What is your favorite travel memory?
My favorite travel memory was when I went fishing in Okinawa and caught an Akajin (coral leopard grouper). It was the first catch of the day, and I honestly wasn’t expecting to catch anything that big. When we finally saw the fish, even the captain got really excited, which made me even more excited too! I still remember everyone’s reaction and how surprised I was when I realized what I had caught. Being out on the beautiful Okinawan water and having such an unexpected first catch made the experience unforgettable. It is definitely one of my favorite memories from traveling in Japan.
How have you changed/grown since working for your current company?
I have grown a lot since joining the company, both professionally and personally. I started as an ALT, where my main focus was teaching and supporting my students and schools. I later became a trainer, which gave me the opportunity to share my experience and support the development of other ALTs. Now, as an Instructor Manager, I have a much wider range of responsibilities, including supporting instructors, schools, clients, staffing, training, and daily branch operations. Each step has taught me to look beyond my own responsibilities, see the bigger picture, anticipate what might be needed next, and think about how I can help the whole team succeed.
What is the best story you've heard from a return student?
One of my favorite stories was from a lesson where we created wish cards for the students to give to their parents. One student wrote something she really wanted on her card and gave it to her parents after the lesson. Later, she came back and happily told me that her parents had actually bought her what she wrote on the card! She thanked me for doing the activity, and I still remember how excited she was. It was a simple moment, but it reminded me that what happens in our lessons can sometimes create happy memories outside the classroom too.
If you could go on any program that your company offers, which one would you choose and why?
The program I really wanted to be part of was the Staff Preparation Program (SPP), and I’m happy to say that I’ve already had the opportunity to complete it. I graduated from the program this year, and it became an important part of my journey from being an ALT and trainer to becoming an Instructor Manager. SPP challenged me, helped me grow professionally, and prepared me for the responsibilities I have today. If I had to choose again, I would still choose SPP because of how much it contributed to my growth and career within the company.
What makes your company unique? When were you especially proud of your team?
We have people from many different countries, cultures, backgrounds, and experiences working together toward the same goal. That diversity brings different perspectives and ideas, and I think we learn a lot from one another. I’m especially proud of my team when things get busy or unexpected situations happen and everyone steps in to support each other. Seeing people share information, offer help, and say, “Leave it to me,” reminds me that our strength is not only in what we do individually, but in how we work together as one team.
What do you believe to be the biggest factor in being a successful company?
I believe the biggest factor in being a successful company is its people and their ability to work together toward a shared purpose. Strong systems and strategies are important, but it is the people who bring them to life. At Link Interac, we work with colleagues and instructors from many different cultures and backgrounds, so communication, trust, and teamwork are especially important. I believe success comes when people feel supported, understand their role, and are encouraged to contribute their own ideas and strengths. A successful company also needs to keep learning and adapting as situations change. When people are willing to support one another, take responsibility, and continuously improve, the whole organization becomes stronger and can provide better service to its instructors, schools, and communities.