The special series to put a spotlight on our international staff, “Eyes, JAPAN Employee Interview” is back! Our 6th interviewee of this year is Mark Ogbodo from Nigeria.

He has been working in Eyes, JAPAN for about 9 months and we would like to ask him about his experience in living in Japan and working in Eyes, JAPAN!

(Interviewer: Angie)

Loves Reading and Cycling

What is your favorite thing about your home country or home town?

Mark: My favorite thing is the people there.

Why did you come to Japan and what do you like about Japan?

Mark: I came to Japan for my PhD studies.

What do you think about life in Aizu and what is your favorite way of spending you holidays in Aizu?

Mark: Life in Aizu is serene. And my favorite way to spend the weekend is by cycling or resting at home.

What is your hobby and how do you usually spend your free time?

Mark: My hobby is reading, and I usually spend my free time reading, cycling, or seeing movies.

Do you have any things or skills that you are proud of?

Mark: Communication skills, research skills and programming skills.

What is your academic background and what do you think is the current most trending topic in the field of technology?

Mark: My academic background is in computer science and engineering. And I think the current most trending topic is digital transformation with Artificial Intelligence

EJ: Cool Collagues and Excellent Working Environment

How did you know about Eyes, JAPAN and why did you decide to join Eyes, JAPAN?

Mark: I know about Eyes, JAPAN from my friends, and I heard a lot of good things about the company such as excellent and flexible working environment, autonomy, variety of projects that are intellectually stimulating, and an amazing CEO, so I decided to join.

Did you have any job experiences before joining Eyes, JAPAN?

Mark: Yes, I was working as a researcher at the University of Aizu, AI engineer at Aizu CSL, etc.

What is your role and what kind of projects have you been working on in Eyes, JAPAN?

Mark: My role is AI tech lead, and most of the projects I have been working are mainly related to providing AI solutions in the biomedical field.

Could you let us know your most memorable project in Eyes, JAPAN?

Mark: Both Osaka Uni, and Alan PD projects weigh equally in being memorable projects.

What customs in Eyes, JAPAN that you like the most?

Mark: I like the presentations (study sessions) at weekly meetings.

What do you think about your colleagues and the working environment in Eyes, JAPAN?

Mark: My colleagues are cool and the working environment is excellent.

What do you think about working at the company and working at home?

Mark: I think I’d prefer working at the company.

What kind of problems or challenges have you faced while working in Eyes, JAPAN, and how did you solve it?

Mark: I once had a misunderstanding with a team member. I was able to solve it by sitting with the team member and resolving the problem.

Self-Motivation: The Thrill of Learning Something New

Have you experienced any culture shock while working in Japan?

Mark: Not really, I was already familiar with the culture before I started working.

Can you give some pros and/or cons of working at a Japanese company?

Mark: I can’t say for other Japanese companies but at Eyes Japan, some of the pros include autonomy, and flexibility. While I consider autonomy as a pro, it may not be the same for people who are not used to deciding the flow of their work.

How do you balance your working and private time?

Mark: The working schedule at Eyes Japan is flexible, which allows me to balance working, studying and private time.

What kind of project do you want to work on in the future?

Mark: I want to work on projects that has to do with applying AI for digital transformation.

Any advice for people who wants to work in Japan?

Mark: Yes. It’s a good opportunity to learn the Japanese culture, and at Eyes Japan, a great opportunity to work in a diverse environment.

What motivates you to keep working or studying?

Mark: The thrill of learning something new.

Lastly, what is your dream?

Mark: My dream is to contribute immensely to further development of my country.

Thank you!

If you are interested in Eyes, JAPAN and would like to hear other stories, please do not hesitate to contact us at the following contact form.

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Everyone welcome.