This time we interviewed Ha Yura, who works as an intern in the Overseas Business Department. Please read through to the end!
Please briefly introduce yourself, including your career to date.
I graduated from the University of Tokyo with a first class degree in law and plan to start working for a foreign consulting company in the coming year. I have always been interested in environmental issues, but after entering university I became more aware of various other social issues as well, so I was very confused when choosing my second-year undergraduate degree. I chose to study law because ‘law and policy are important in both the environmental and social fields’, but through the environmental classes in my exchange programme I became acutely aware of the influence of companies, and I chose a consulting company because I wanted to be in a position to influence various companies in my job. I wonder if there was any point in choosing a law degree as an undergraduate (laughs).
I am originally from South Korea! But I have lived in Japan (mainly Osaka) since I was one year old and started living alone in Tokyo when I went to university. After graduating from university, I worked remotely from my parents’ house because my dog got sick. Working remotely can be difficult in a number of ways: my back hurts after long hours, my meal times are off, and I have to worry about work after I leave work, but I consider it a good opportunity to adapt before I start working, and I am struggling to make my own way..!
What made you decide to work for GreenCarbon?
I was introduced to the company by Mr Endo, who is also working as an intern.
Due to my exchange and leave of absence, I was planning to graduate in September this year, take a short break and start working as a new graduate next April, but I decided to finish my credits early and graduate in March this year, so I had one year to spare. During that time, I wanted to do something I hadn’t been able to do before due to lack of time or opportunity, so I did a lot of research on internships and volunteer work related to environmental issues.
Around that time, I had a chance to meet Endo-san and when I told him about the internship, he had just started his internship at GreenCarbon two weeks earlier. He asked me, ‘Would you like to join us?’ I was introduced to him and he said, ‘By all means!’ I was introduced to him. The timing was perfect (laughs). I am grateful to Endo-san!
What type of work are you involved in? Please tell us about your work
The areas I am involved in are diverse, including rice farming consortiums, carbon offset-related and ESG consulting work, with a focus on domestic projects.
Data management, system implementation, material research and preparation are of course a part of my job, but I am also given different tasks every day, such as creating carbon offset tools, devising actual corporate materialities in the ESG consulting business and disclosing ESG information, so when I start my shift I ask myself, ‘What should I do today? .’ I ask.
What makes your job worthwhile?
It is a feeling of realising that the work you have done is useful and that you have grown at the same time.
For example, when considering carbon offsets in a certain field, I make a list of the parts of the field that emit CO2, and then create a formula for calculating the amount of CO2 emissions for each item, using data from the Ministry of the Environment and other sources as reference. We then compile this into an Excel file and create a tool that automatically displays the CO2 emissions if the necessary items are filled in.
When the completed tool is actually used in a company’s business or event, or when the calculated emissions are used as a reference and lead to a new business, I am happy to know that my hard work was worth it. In addition, I acquire knowledge that I didn’t know about while doing the research, and my Excel skills improve while creating the tools, so even the hard work is enjoyable.
Finally, do you have a message for people who want to work for GreenCarbon?
It is a very attractive company for those who are interested in environmental issues. You can get involved in environmental issues from a variety of angles, and even as an intern you can express your own opinions while participating in discussions with the president and employees. In addition, the business is growing and expanding rapidly, so this is a valuable opportunity to promote your own and the company’s growth together. Please consider this position!