In 2016, I went on an unforgettable trip to Thailand with my High School friends. We often headed to the beach, explored Bangkok’s crazy nightlife or just joked around for hours on end. I wouldn’t be able to count the times we went out for Tom Yam, but it was a lot. It is that good! Throughout the trip, we deepened our friendship immensely. Now, 3 years later, I live in Fukuoka, far away from home. But my friends and I are still very close and I believe that traveling together played an important part in this.
Staff Spotlight: Trung Le
Title:
Head of Business Development and DesignPhotos
Trung Le first studied Finance and Banking back in Vietnam, but never lost his interest in Graphic Design. Chasing his dreams of becoming a graphic designer and learning Japanese, he moved to Japan. As the head of Business Development and Graphic Design, he is a key member of the Meiji Internships Team.
What is your favorite travel memory?
How have you changed/grown since working for your current company?
Diversity plays a major role in my work. On one hand, I work alongside people from a huge number of different countries and cultures. That way I get to meet a lot of other designers who do not only have a different style, but also a completely different cultural background. I often find inspiration and new ideas in these encounters.
On the other hand, I work on a diverse range of projects. From smaller design projects to working on the website and composing strategic plans, I take on many different tasks in a day. As a result, I have the possibility to continuously pick up new skills.
What is the best story you've heard from a return student?
Over the years working at Meiji, I have heard many great stories from alumni. I wouldn’t be able to choose just one specific story because they were all special in their own way. Still, I can easily tell you about my favourite moment. I frequently pick up new interns from the airport. Being present when they see Japan for the first time is always something special. Since I have lived here for more than 2 years now, many things that I originally found exciting have become ordinary. Seeing how excited the interns get about little things like Japan’s vending machines or food menus lets me see the extraordinary in the ordinary.
If you could go on any program that your company offers, which one would you choose and why?
Definitely Design! Art and visual communication have always fascinated me. As a destination, I would love to go to Osaka because I have heard a lot of positive things about it! Named Japan’s kitchen, it is world-renowned for its food culture. I would also have many opportunities to travel, especially Kyoto would be interesting! Traditional Japanese architecture captivates me and I often use it as a source of inspiration for my designs.
What makes your company unique? When were you especially proud of your team?
Our diversity makes us unique. The Meiji staff members hail from many different countries, which makes for an exciting mix of cultures. I especially enjoy learning my colleagues’ way of thinking and aspects unique to their culture. Our multicultural skills couldn’t be better!
In addition, at Meiji, everyone is open-minded and always willing to help - even if it isn’t part of their tasks, they will do it nevertheless! For example, when I do not have time to find one specific picture that I need for my design, others will take over and find it for me. That makes me really proud of my team.
What do you believe to be the biggest factor in being a successful company?
As a designer, the first thing that pops into my mind is innovation. In order to make it in the business world, you need to keep coming up with new creative ideas. This does not only apply to your products, but also to problem-solving. If you want to be innovative, your company needs to have a solid foundation from where you can act. I strongly believe that the trust my team has in one another is the best possible foundation to achieve great things.