Liftoff Employee Spotlight: Kota Amano, Japan & Korea Country Sales Manager
Kota Amano was Liftoff’s first hire in Japan and has since celebrated his third anniversary with the company. During his time at Liftoff, Kota has been instrumental in growing our international teams, including our Korean office’s launch last year. When he’s not at work or at a soccer stadium cheering on his favorite team, you can catch Kota binge-watching Korean dramas or listening to some K-POP hits.
Tell us a little about yourself and how you ended up at Liftoff?
With over ten years of experience in the ad tech industry, I decided to join Liftoff shortly after meeting Phil Gontier (our VP of International, Revenue Execution). I was captivated by his passion for Liftoff, and have fond memories of hosting him in Tokyo during the famous Sakura (cherry blossom) season.
What inspires you to succeed every day?
Each day I look forward to working closely with my co-workers. Hearing their positive stories and daily wins keep me inspired. However, amid a busy career, the smiles and support that I receive from my family also help keep me motivated.
Tell us a little about your experience of working internationally?
I’ve had the opportunity to work for a few different companies with very global and diverse teams (headquartered in other countries like India and France) before joining Liftoff. Through my experiences, including my time at Liftoff, I’ve enjoyed getting to know people from different cultural backgrounds. As a result, I’ve also learned many interesting things about various cultures outside of Japan. The Culture Map by Erin Meyers is one of my favorite books.
What’s the coolest thing about your job?
I enjoy getting to work closely with both our Japan and Korea teams and building the bridge between these two countries.
What can new members joining the Japan or Korea team expect?
They will get the opportunity to work with a collaborative, professional, yet fun team that enjoys going out for Karaoke and hearty meals (complete with Sake and Soju, of course)!
What do you like most about the Liftoff culture?
I have not come across another company that has as many humble and kind people as Liftoff does.
What’s been your favorite Liftoff Event since everyone began working remotely?
It’s hard to pick just one, but our People Ops team has provided us with various virtual experiences to participate in as we all work remotely, including team lunches and game nights over video calls across our entire APAC team in Japan, Korea, and Singapore.
What has been getting you through quarantine so far?
The most significant change is that I used to spend a few nights a week having meals or drinks with clients and industry partners, so it’s been nice to spend more time at home with my family during this period.
What’s your life highlight?
My family inspires me and motivates me every day. Looking back, my life highlight was when my wife and I had our first daughter. Everything was better after that.