as a student assistant working part-time, supporting both a professor and students working on their thesis. My responsibilities included not only providing academic structure but also emotional support. I listened to students, guided them, and helped them navigate stress and uncertainty. The compassion and perceptiveness I developed in this role have stayed with me ever since.
Professional IT Experience
After graduating, I worked full-time in the electronics trading industry for five years, gaining valuable professional experience. Yet, my previous part-time jobs brought me greater fulfillment as I was able to directly support and connect with people. These roles highlighted my strengths: understanding others, organizing teams, and ensuring project clarity. Thanks to mentors who demonstrated calm during crises, I thrive under pressure and naturally step into leadership roles to bring order to chaos.
Full-Stack Development & Project Management
While studying full-stack development, I discovered that my true interest isn't UI design or becoming a full-time developer — it's UX, strategy, and team management. On a recent project, I worked as both project manager and developer, but what motivated me most was keeping the team aligned and delivering together. I'm most energized when collaborating to solve real business problems.
Business Operations & Systems Consulting
I'm currently based in Vancouver and working as a Business Operations & Systems Consultant. I support a Japanese university group by identifying operational challenges, translating them into clear requirements, and building practical internal systems using Google Apps Script, JavaScript, and Google Cloud Platform (Cloud Run, Cloud Functions). My work spans stakeholder discovery, workflow design, implementation, documentation, and continuous improvement.
Main AI tools as my partners.
I embrace AI as part of my daily workflow. From code generation and debugging to content creation and problem-solving, these tools help me work more efficiently and creatively.
- Gemini (Free): Provides quick answers to general questions with multi-modal features when out and about.
- ChatGPT (Plus): Collaborative partner for structuring ideas.
- Claude (Pro): Long-form reasoning, analysis, and document creation.
- Antigravity (Enterprise): Development companion for coding with AI and debugging.
- Grok (Free): Latest information gathering.
- NotebookLM: Learning and extracting facts.
- Cursor: Gaining popularity among developers for its cost-efficient coding model — I'm planning to try integrating it into my workflow soon.