Expand Your Mind to Future-Proof Your Career

Sophie joined TS Cloud at 25 and never imagined becoming General Manager four years later. Today, she leads the company, fostering a work environment that empowers colleagues to grow and achieve breakthroughs. Read our interview to learn more about Sophie’s professional philosophy and goals.

Work Is Only Meaningful When It Brings Joy; From Sales to General Manager, I Go Wherever The Challenges Are!

What is your role and your mission at TS Cloud?

Since joining TS Cloud in 2020, I have undergone two major career transitions over the past four years. In my first year, I served as a Sales Executive, assisting clients with Google Workspace licensing. In my second year, I transitioned to Project Manager, where I spent the following two years planning and selling new products and services that lacked established Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)—most of which were related to Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems.

In April 2024, I stepped into the role of General Manager for our sister company, TS Cloud Consulting. Working alongside our Sales Executive, Kianna, we focus on providing solutions for SMEs looking to implement digital tools to optimise their sales processes. My mission is to start from the client’s specific use cases and integrate cloud services like Google Cloud and Sales CRM to help them build more modern, automated, and digitalised workflows.

What kind of work were you doing before joining TS Cloud?

Prior to joining TS Cloud, I worked in the hospitality industry and at a recruitment firm. My first role after graduation was as a VIP Services Specialist at a group-managed hotel, where I handled a wide range of guest requirements—from dining to room reservations—and assisted in organising brand events and banquets.

My second role was with a recruitment firm. Although my title was Consultant, the role was entirely sales-driven. I was responsible for everything from business development to closing deals. While the pressure was significant, it taught me essential survival and communication skills, specifically the mindset of finding solutions even when none seem readily available.

What was the primary reason you decided to join TS Cloud?

I remember during the final interview round, I spoke with the department head and colleagues for over three hours; I felt our values and personalities were very well-aligned. Towards the end of the interview, Mr. Tanaka joined via video call. I observed that the interaction between the staff and the founder was natural and incredibly candid, which gave me the impression that this would be a positive and enjoyable workplace. Based on these factors, I decided to join TS Cloud.

Sincere Growth: Learning Together with Clients and Colleagues

What do you find most fulfilling about this role?

I believe the most fulfilling part is resolving our clients’ pain points and seeing them proactively approach me with more questions for discussion. This allows us to build a relationship that is both professional and friendly, where we can learn and grow together.

What do you consider your greatest takeaways from joining TS Cloud?

My greatest takeaway comes from the regular collaboration with our engineers and leadership. This environment has helped me cultivate the ability for systematic thinking and problem deconstruction.

When a client presents their requirements, we hold internal brainstorming sessions to gather diverse ideas, which I then consolidate and present back to the client. This entire process—from input to output—through continuous practice, has evolved my mindset. In terms of MBTI, I feel my thinking pattern has reached a state where Thinking (T) and Feeling (F) coexist effectively.

What is your personal vision and the goals you aim to achieve here?

My personal vision is to build an open and sincere team where anyone eager to progress can achieve self-breakthrough and growth through consistent action. In the short term (within one year), my goal is to recruit the right talent as quickly as possible and continue to drive revenue growth. To be honest, I haven’t established a definitive plan for my long-term goals yet.

Is there a colleague in the company whom you particularly admire?

I have great admiration for the precision with which Sylvia, General Manager of TS Cloud, and JinSheng, our IT Manager, interpret complex problems. However, every colleague here possesses such fantastic qualities that I wouldn’t say there is just one specific person I look up to.

How would you describe TS Cloud as a company?

In my view, TS Cloud is a company that is constantly evolving, innovating, and resilient, yet possesses a deep sense of self-awareness.

From your perspective, what do you see as the company’s current strengths and areas for improvement?

The strengths:

• After the office renovation last year (2023), we added three huddle rooms, which has significantly increased the frequency of spontaneous brainstorming sessions among colleagues. I truly enjoy this culture of open communication.
• When setting targets, the company doesn’t simply split a number like a watermelon or distribute it evenly among the sales team. Instead, there is careful deliberation on the specific strategies needed to reach those figures. We determine who is responsible for each execution step and establish clear metrics to verify progress. This approach gives the path toward “achieving goals” a much stronger sense of direction and allows for agile adjustments. Compared to just assigning numbers and leaving everyone to fend for themselves, I believe this strategic planning is far superior—especially since the team is so willing to support one another.
• The company strongly encourages learning, and the management proactively shares various resources, such as e-books and online courses. While there are no rigid benefit rules, employees are empowered to propose any learning resources they believe will benefit their work for open discussion.

Areas for improvement:

Post-project reviews are not given enough emphasis. Regardless of whether a project succeeds or fails, we often move on hastily due to other pressing tasks. To address this, I am incorporating a mandatory “Project Retrospective” phase into TS Cloud Consulting projects. This ensures we effectively carry over insights from both successes and failures to enhance future deployments.

Challenges May Lead To Failure, But So What?

What motivated you to take on the heavy responsibility of being the General Manager of TS Cloud Consulting?

In 2021, TS Cloud began its transformation plan, exploring “Consulting Services” as a new revenue stream. After two years of fighting a solo battle, I eventually felt that it was truly difficult to drive this business alone. During a business trip to Nagano in early 2024, I took the initiative to meet with Mr. Tanaka. In a cafe, I candidly shared my thoughts and expressed my desire to discuss the situation with him. To my surprise, he directly proposed establishing a new company and invited me to serve as the General Manager.

I was stunned for about five seconds, and then my mind quickly processed the proposal. After all, my original intention in meeting Mr. Tanaka was because I truly wanted to excel in the consulting business; I didn’t want to remain stuck or let it fizzle out. If taking on the role of “General Manager” meant gaining the opportunity to build a new team and focus exclusively on business development, it was a very worthwhile trade-off for me. Besides, I had nothing to lose, so why not give it a try?

Establishing a new company isn’t just about myself anymore; it’s about whether I can assemble and lead a team to achieve a common goal. This is a challenge I have been eager to take on in my career after turning 30. I never imagined my career would develop in this direction, but it is such an interesting and rare opportunity that I felt I had to seize it. Considering these factors, I made the firm decision to accept the challenge.

Now, besides daily client meetings, I am navigating the path forward like “crossing a river by feeling the stones,” constantly thinking about what more this company can achieve. I firmly believe that the company’s development will—and can only—get better and better! 👍