Kaori Sano joined the ZN accounts team on March 1, 2013. After being with us for a couple of months, I decided that it was about time to share a little bit more information about her with you. Besides being a great Senior Account Manager, Kaori is also a dedicated mother who enjoys the outdoors.
Find out more about her by reading the interview below and checking out her profile.
Rachel: What was life like before joining ZN?
Kaori: I was born in Tokyo and lived there until I was 16 years old. I went to boarding school in New Zealand, and then I went to university in Utah (primarily to enjoy outdoor activities such as skiing, golfing, trekking, etc.). After that, I went to study in Salamanca and Barcelona for a couple of years for an exchange program followed by an MBA in International Business. Then I moved to Dallas to continue my second master’s degree in Marketing (as I realised that something exciting was happening in the world of the Internet during 90s in the US).
I started to work for OgilvyOne NY as a Digital Planner and then moved to Brussels (my husband is Belgian) where I worked for Dentsu and Duval Guillame. Shortly after, I was invited to work for Carat and MediaCom in London for a few years. It was while we were there that I discovered I was pregnant, so we decided to go back to Brussels (and now my son is two years old!).
Right before I joined ZN, I was a Client Service Director at Ogilvy Brussels. I wanted to join a forward thinking digital agency focusing on international clients in Brussels, which is why I now work for ZN.
Rachel: What’s your work like at ZN?
Kaori: I am a Senior Account Manager working with clients such as ExxonMobil Chemical, Solvay, Sanofi Pasteur and WMA. I also handle new business pitches with strategic inputs and ensure the quality of each project we deliver. I am also nurturing my team to grow strategically (although they are already good at what they do!).
Rachel: What do you like most about working at ZN?
Kaori: ZN has a group of very smart people from all over the world. It is young and dynamic. We are all excited about digital communication and beyond.
Rachel: Are you a Hyperthinker? Why?
Kaori: Yes. I value thinking out of the box and breaking out of the norm with sensitivity (not just doing something different but engaging in endeavors that strategically make sense). And I would like to continue challenging our clients with Hyperthinking.
Rachel: Could you suggest a travel destination?
Kaori: Both mountains and seas are great destinations for different sports activities, nature and fresh air. Among all the mountains that I have been to, I love the Rocky Mountains. I spent a few years there. It is incredibly beautiful and untouched – spring with its new leaves, summer with its deep color, fall with Indian summer, and winter with its white snow. Ansel Adams (the photographer) has captured some of the most inspiring images you could ever imagine. As for the sea, I love the Indian Ocean. Every time I dive there, I am surprised by the multitude of colourful fishes and the spectacular corals. Of course, I love the white sand beaches too!