Nobuya Nakagawa<\/strong><\/p>\n Began his career as a server engineer, engaging in system implementation for a mobile carrier’s internet connection services. After working as a network engineer, he joined ProGredence Co., Ltd. in 2013, serving as a pre-sales engineer and project manager. In October 2023, he assumed the position of Representative Director of ProGrive Consulting Co., Ltd. He holds a PMP certification and continuously proposes solutions tailored to address all potential challenges faced by clients.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Currently, our core focus is in the domain of IT consulting. As a recently established company, we are dedicated to accurately identifying client needs and understanding their pain points. Since many of our clients face operational management challenges, we support their businesses by embedding specialized talent on-site.<\/p>\n A key characteristic of our IT consulting business is that we propose solutions from both a neutral third-party perspective and the client’s own point of view. Given our background of evolving from an infrastructure business, we frequently provide support right from the planning stages, such as figuring out how to ensure internal infrastructure security.<\/p>\n Providing consulting that supports cloud service implementation and operations is another defining feature. While cloud services run the risk of escalating running costs as the resources used increase, we maximize cost performance by proposing smart operational methods, such as dynamically reducing resources during late-night hours when traffic is low.<\/p>\n We have 8 regular employees, 6 of whom are consultants. When including our business partner staff, we operate with a total team of approximately 20 members, with our directors playing a central role in driving operations. We generally work in teams, ensuring that younger talent is never left to handle a client completely alone, which also facilitates effective onboarding and training.<\/p>\n Furthermore, we actually aim for a future society where consultants are no longer needed. Our ideal is for clients to become fully capable of managing IT operations and driving DX using their own in-house talent. While we support our clients, we develop our business with a strong commitment to firmly anchoring our know-how within their companies, organizations, and personnel.<\/p>\n We see a strong trend toward long-term engagements, often spanning a year or more. Through this long-term support, we hope our clients accumulate internal know-how. Within that process, we adapt our support by rotating project members as needed to best fit changing requirements.<\/p>\n However, since we frequently support information systems departments, challenges such as company-wide IT awareness, education, and consensus-building among stakeholders can sometimes remain. In such situations, if our consulting members swap out too frequently, it can disrupt the project’s momentum for the client. Therefore, while providing long-term support, we walk alongside them as an objective third party, ensuring we maintain an optimal support structure tailored to the client’s specific business content, status, and emerging challenges. Through this approach, we aim to build an environment where the client can eventually run completely independently.<\/p>\n While consulting spans various fields, we want to ensure we deliver undeniable value in the baseline area of “IT infrastructure,” regardless of the industry or business type. Our clients in IT departments think deeply every day about which tools to implement and how to improve operations for the good of their companies. While introducing high-performance, high-quality tools and systems is vital, we place the highest importance on whether those solutions are truly optimal “for that specific client.” We want to support them up to the point where tool implementation boosts productivity, freeing up time and human resources that can be allocated to new ventures to create fresh value.<\/p>\n Yes. Having evolved from an infrastructure company, we possess the advantage of being able to support clients across any industry or business type. However, expanding into domains like corporate planning, financial accounting, or financing operations will be difficult without establishing deep, specialized expertise. Rather than simply following the linear extension of our current business domains, we aim to approach a broader customer base by hiring professionals with diverse experiences and skills.<\/p>\n To thrive as a consultant with us, I believe that individuals who have experience leading and driving initiatives on behalf of clients tend to excel quickly, regardless of the scale of the project.<\/p>\n Additionally, we look for individuals who can communicate thoroughly and possess the comprehension skills to accurately read between the lines regarding what the client wants. Because we operate as both consultants and engineers, we have a natural tendency to communicate strictly as technical experts. However, our clients are not specialists. How well can we explain things in a way that clients easily understand, and how deeply can we comprehend their goals and desires? I believe that this capacity for communication and empathy is far more vital than technical expertise or specialized skills alone.<\/p>\n Our company’s slogans are “Dreams” and “Ambitions.” I truly want to work with individuals who possess both. The specific nature of your dreams or ambitions doesn’t matter at all\u2014whether it’s wanting to accomplish a major feat, desiring financial success, or visualizing the type of person you want to become. What matters is that you can work diligently toward fulfilling the dreams and ambitions you have set for yourself.<\/p>\n Working without a clear purpose or simply executing tasks because you were told to do so makes it difficult to feel a sense of personal growth. Especially when operations become frantic and busy, it’s easy to lose sight of your underlying objectives while chasing immediate tasks. In such cases, looking back can often leave you with a sense of emptiness.<\/p>\n To avoid falling into that kind of demotivation, individuals with clear goals and objectives align best with our corporate culture. I would love to meet people who can push forward wholeheartedly toward a single dream or ambition.<\/p>\n Yes, it is. This is actually one of the reasons I assumed the position of president, but I want to work with people who aren’t afraid to express their opinions openly. Individuals who can clearly state what they want to achieve and actively take the first step themselves\u2014while surrounding colleagues provide support\u2014will truly thrive in our company.<\/p>\n When the opportunity to become president was presented to me, I felt fear, but I chose the path of taking on the challenge. While jumping into unexperienced territory requires courage, I want to anchor a corporate culture where everyone can embrace challenges while maintaining their mental well-being, supported by the surrounding colleagues.<\/p>\n Every other Wednesday, all employees gather face-to-face for meetings, and we make a conscious effort to actively communicate with one another. Additionally, our office layout is designed so that everyone faces inward toward each other. No matter where you sit, you are in an environment where you can see everyone’s face.<\/p>\n I entered the IT industry as a server engineer, and at my first company, I built core systems for a major mobile carrier. After working there for about 5 to 6 years, I transitioned to my second company, which specialized in network design and construction. I spent another 5 to 6 years there as a network engineer. However, because I wanted to get involved in high-level management work, such as project management, I changed jobs and joined our current parent company, ProGredence Co., Ltd.<\/p>\n At ProGredence, I spent about 7 years leveraging my previous skills to serve as a project manager in the integration domain. One of my core motivations for joining ProGredence was my desire to “never stop growing,” so this transition was a massive challenge for me. As my role shifted toward managing departments and serving as a director, I eventually faced a critical choice: should I focus on nurturing others, or should I continue to pursue my own personal growth? Since my desire to grow remained unchanged, I decided to pivot into the consulting domain.<\/p>\n Through consulting work, I was able to cultivate a true “client-centric perspective” by closely analyzing and supporting their real-world challenges. To formally establish this practice as a core business line within ProGredence, we launched the consulting division 3 years ago.<\/p>\n Shortly after that, we received a proposal to split the consulting division into a separate company to fully realize its potential, which led to the birth of ProGrive Consulting in October last year.<\/p>\n I was initially surprised when the offer was made, but I felt it was a healthy evaluation of how I had consistently pushed forward toward my goals at ProGredence. My philosophy is to always grab a golden opportunity and try it out, so I accepted without any hesitation.<\/p>\n I am fundamentally the type of person who moves forward by learning from failures, so I don’t consider myself a perfect executive. I didn’t even know if I was cut out for it, but I genuinely love talking with people and discussing future visions, so I am thoroughly enjoying my work today. Moving forward, I want to bring in more peers to our company and create an environment where everyone can challenge themselves and grow together.<\/p>\n I am human, so I am also afraid of getting hurt or feeling pain when I fail. However, as a coping mechanism for that pain, I believe it is incredibly vital to figure out how to build a supportive environment around yourself.<\/p>\n For instance, when things get tough, people often fall into the trap of self-blame, thinking “I failed because I’m not good enough,” and bottle it up alone. That action stems from a desire to hide one’s weaknesses. However, I believe that choosing to show your vulnerabilities to your colleagues is actually incredibly important. By verbalizing and sharing your anxieties and weaknesses with others, you can maintain your mental balance while facing your work. Showing your vulnerability also closes the distance with your peers, allowing you to cultivate a sense of psychological safety where everyone feels that “it’s okay to fail.”<\/p>\n I believe so. This is a point that explicitly changed in me after joining ProGredence, but showing my own weaknesses made me genuinely interested in other people as well. Until then, I was completely consumed with my own performance. However, inspired by ProGredence’s corporate culture of deeply valuing human connections, I discovered the joy of interacting with various people and getting to know one another while working.<\/p>\n We combined “progress” and “confidence” from ProGredence with the word “thrive” (to prosper) to name the company ProGrive Consulting, embedding our desire for the company to develop and prosper further.<\/p>\n Our parent company, ProGredence, is a coined word combining progress and confidence. When ProGredence was established back in 2006, the IT industry carried a strong negative, sweatshop-like image. Driven by the representative’s strong desire to “create an environment where engineers can truly grow,” the word confidence was added, giving birth to ProGredence.<\/p>\n ProGredence has successfully survived for 18 years, but looking back at the 10 years since I joined, the company has scaled up significantly, and I felt its growth curve was becoming gentler compared to the past. When thinking about how to accelerate ProGredence’s growth further, I decided to incorporate the word “thrive.”<\/p>\n I believe that development and prosperity are the accumulation of small challenges. We first return the insights gained from our challenges to our clients, connecting them directly to their profits. Their profitability leads to the next project for ProGredence and ProGrive Consulting. Ultimately, creating a virtuous cycle where it returns to us as our profit is precisely what development means, and that is what I aim for.<\/p>\n Our company was established just recently, and we have barely taken our very first step. Moving forward with many peers, I want to sprint forward without stopping our steps so that both myself and the company can continue to thrive.<\/p>\nFocusing on IT consulting, with plans to expand into new domains in the future<\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/stg.mirai-works.co.jp\/consulnext\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/company_progrive_01-1-1600x900.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\u2500\u2500First, please tell us about your business operations.<\/h3>\n
\u2500\u2500What is your current headcount?<\/h3>\n
\u2500\u2500So you are focusing on support that looks ahead to the client’s future. How long do these projects typically last?<\/h3>\n
\u2500\u2500What is your future vision?<\/h3>\n
\u2500\u2500The importance of IT infrastructure, such as networks and security, is continuously rising. The expectations placed on your company will likely grow even higher.<\/h3>\n
Facing work with clear dreams and ambitions<\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/stg.mirai-works.co.jp\/consulnext\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/company_progrive_02-1600x900.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\u2500\u2500Are there specific skills you require from candidates joining your company?<\/h3>\n
\u2500\u2500What kind of mindsets do you look for in candidates?<\/h3>\n
\u2500\u2500Having a clear sense of purpose while working is indeed crucial.<\/h3>\n
\u2500\u2500An environment where everyone can support and consult with one another sounds wonderful. I heard the workplace is very friendly and harmonious; what do you keep in mind to maintain such an environment?<\/h3>\n
Fearing failure but wanting to grow\u2014Driven by that desire, I chose the path of the president<\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/stg.mirai-works.co.jp\/consulnext\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/company_progrive_03-1600x900.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\u2500\u2500You mentioned earlier how you came to assume the presidency. Could you share your career background?<\/h3>\n
\u2500\u2500You chose the path of continuous challenge.<\/h3>\n
\u2500\u2500What led you to accept the role of president?<\/h3>\n
\u2500\u2500Many people are paralyzed by the fear of failure. Why did you become able to face failure without fear?<\/h3>\n
Small challenges drive development and prosperity<\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/stg.mirai-works.co.jp\/consulnext\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/company_progrive_04-1600x900.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\u2500\u2500A president showing vulnerability must surely give a strong sense of reassurance to subordinates.<\/h3>\n
\u2500\u2500Your company was spun off from ProGredence. Could you tell us the origin of the name “ProGrive”?<\/h3>\n
\u2500\u2500The company name perfectly aligns with your philosophy of facing challenges without fearing failure.<\/h3>\n
ProGrive Consulting Co., Ltd. Corporate Information<\/h2>\n
\n\n
\n Company Name<\/td>\n ProGrive Consulting Co., Ltd.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Establishment<\/td>\n October 20, 2023<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Capital<\/td>\n 10 million yen<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Shareholder<\/td>\n ProGredence Co., Ltd.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Representative<\/td>\n Representative Director & President Nobuya Nakagawa<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Business Description<\/td>\n 1. Consulting services in IT strategy
2. Design, construction, and operation of networks\/systems
3. Development, production, and sales of software
4. Production of Web content, Web solutions, and consulting services
5. Security solutions and consulting services
6. Planning, drafting, and execution of education, training, and qualification certification related to the preceding items
7. All operations incidental or related to the preceding items<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n Location<\/td>\n Ochanomizu First Bill, 2-5-1 Kanda Surugadai, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101-0062
TEL: 03-5577-6033<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/figure>\nProGrive Consulting Co., Ltd. Job Information<\/h2><\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":4141,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"swell_btn_cv_data":""},"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7877","industry","type-industry","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n