First-Ever “Young Members Program” Aims to Develop Next-Generation Leaders Who Will Transform Society! Joint Training Held for New Graduate and Mid-Career Young Members

Hello, I’m Okayama from the Social Relations Division of the Public Relations Business Headquarters.

At SUNNY SIDE UP, many young members with diverse backgrounds—both new graduates and mid-career hires—are actively contributing.Today, we’re sharing highlights from the “Young Members Program,” a training initiative for young members from both new graduate and mid-career recruitment, which took place from February to May of this year!

◼️ What is the “Young Members Program”?

The “Young Members Program” is a training curriculum created by senior colleagues who have accumulated various experiences at SUNNY SIDE UP and other companies. They compiled what they wish they had known earlier and what they believe is essential to becoming a fully competent business professional in today’s society.

It serves as a valuable learning opportunity not only for new graduate members but also for mid-career members to revisit the fundamentals.

Above all, it provides a platform for young members to connect and interact across the boundaries of new graduate and mid-career hiring.

◼️ Considering Appropriate Attire for Each Client

In the group work session on selecting attire appropriate for each client, we considered dress codes suitable for various types of clients—from hotels to international clients—reflecting SUNNY SIDE UP’s diverse client portfolio and the importance of considering each client’s brand image.

While our company generally allows casual attire, I handle hotel projects and commercial facility clients, so I adjust my outfit accordingly—sometimes formal, sometimes business casual—depending on the client.

During team discussions about whether certain attire was appropriate for given scenarios, what struck me was that rather than debating a single correct answer, the conversation centered on “understanding the client and considering the most appropriate response.”

◼️ Learning from Senior Colleagues’ Failures

In the session where senior colleagues shared their failure stories, they conveyed not only their desire for young members to embrace challenges without fear of failure, but also the lessons learned and improvements made from their own experiences.

【Actual Failure Story】
As the media contact for a project I had volunteered for, I was fortunate to receive far more interview requests from media outlets than anticipated. However, as the requested interview dates approached, I couldn’t keep up with the coordination and had to urgently ask senior colleagues and team members for help.

【Lesson Learned】
No matter how valuable the experience or how much you want to complete a task yourself, it defeats the purpose if you cannot provide the best service to the client.I learned to put myself in the client’s position and never lose sight of the objective.

【Message to Junior Colleagues】
Always consider the best course of action for the client, and remember that it’s important to rely on your colleagues when needed. To do this, communicate frequently andconsult with team members early. This way, senior colleagues won’t be caught off guard by sudden situations and can respond together, andall SUNNY SIDE UP members are willing to help.

It was very refreshing to hear failure stories from when our supervisors were new graduates, as we rarely get such opportunities. I want to learn from these senior colleagues’ experiences while also embracing challenges without fear of failure!

We also learned essential knowledge for working and interacting with various people through workshops in randomly formed groups each time.

Also, the group names created each time new groups were formed—”Fried Potatoes and Egg Sandwich,” “Sleepyhead,” “Doi Itten,” “Team Meat,” “Wan Wan Standard,” etc.—were fun and showed everyone’s unique personality! (laughs)

◼️ Final Challenge—The Nerve-Wracking Presentation Competition!

As the final group work assignment, teams were given the task of presenting proposals for reforming SUNNY SIDE UP’s employee benefits program, the “32 Benefits.”

We were told that if a team came up with a truly compelling proposal, it could actually be adopted!

※ Key Points for Adoption
My team held about three meetings outside of training hours, including presentation practice sessions, to prepare thoroughly!

The big day arrived! We presented to SUNNY SIDE UP’s Vice President and Executive Director!

From a media perspective, proposals needed to address socially relevant topics that would benefit not only SUNNY SIDE UP but also extend beyond,while embodying SUNNY’s unique character.

We incorporated benefits we thought would be great to have, but the bar for adoption seems quite high…!!💦

Here is the presentation content my team developed.

Our proposal was the “SUNNY Wellness Program,” which supports SUNNY SIDE UP employees’ personal grooming!

We proposed this with the hope that SUNNY SIDE UP members, who frequently appear in public, could work in a better state both physically and mentally, while also providing opportunities for students and assistants.

Specifically, we proposed a reservation-based program held every Monday, offering hair, nail, and massage services.

For approximately two weeks after the group work theme was announced, our team held numerous meetings to discuss the program details, presentation materials, and delivery approach.

If this program is actually adopted, I would be the first touse the massage service! (laughs)

Some teams even created mockups showing how it would look in a newsletter! (Impressive)

It was a presentation competition full of unique proposals that reflected each team’s character! I hope ours gets adopted…!!

◼️ In Closing!

Thank you for reading to the end.

As a mid-career hire myself, I didn’t really have peers in the traditional sense, but through this series of group work and presentation activities, I was able to build supportive relationships with young members from other departments whom I wouldn’t normally have had the chance to interact with. This is one of the great benefits of the “Young Members Program”!

Also, hearing how other members approach each client made me more conscious of choosing attire and responses that are more considerate of our clients.

This training was a meaningful experience where I learned the fundamentals as a business professional and as a member of SUNNY SIDE UP, while also building horizontal connections!!

These intensive three months reinforced how essential horizontal connections are to creating “fun excitement.”