Unleash Your Spirit: Embracing Growth and Global Collaboration with Kiyoi Shin, Global People & Culture

Through all our corporate pursuits, Suntory seeks to Inspire the Brilliance of Life. Our values of Growing for Good, Yatte Minahare and Giving Back to Society unite us to achieve this purpose.?

For our employee spotlight series, we’re talking to Suntorians around the world who demonstrate what it means to “Unleash Your Spirit.”?

Kiyoi’s journey with Suntory began in 2017, right after she graduated from college in Japan. She started in international logistics, managing the transportation of Suntory’s alcohol products to markets around the world. Eager for new challenges, she moved to the Global People & Culture team, where she helped develop leadership programs and strengthen the company’s employer brand. Her career took an exciting turn when she relocated to Shanghai for a trainee role in RTD marketing. What was meant to be a one-year assignment turned into a longer experience as Kiyoi decided to stay in Shanghai and explore different markets and roles. Now back in Global People & Culture at Suntory Holdings, Kiyoi reflects on how every role, challenge, and connection has shaped her path.??

Q. Tell us a bit about yourself and your Suntory career.? What is your current role with Suntory??

I joined Suntory Holdings in April 2017, right after graduating from college in Japan. I have now worked at the company for 8 years. I started in the International Logistics department within the Supply Chain Management Division in Tokyo, where I managed the transportation of alcohol products from Japan to other countries. I enjoyed collaborating with teams from different areas, including marketing, production, legal and external partners. After 2.5 years, I moved to the Global People & Culture department, where I contributed to developing leadership programs and worked on a project to enhance our employee brand, "Unleash Your Spirit." I spent 3 years in this role before transferring to the RTD marketing team at Suntory Global Spirits in Shanghai. I started as a trainee for one year and extended my stay to explore different markets and roles. Currently, I work in the Global People & Culture department at Suntory Holdings.?

Q. Can you share some of your insights/learnings from the experience so far??

Everything is connected. I built my career by working in different roles and markets, and all my experiences, networks and people I met are all intertwined. Suntory is a big family, but it feels like a small world. You never know when or where you might work with former colleagues again. That's why I always remind myself to value the connections I make with people.?

Q. What is your best “Yatte Minahare” story – a time where you acted boldly, tackled a challenge or turned a dream into reality in your role at Suntory??

Working with a diverse group of people on challenging projects is always a 'Yatte Minahare' moment for me. It’s interesting to see how others think about the same problem. Since joining Suntory, I’ve had many of these moments, but I’ve always been able to overcome them with the support of our diverse team which has been very rewarding.?

Q. At Suntory, we want to provide employees with opportunities to “Unleash Your Spirit”. What does “Unleash Your Spirit” mean to you and how have you been able/encouraged to “Unleash Your Spirit”??

I believe 'Unleash Your Spirit' means something different to every person. For me, it’s about expressing my curiosity and challenging myself in news ways.??

Q. What is one piece of advice you’d give to other professionals, including others across Suntory’s global business???

Follow your heart. This advice was given to me by my previous manager when I was unsure about my career path. Suntory offers many different opportunities both within your current market and in other areas. Listening to the experiences of other Suntory employees can help you discover new possibilities.?

Our people are the driving force behind our business. We believe each of us has unlimited potential to grow, to lead and to positively contribute to society and nature. We encourage our more than 40,000 global employees to Unleash Your Spirit – to be curious, be bold, and be the best you can be. And we instill a Gemba mindset, enabling our people to understand the unique needs of our customers as we continuously look to exceed their expectations. As One Suntory, we strive to make an impact and have fun doing what we love by crafting our future together.?