Momoko Saito

Throughout my job search, I kept asking myself two questions: “Will I be able to contribute to transformation at leading companies across diverse industries at this firm?” and “Will I be able to grow professionally here?”

I was looking for an environment where I could take on clients’ challenges head-on without limiting myself to a specific industry, and where the experience I gained would translate into tangible market value. For me, Baycurrent, with its one-pool model that enables all consultants to take part in a wide variety of projects, was exactly the answer I had been seeking.

Through my accumulation of project experience, I came to realize that to truly deliver results as a consultant, you need the ability to sense what the other person is feeling and what they are seeking just as much as, if not sometimes even more than, logical thinking skills.

Going forward, I aim to further refine my logical thinking while combining it with this ability to read emotions, so that I can draw out clients’ honest views and build deep, trusting relationships. That is the kind of consultant I aspire to become.

One of the most memorable projects for me was a business process improvement engagement for a retail client. As the organization underwent a major restructuring and cost optimization became urgent, I was responsible for redesigning the meeting structure and improving the efficiency of maintenance operations. Headcount was being reduced, yet service quality could not be compromised. In such a demanding environment, I had to carefully grasp the realities of day-to-day operations and design improvements that would actually work, an effort that looked simple on paper, but proved far more challenging in practice.

The biggest challenge was a clash of opinions among stakeholders. While management pushed for thorough operational efficiency, there was strong resistance from the frontline team, who wanted to keep things the way they were. No matter how many discussions we held, reaching a consensus seemed impossible. Growing frustrated, I made a rather forceful change to the meeting structure, and was met with a flood of complaints from the frontline.

I went to apologize in person and took the time to listen carefully once more. In doing so, I realized that in my focus on "solving the problem," I had completely overlooked the emotional dimension of what people were afraid of losing and what they were trying to protect. By rebuilding the relationship from scratch and patiently drawing out their honest perspectives, the conversation finally began to move forward. By the time the project wrapped up, the frontline members who had initially greeted me with stern expressions had gradually become collaborative, offering constructive input. Building that trust was an experience unlike any other.

This experience taught me an essential lesson about consensus building, that even a logically sound proposal, on its own, does not move people.

Baycurrent supports leading companies across industries. The culture and relationships built over many years are a source of organizational strength, but they can also underpin resistance to change. That is why it is not enough to align with key decision-makers or present well-founded recommendations. What matters is designing conversations that anticipate what each person truly cares about, and that draw out both the issues and the emotions behind them.

People do not change simply because they accept the logic; they change the moment they feel, “My voice has truly been heard.” That failure taught me exactly that.

On my days off, I enjoy going to see Takarazuka Revue performances with my mother and friends. I attended my first show after starting my career, and I still remember being struck by the glamorous world on stage.

Watching each performer bring the production to life with years of refined skill and expressiveness feels truly professional, and every visit leaves me newly inspired. Stepping into such an extraordinary environment helps me naturally recharge, making it an important way for me to refresh and reset.