Interview
Life as a working woman
Online MR Group 1 Group Leader Kaori Kubota
My Commitment as a Group Leader for a New Customer-Preferred Channel
I joined the company in 2004 and began my professional career as an MR. After taking maternity and childcare leave and working as a part-time MR, I returned to full-time MR duties in 2019. In April 2022, I took on a management role as the Group Leader of the newly established Online MR function—a new channel for customer engagement.
Online MR is a new approach to providing information to healthcare professionals through virtual channels. It is gaining attention as one of the options tailored to meet the diverse needs of physicians. In online meetings with doctors, we not only deliver highly specialized information but also gather customer insights.
My role is to build organizational capabilities while maximizing the performance of my team members. I am committed to supporting both the growth of the organization and the development of each individual member.
Originally, as an MR, I visited hospitals and clinics to provide information directly to physicians. So when I first heard about online meetings, I wondered, “How will this work?” and “Is there really a need for it?” I started from zero, exploring and trying to find the right approach. However, after becoming involved in Online MR operations, I now strongly recognize the value of communicating with customers through digital channels.
For busy physicians, the flexibility of online meetings—free from constraints of time and location—offers significant advantages. Additionally, it allows us to connect with doctors in any region, from Hokkaido to Okinawa, creating new touchpoints for communication.
On the other hand, one of the challenges of online meetings is that many of the physicians we speak with are meeting us for the first time, especially those who don’t yet have a strong relationship with Astellas. The key is how effectively we can deliver the information they need—particularly about our products—within a single meeting. Enhancing the skills of our team members to ensure they can provide complete and relevant information is one of my most important missions, and also one of the most rewarding aspects of my role.
Looking 10 years ahead as we continue to move forward
At Astellas, many female employees—including myself—have experienced maternity leave, childcare leave, and reduced working hours. One of the greatest strengths of Astellas is its warmth and humanity. Regardless of gender, people naturally reach out to those in need and offer support to those who are working hard. Beyond formal systems, Astellas provides an environment where women can work with passion and vitality, allowing them to move forward with confidence even when facing major life events.
As part of my role, I regularly conduct career development interviews with members of the Online MR team. During one of these conversations, a team member shared that they had never had a female senior or manager nearby—let alone one who was married with children—and that my presence was encouraging to them. Hearing this made me happy and also reminded me of the responsibility I carry to be a positive role model.
A pivotal moment in my career was when I made the decision to eliminate “quitting” as an option. I began to focus on how I could continue working while ensuring that I, my family, and those around me remained mentally and physically healthy. For many women of my generation, it’s difficult to let go of the idea that “having a family might mean leaving work someday,” especially in a male-dominated society. It took me several years to fully commit to continuing my career. But now, as society increasingly embraces women building careers, I believe that imagining a successful future for oneself helps dispel negative preconceptions.
When thinking about life, I find it important to envision where I, my family, and those around me will be in 10 years—and to choose my path accordingly.
People often ask me, “How do you keep going with such energy?” When I reflect on what drives me toward my mission, I realize that one of the key factors is the Astellas principle of One Astellas. By collaborating across departments, we achieve results that would be impossible alone, and the sense of accomplishment is deeply rewarding. Seeing team members take ownership of their work with a strong sense of responsibility and patient focus—and watching them grow through expressing their individuality—is another major source of motivation for me.
Looking ahead, developing future leaders is one of my personal motivations. I want to help shape an environment where organizational change is embraced, diversity is respected, and both women and men can thrive equally.
Continuously taking on challenges for my future self
Astellas is always up for challenges and is continuing to make advancements. It is vital for the company to stand on the forefront of change and look into the future as it undergoes changes. I have been challenging myself to figure out and accomplish the missions that suited Astellas’ needs each time. I always think carefully about why I was given that particular role and task and make the most of my strengths to fulfill my responsibilities. I also believe that creating my own time and improving my capabilities is a necessary challenge that I need to take on for my future self.
As a group leader, my major role is to support the growth of my team members so that we can work to achieve Astellas’ goals and cultivate our group and organization. In addition, I hope to build constructive relationships by respectfully engaging with others without fearing the friction that may arise from communication.
