Iwasa: I often hear that balancing employee-led activities with regular work responsibilities can be challenging. It's true that when events for our employee initiatives coincide with busy periods at work, I sometimes feel pressed for time. However, since I approach these activities with a positive attitude, I find them to be both demanding and enjoyable. When my main duties start to feel overwhelming, switching focus to our employee initiatives helps me reset mentally. It gives me a fresh perspective and renewed energy for my regular work. I truly feel that participating in these activities has a positive impact on my primary job as well.

Kamada: I also pay close attention to how WIPS members balance their activities with their core responsibilities. Everyone is highly motivated to make our company a better place, which keeps the activities very lively. That's why I constantly remind members not to overexert themselves or let the activities interfere with their main work. I also encourage them to build an environment where they can speak up and support one another when challenges arise, rather than taking on too much alone. Cooperation is a powerful force, not just for these activities, but for achieving any goal or solving problems. I hope the importance of mutual support learned through this initiative will also be reflected in everyone's day-to-day work.

Yoshikawa: I completely agree that it's important to speak up when things are busy or difficult. To do that, it's essential to build relationships where we feel comfortable asking for help, and that starts with regular communication. The senior team I joined this year includes members located in places such as Kumamoto, Nagasaki, and Kagoshima, so most of our meetings are conducted online. I've really felt how limited opportunities for in-person contact can make communication more difficult. I now realize that creating more opportunities to meet face-to-face is one of the best ways to deepen our understanding and teamwork.

Yoshikawa: One challenge I'd like to take on next is a collaborative project focused on supporting senior employees. I initially thought collaboration would be difficult if limited to seniors only. However, after hearing Iwasa-san mention that SSS DIVI is planning career interviews for mid-level and senior employees, I realized that, from a broader career perspective, collaboration could be very meaningful. Expanding the scope of these interviews could lead to a more connected and valuable initiative, and I'd be thrilled to make it happen.

Kikuchi: As I'll be graduating from this initiative at the end of this fiscal year, I hope to continue contributing as an advisor, passing on the knowledge and experience I've gained. Many STAND BY YOU! activities have been internally focused, but listening to everyone today gave me a lot of fresh ideas and inspiration for activities I hadn't imagined before. Going forward, I'd love for STAND BY YOU! to collaborate with other group companies and even external organizations to create interactive events that engage more people and attract wider interest.

Kamada: Speaking of collaboration, at SIE we’ve already begun joint initiatives with employee activity groups in the U.S. and U.K., as our organization continues to globalize. We also partnered with Sony Music Entertainment Japan to hold a talk session featuring employees from places other than Japan. Connecting and exchanging ideas with people from across the Sony Group provides tremendous learning opportunities. I hope we can collaborate more broadly to create even more opportunities for employees to connect with one another.

Watanabe: At S-Hub, we gather feedback on workplace challenges and everyday concerns that employees experience, discuss them as a team, and work toward improvement. This ability to identify issues from the ground up is what makes bottom-up activities so unique and powerful. Our team includes employees with disabilities and LGBTQ+ employees among others, bringing diverse perspectives to every discussion. By exchanging ideas as a team, I hope we can continue learning from one another and developing the collective insight needed to address challenges effectively.

Nozaki: You may have heard the term "third place." It refers to a space that is neither home nor work, but somewhere in between where people feel comfortable. For us DIVI members, DIVI itself is becoming that third place. If all employees could find such a space within the company, it would give deeper meaning to their work at Sony. Through our activities, I aim to help provide that kind of space for every employee. To achieve this, I personally hope to become someone who can truly understand and empathize with people from all walks of life.

Iwasa: I want everyone in the company to develop a sense of ownership and recognize that they too are part of Sony's diversity. Each of us brings different backgrounds and values, and when those differences inspire one another, they can lead to the creation of new products and services, and ultimately the growth of the organization. I hope everyone, including those often seen as part of the majority, will recognize that their individuality also contributes to the company's diversity. Since diversity involves everyone, I want to help foster a culture through our bottom-up employee initiatives where people respect each other's differences and value inclusion.

During these interviews, many other opinions and ideas were exchanged. The new insights gained by each participant will certainly enhance their respective bottom-up employee initiatives. The joy of supporting colleagues in need and the sense of personal growth that come from these experiences continue to drive Sony's employee-led diversity activities, expanding beyond organizational boundaries and connecting people throughout the company.

Read Part 1 of the feature on bottom-up diversity initiatives across the Sony Group in Japan here

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