Employee Spotlight: Najib Rahman Sabory

This week in our Employee Spotlight series, we meet Najib Rahman Sabory, who discusses his career and experiences at JERA. Don’t forget to like the JERA page for more employee stories and to keep up to date with our latest position openings.

Please tell us a little about you

I’m from Afghanistan, a country famous for its natural beauty, delicious-organic fruit, natural resources, as well as its decades-long war and conflict.

I went to school there and completed my undergraduate studies at Kabul University in Electrical and Electronics Engineering. From 2011 to 2013, I completed my masters in Sustainable Energy at the University of Maryland College Park under the Fulbright Scholarship in the US. From 2019 to 2022, I obtained my doctorate degree at the University of the Ryukyus, located in beautiful Okinawa. My research was focused on smart and sustainable energy policy and politics in developing countries.

Before joining JERA, I was involved in the energy sector for over fifteen years. As an academic, I have taught in universities, published multiple articles in international journals and newspapers, written books and presented at dozens of academic conferences. For almost 4 years I served as the chairman of the Afghanistan Renewable Energy Union, a union representing more than 120 private sector companies active in renewable energy in Afghanistan. I also worked on projects with international organizations such as WB, ADB, GIZ, and USAID throughout my career. I was also able to start and sustain my own business in renewable energy up until early 2020. ?

As for my personal life, I am a big fan of soccer and have been playing for the last 20 years (though I’m not very good!) I recently joined JERA’s soccer team and participated in my first game in March. It was fun! There are so many talented soccer players at JERA!

I enjoy going out with family for sightseeing and picnics. My wife, son and eldest daughter also enjoy going to new places for fun and sightseeing. My second daughter joined our adventure-team 10 months ago!

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What is your role at JERA and what do you enjoy the most about your role?

I joined JERA in September 2022. As a member of the decarbonization promotion section of the planning and control department, I study and analyze local and global decarbonization trends and markets. I also represent JERA in decarbonization promotional activities such as conferences, workshops, and lectures inside and outside Japan.?

What attracted you to JERA as a company?

This was one of the questions I was asked during my interview! My response was simply that “JERA is made for me and I am made for JERA”! I found JERA’s mission and vision very similar to the work that I have been engaged in over the last decade, and its working environment meets my expectations for an ideal workplace. It is a place where I can follow my passions, which is being part of global decarbonization efforts and the realization of clean energy for current and future generations. That is why I greatly enjoy every moment of my work and never feel tired! JERA also attracted me because of its participation in the entire energy supply chain, its large portfolios and being a front-runner in decarbonization effort, not only in Japan but globally.

What has been the most transformative experience you’ve had since joining JERA?

?Surviving and enjoying working despite my limited ability to communicate in Japanese has been one of my key transformative experiences. With the support of some Japanese colleagues who have a good command of English, as well as being able to utilize technology to read and understand documents and meetings, my nightmare of working at a Japanese company has become a comfortable working environment. But that doesn’t stop me from achieving my goal of improving my Japanese language ability to business level!????

What’s one piece of advice you would share with your younger self?

I want to echo that your perspective and what you envision for your future is always dynamic and changing. So, the key to one’s success would be to learn how to adapt to a changing environment and re-organize yourself spontaneously. Also, balance your work life, carefully choose the place you want to work, embrace challenges, and learn how to think outside of the box.?

What would you tell someone that is interested in joining JERA?

For those who want to witness the energy transition firsthand, are interested in taking on the challenges of a global company and want to work in a technically and culturally diverse environment, I recommend they consider working at JERA.

We hope you enjoyed getting to know Najib and learning about his journey at JERA. If you are interested in learning more about?#LifeatJERA?or you’re looking for a new challenge this year, check out the open positions under “Jobs” and stay connected with us by following the JERA LinkedIn page. We’re Hiring, with some position linked below, so check them out!