INTERVIEW.04
Shining a light
on the unseen aspects of business,
illuminating the future of
global expansion.
PROFILE
M.M
Joined 2024, mid-career hire
Internal Audit Division
- Playfulness
- Stamina
- Ability to focus
- Problem-solving skills
- Morning person level
- Favorite title/
Favorite character - “Cherry blossom tea cat” (Sakura)
Main jobMain Responsibilities
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Gathering and analyzing information about businesses and organizations -
Analyzing organizational and business issues -
Providing problem-solving advice
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CHAPTER 01
Addressing issues faced by operating companies from an objective perspective.
I am responsible for internal audit operations for Group companies located overseas. Although it may be a role not widely familiar, auditing is an activity that evaluates and improves an organization's governance, risk management, and controls from an independent perspective, helping to achieve its organizational goals. We identify the challenges each business faces and work on tasks while sharing information with relevant departments. In particular, for the Global Internal Audito Sectionwhich I belong, part of our core work involves visiting overseas locations to interview key personnel in each business and directly observing operations to see what is actually happening.
A defining feature of the SEGA SAMMY Group is its vast array of businesses—far beyond its core areas of games and gaming machines—encompassing sports, movies, toys, darts, and countless other interesting ventures. These businesses continue to evolve at an incredible pace. Our mission in Internal Audit is to support these complex and unique individual businesses with an objective and independent perspective. In other words, we aim to be a tailor-made backup for each business. One key to successful auditing is gathering accurate and timely information. However, in the SEGA SAMMY Group, which operates across multiple industries and locations, the information that Global Audit Section members need is rarely easily obtainable. Consequently, I learn new techniques from my more experienced colleagues every day while also learning through trial and error, without being overly constrained by past practices. Every business has unidentified challenges, and our job in the Audit Department is to shine a light on those unseen aspects of the business and create opportunities to change its direction. We observe the business from an objective perspective, distinct from those immersed in the work on the frontlines and clearly map it out along with the message we want to convey. As a result, if the audited members discover new challenges or insights within the image we have drawn for them, or use it to map their current position, helping them take a step toward future business growth, then there is nothing more rewarding for an auditor. 
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CHAPTER 02
Supporting business operations that continue to evolve across the globe with a mindset cultivated through overseas experience.
I joined SEGA SAMMY in 2024, but looking back, I can see how all my previous experiences have led me here. Right after graduation from university, I joined a real estate consulting firm. While working hard day and night, I felt that the world I saw was far too narrow. So, in my late twenties, I quit my job and moved abroad with my husband. In New Zealand, while the world was in chaos due to COVID-19, I faced moments of intense anxiety but also learned the language, worked, and experienced what it truly means to build a life in a foreign land far from Japan. During this time, I developed the mindset that most challenges can be overcome, and that as long as I am alive, it’ll be okay no matter how tough things get. After that, I moved to the Netherlands and secured a position at a local Japanese company, where I worked alongside team members from various nationalities with diverse backgrounds and values. There, I learned that even a single word can be interpreted in countless ways, leading to hundreds of possible outcomes. When things didn’t go smoothly, I realized the importance of confirming whether both parties were starting from the same point—being “on the same page.” Therefore, I prioritized effective communication. Through these countless experiences, I was reminded firsthand that what may be considered “normal” for me or in Japan may not be normal at all for others.
After giving birth in the Netherlands, my husband and I considered where to establish a stable life for three of us, and we ultimately decided to return to Japan. During this time, while helping to set up a European office in the Netherlands as part of my job, I had the opportunity to undergo an audit. This experience enabled me to witness firsthand the positive impact that auditing can have on a business and inspired me to pursue a career in the audit field. Additionally, I wanted to leverage my overseas experience to support Japanese companies in expanding their operations abroad. In recent years, I have witnessed firsthand how manga and anime have transcended national borders and cultural boundaries, becoming popular and well-received content worldwide. This made the work at SEGA SAMMY, which handles intellectual property, especially appealing and became one of the reasons I joined the company. I am still a novice, both as an auditor and a parent, but I intend to keep pushing forward so that one day, when my child grows up, they can look back and be proud of me. I believe that at SEGA SAMMY, I can definitely make this dream a reality.
What kind of person?How Our Workers Are Viewed by Those Around Them!
MessageMessage to students and those wishing to join our company
I was initially worried about balancing childcare and work, but SEGA SAMMY is not only well-equipped in terms of systems and polices, but is also a workplace that actively embraces diversity, which has been incredibly helpful. Since joining the company when my daughter was four months old, I've never once felt uncomfortable or out of place. I believe that how we work evolves with each stage of life, and SEGA SAMMY offers the flexibility and open-minded culture that allows you to thrive at every phase. SEGA SAMMY offers abundant opportunities. I had no prior auditing experience, but I was given the chance to challenge myself and now handle global audit operations. That's precisely why I urge all of you students to avoid limiting your own potential and to embrace the challenges offered at SEGA SAMMY. Here, you can explore new opportunities while leveraging your own unique strengths.