Kotono Sugai

I chose consulting to gain broad experience across industries and business challenges early in my career.
I joined BayCurrent for its diverse project opportunities, performance-based culture, and environment that encourages growth through initiative and results.
I was particularly attracted to the opportunity to develop both problem-solving and stakeholder management skills while working alongside talented professionals.

I aspire to become a consultant with deep expertise in a specialized field, strong analytical thinking, and the ability to turn strategy into tangible results. In particular, within the cybersecurity domain, where technologies, threats, and regulations are constantly evolving, I aim to continuously expand my knowledge, bridge technical and business perspectives, and lead engagements by aligning diverse stakeholders together.

Rather than simply providing the right answers, I strive to gain a deep understanding of each client’s challenges and circumstances, build alignment among stakeholders, and drive projects forward in a practical and sustainable manner. By consistently delivering value and earning trust, my goal is to become a consultant a trusted advisor whom clients seek out by name.

I also hope to share the knowledge and experience gained through client engagements and continuous learning within the Cybersecurity Focus Group, contributing to our collective expertise and the value we deliver to clients. Looking ahead, I aspire to grow into a manager who not only delivers value to clients but also takes responsibility for team performance and the development of team members.

One of the most memorable projects I have worked on since joining the firm has been a threat hunting initiative for a bank. The project involved stakeholders across three overseas offices and Japan, requiring not only coordination across different languages, cultures, and ways of working, but also an understanding of the highly specialized field of cybersecurity.

I served as a key liaison between the overseas office leading the project and stakeholders in Japan. As I deepened my knowledge of threat hunting and related technologies, I helped communicate the objectives and intentions of the overseas team in a way that was clear and actionable for stakeholders in Japan. At the same time, I organized and conveyed the challenges and requirements raised by the Japanese team to ensure alignment across all parties. I also contributed to project governance by improving processes or schedule management, issue tracking, and meeting coordination.

As a result, stakeholders across regions were able to work toward shared objectives with a common understanding of the project. I found it particularly rewarding to help advance cybersecurity initiatives by bridging diverse perspectives while continuing to strengthen my own expertise in the field.

Since joining BayCurrent, I have developed the core business skills required as a consultant, including structuring key issues and creating materials that drive initiatives forward. One area where I have seen significant growth is my ability to bring structure to ambiguous situations, identify critical issues and tasks, and translate them into practical and actionable plans. I have also learned the importance of looking beyond a client’s stated requests to understand the underlying challenges and objectives, enabling me to provide support that delivers meaningful value.

What particularly drew me to cybersecurity is how rapidly the field continues to evolve.With technolgies, threats, regulations, and industry practices constantly changing, continuous learning is essential. I am also inspired by the strong sense of collaboration within the cybersecurity community, where organizations and professionals share knowledge and work together to address common threats. The responsibility of helping protect businesses and society has also given me a strong sense of purpose and motivated me to deepen my expertise in cybersecurity.

Looking ahead, I aim to combine my project management and stakeholder coordination experience with deep cybersecurity expertise. By understanding both technical and business perspectives, I aspire to become a consultant who can effectively drive security initiatives and deliver lasting value to clients.

Becoming a Trusted Consultant Who Combines Expertise with the Ability to Deliver

Outside of work, I enjoy traveling, watching movies, and working out at the gym. Spending time on activities that allow me to switch gears and recharge helps me stay energized and focused in my professional life.