Meet Yuka Oshima, Senior Deputy Manager, Sompo Tokyo Office, Global Business Department, Sompo Holdings, Inc.
Please tell us about your career journey and your path to Sompo.
I joined Sompo Japan in 2005 working in agent marketing in the eastern Tokyo branch before I transferred to the personal lines underwriting department in 2009. Since 2010, I have overseen the overseas (re)insurance business. I started as a trainee of ex-Sompo Japan Europe, followed by working in Singapore as a liaison upon the acquisition of the local P&C company by Sompo. After going back to Tokyo to support the overseas business of Japanese global accounts in 2014, I was seconded to Sompo Holdings Asia in 2016 for consumer marketing and branding. In 2019, I started in my current position working as a member of the Global Business department of Sompo Holdings. My main mission is to support external and internal communications between Sompo and Sompo’s group companies in Japan, as well as to manage group-wide projects upon the establishment of the Sompo Tokyo office in April 2022.
Why do you work? What is the purpose in your work?
I work for Sompo to pursue personal enrichment and self-fulfillment, rather than just to cover my living expenses. My purpose in my work is to support the growth of Sompo and increase our corporate value as the Sompo group through enhancing communications with external stakeholders in Japan. From a longer-term viewpoint, my purpose in both my work and life is to turn Diversity and Inclusion into a strong and meaningful part of Sompo. I am convinced that through working with people from different countries and career backgrounds, and adopting different perspectives and approaches, what we create will be more innovative than what is created through homogeneous ways. Facilitating unrestrained discussions among different types of people is not easy, but will be a precious asset for Sompo to build a strong foundation which is resilient enough to withstand an uncertain, volatile and rapidly changing environment.
Tell us about an initiative at Sompo that you are most excited for in 2022.
I’m most excited for group-wide projects where Sompo’s Tokyo office plays an intermediary role between the Japanese business and the overseas business, each of which has its own features. Compared to when I joined Sompo 17 years ago, Sompo’s business has expanded greatly in terms of both geography and business domains. While each business segment has grown through its own vision and strategy in the market, I recognize the importance of Sompo’s people feeling unified and collaborating with each other to generate value to various kinds of stakeholders. With a strong sense of mission, I’m in charge of managing three core projects related to reinsurance, investment, and solutions for multinational companies as a project management office. While there may be challenges among business segments in the decision-making process, I believe the efforts to remove the sub optimization mindset and lead Sompo’s people in the same direction will ultimately lead to a financially and socially stronger company which can nimbly create solutions to meet the needs of stakeholders.
What is your idea of a perfect day outside of the office?
My perfect day outside of the office includes seeing my lifelong friends and colleagues all together in a big space having various kinds of food and drink from across the world. I would like to appreciate all of the diverse people who have supported me. At the same time, I would like for them to introduce themselves to each other and use the opportunity to capture new perspectives and recognize different values. Regardless of age, nationality or past careers, everyone can maximize their potential and feel at ease as long as people positively accept differences between one another. This mindset is aligned with my purpose in my work as well as in my life.