Name : Yota Ishihara Department/Position: Intern, Domestic Business Unit
Expertise/Responsibilities: Processing credit applications and handling tasks related to communication tools such as Zoho.
University: Rikkyo University
Major/Field of Study: I am in the Department of Biological Sciences, where I primarily study biology. Through my studies, particularly in microbiology and phytochemistry, I have learned about carbon neutrality. In my research lab, I am conducting research to improve the function of proteins that recognize DNA mismatches (base pairing errors).
Reason for Joining: I wanted to apply the knowledge of carbon neutrality that I gained at university in a practical setting, which is why I decided to join.
Background: Graduated from Kagawa Prefectural Takamatsu High School; currently a student in the Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science, Rikkyo University.
Hobbies/How I Spend My Days Off: I enjoy watching baseball and love cheering from the fan seats. I also frequently go to see live shows at small music venues. Recently, I’ve become a big fan of “Yuru-chara” (Japanese local mascots).
Q. Please give a brief self-introduction, including your career up to this point.
My name is Yota Ishihara. At the university, I study biology, and my particular area of interest is synthetic biology. In my research lab, I am working on improving the function of proteins that recognize DNA mismatches. I also studied carbon neutrality which is Green Carbon’s main theme, and I joined because I wanted to apply my knowledge in a real-world setting.
My hobbies are watching baseball and going to shows at small live music venues. When I’m at a baseball stadium, I do my best to cheer from the fan seats!
Q. What kind of work are you involved in? Please tell us about your job.
I am part of the Domestic Business Units, where I process credit applications from farmers and handle tasks related to communication tools like Zoho.
Specifically, regarding the communication tools, I am responsible for setting up the user environment, managing accounts, establishing operational rules, and investigating and responding to any issues that arise.
In addition, to ensure smooth information sharing both internally and externally, I also communicate how to best utilize the tool’s features and respond to inquiries about its operation.
Q. What made you decide to work at GreenCarbon?
Through my microbiology and phytochemistry classes at university, I learned about carbon neutrality and strongly felt its importance and future potential. I began to think that by applying the knowledge I gained from lectures and practical training in a real-world business, I could deepen my practical understanding.
Green Carbon is engaged in a wide range of domestic and international projects linked to solving environmental issues, and I strongly resonated with their concrete initiatives and achievements. I was also drawn to their clear vision for achieving a sustainable society. I wanted to contribute as a member of the team while continuing to learn, which is why I applied.
Q. What challenges have you faced so far?
I faced a challenge where I couldn’t correctly configure the settings in Zoho to send appropriate campaign information to each sales agency, making it difficult to deliver information to them efficiently. Simply sending a mass email wasn’t a solution, as it didn’t allow for customizing content or timing for each agency, which created operational problems. To solve this, I utilized Zoho’s campaign, tag, and segment features to improve the settings. This allowed me to create separate distribution lists for each agency and send them tailored content individually.
As a result of this effort, we can now deliver the right information to each agency efficiently, which has improved the accuracy and speed of our operations.
Q. What has been a rewarding experience working at Green Carbon?
I felt very happy when a staff member directly said “thank you” to me for my tasks. It was a moment when I truly felt that the tasks I was responsible for and the systems I had improved were helping our team’s workflow and contributing to our success. Those words further boosted my motivation for my daily tasks, and I strongly felt the joy and responsibility of not just completing a job, but contributing to my colleagues and the organization.
Through this experience, I was reminded of the importance of communication and teamwork, which inspired me to be even more proactive in improving processes and supporting the team.
Q. Finally, do you have a message for people who want to work at Green Carbon?
At Green Carbon, every intern is given many opportunities and entrusted with a variety of responsibilities. It is an environment where you can truly feel your own growth by taking initiative, and there are new things to learn and discover every day. For those who want to actively take on challenges and enhance their skills through diverse tasks, it is an extremely rewarding place to work.