Daiki / Strategic Planning

Career Steps

1st year

Joined as a new graduate in September 2012. Experienced new sales for “Rakuten Edy” and “Rakuten Point Card” contracts, while also being involved in inbound promotion and handling major corporations.
8th Year

Appointed as a manager. Began to be responsible for cross-service sales, business strategy formulation, and business planning. Also handled project management in business planning.
Present

In January 2023, appointed as the head of the Payment Strategy Department. Engaged in the management of three groups: “Management Strategy,” “Strategic Analysis,” and “Business Strategy.”

Profile

Engaged in sales and business planning in the cashless business domain, including “Rakuten Edy,” “Rakuten Card,” and “Rakuten Point Card.” Currently, as department head, responsible for organizational management, taking on the challenge of creating new markets and value propositions, and practicing a work style that concludes tasks within working hours. Hobbies include kickboxing and gourmet food. Maintains physical and mental health by exercising and eating delicious food.

Current Role

The Payment Strategy Department's Strategy Division is divided into three groups: “Management Strategy,” “Strategic Analysis,” and “Business Strategy.” Our mission is to provide “management support,” “growth strategies,” and “problem solving” to partner companies by utilizing the resources of Rakuten Payment and the Rakuten Group. Approximately 10 members are working on creating new value for businesses and services.
Our strength lies in our ability to provide strategies and support that leverage the synergy of the Rakuten Group, with over 70 services and over 100 million user IDs. Furthermore, in the globally expanding cashless market, we sometimes collaborate with overseas companies for inbound and outbound operations, making alliances both domestically and internationally one of our scopes. We collaborate with each company within the group and utilize Rakuten's big data to explore the optimal proposals for our partner companies.

Reasons for Choosing Rakuten Payment

My criteria for choosing a company during job hunting were: strong growth potential, wide market exposure, and the ability to feel personal growth. When I joined Rakuten in 2012, I had the impression that the offline market within the group had significant room for growth, and there were many small businesses that were not yet systematized. The belief that there would be many opportunities to launch new services in such areas was one of the reasons I decided to join Rakuten. After joining, I realized it was a stimulating environment with continuous challenges. From a young age, I was involved in various projects and big clients, and I believe I came to understand the excitement of business.
When I joined, I was sometimes asked, “What kind of company is Rakuten?” However, with the expansion of Rakuten Group services, including Rakuten Payment's cashless payment services, “Rakuten Card,” and “Rakuten Mobile,” recognition has also increased. Businesses and services are constantly moving forward and growing. For someone with a personality that seeks change, I feel this environment is a very good fit.

Joy & Appeal of Working at Rakuten Payment

When establishing “Rakuten Tokyu Planning Inc.”, a joint venture with Tokyu Corporation, we leveraged Rakuten Group's cross-channel capabilities to plan new marketing solutions that utilized both online and offline assets. Beyond the payment business, I had a very challenging experience collaborating across the boundaries of Rakuten Group companies, including the commerce business, advertising business, Tech Vision, and business development departments.
Rakuten has the impact to transform daily life and society, and our business continues to grow year by year. This is only possible with the support of our users and partner companies. For example, cashless payment services are now considered social infrastructure. Since some partner companies operate 24 hours a day, we work with a sense of social responsibility to ensure stable operation. We also believe that we must pursue improved customer experiences for users, such as “savings” and “convenience,” and enhance the value provided by our services.

Future Career and Goals

One of Rakuten's unique strengths is having multiple services, not just one business entity, and the data that connects them. Within this, Rakuten is also unique in emphasizing qualitative data in addition to quantitative data, thereby enhancing the value of human intervention. While there is a data-driven aspect, diverse individuals work with passion. This human touch is also Rakuten.
There are synergies not only within the group but also with partner companies. What I am currently conscious of is the word “growth.” Growth lies in challenge. My goal is to question conventional wisdom and fixed ideas, and to find opportunities to redesign values that are taken for granted. As part of this, I am also interested in venture capital-like work that supports companies with ideas and technologies that can redesign values. I want to work on projects that expand innovation and empower society and people.

Message to Candidates

One of the key points when talking about Rakuten is “diversity.” There are many employees hired mid-career, and their previous experiences vary. Meeting colleagues who possess professional skill sets is also an attraction. The stimulating environment where everyone leverages their strengths also contributes to the enjoyment of work.
There are abundant opportunities for challenge and growth. When I joined, my senior colleagues were full of enthusiasm to “create a cashless culture.” Rakuten is also a place where you can work towards big goals like creating a culture. I believe there is also the possibility of contributing to a better life for future generations, and that this company can do it.