Know MC's People

They came to mind when I decided to enter graduate school, and I've valued them ever since, in both my studies and my work. They are based on the philosophy of the Greek philosopher Socrates, who believed that the awareness of one's own ignorance is the beginning of wisdom. Accepting that there will always be things we don't know is the first step towards knowledge and the factor that will continue to motivate us in our quest to achieve it. Whether in the academic world or the world of business, there's no one who truly understands everything, and what is considered right today won't necessarily be considered right 20 years from now. When we're grappling with one of life's problems, I think it's important that we remember this principle. Acknowledging that some pieces of the puzzle are more or less invisible to everyone is in itself part of the thought process, and it can give us the mental energy to persevere. I want to do work that is socially significant, and for that I need to free myself of preconceived notions, be willing to approach things from different perspectives, and be ready with my own questions.

I've been in the electricity-trading business for about three years now. My first year was spent helping to manage our business investments, but I couldn't visualize what trading on energy markets really entailed because I wasn't on the front lines. It was difficult work, because I was having trouble understanding it all, but getting the opportunity to train as an electricity trader in Ireland for a year was a game changer for me. I started learning how trades are conducted and the specifics of the business, and suddenly my work was so much more enjoyable. If we can't balance supply and demand, we won't have a stable supply of power, but as the proportion of renewables in our energy mixes grows, climate-change-driven discrepancies in sunlight, wind, and other natural forces stand to disrupt that balance. Inasmuch as it leverages market economics to create balance stability, I think the business of energy trading will become even more important in the years ahead. Nowadays, a lot of companies are interested in renewable energy, so our first step will be to familiarize as many of them as possible with ElectroRoute Japan's operations.

Modern societies are facing myriad problems, but if I can focus on just one of them and learn how best to approach it, I'll be satisfied. I feel that even when we're aware of problems, our efforts to address them tend to get mired in status-quo solutions. There's only so much I can do myself, but I'm determined to monitor how the energy industry changes and always consider both where it should be and how I can help to get it there. I'm constantly trying to broaden my horizons, and when thinking and acting I take advantage of MC's network and expertise. I'm looking forward to working with all of my colleagues and associates to tackle the issues in front of us and contribute to our world in a meaningful way.