Teena
Entry date…Joined Rakuten Group mid-career in June 2024
Department…Travel Development Department (TDD), Commerce & Marketing Company
Position…Project Manager
Birthplace…IndiaHobby…Traveling, reading books, cooking, and riding motorcycles
Teena built her career as a project manager in Bengaluru, the Silicon Valley of India. She joined Rakuten Group mid-career after discovering the Rakuten Travel service during a visit to Japan.
We interviewed Teena about her journey to joining Rakuten Group, her job responsibilities and work environment, and her impressions after becoming part of the company.
INDEX
✔Inspired by the impact of Rakuten Travel during a visit to Japan, I decided to join Rakuten Group
✔A lively workplace built on collaboration with team members
Inspired by the impact of Rakuten Travel during a visit to Japan, I decided to join Rakuten Group
――Can you start by introducing yourself?
Hi, everyone. I’m Teena from India, and I work as a project manager on the Rakuten Travel service.
My hobbies are hiking, reading books, cooking, riding motorcycles, and traveling. I have visited Singapore, Dubai, Malaysia, and Japan in the past.
India has many beautiful and famous places to visit. You should definitely visit the Taj Mahal, one of the seven wonders of the world. Another place I would recommend is the Statue of Unity, a monument dedicated to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the architect of independent India.
――Please tell us about your career background so far.
I studied electronics and communications engineering at a college in the IT city Bengaluru, often referred to as India's Silicon Valley. After graduating, I stayed in Bengaluru and worked for 12 years at Accenture, a general consulting firm; EMC, a multinational company; and Dell, a technology company. During that time, I gained experience in project management, program management, and product management.
I hold a PMP certification, an internationally recognized credential in project management, as well as an ITIL (Information Technology Infrastructure Library) certification, which validates my knowledge and skills in IT service management best practices. In my previous job, I was recognized as a high-potential female employee in 2023.
――You built your career in your home country India. Can you share the background behind your decision to join Rakuten Group?
I visited Japan twice before joining Rakuten Group, and during those visits, I saw firsthand the impact Rakuten Group's services, starting with Rakuten Travel, have on people's lives. This was one of the reasons that motivated me to join the company.
Additionally, Rakuten Group is leveraging AI technology to enhance user experience and drive business efficiency and growth, which was also a major factor in my decision.
So, I was thrilled when I learned that Rakuten Travel was recruiting for a project manager role. Confident that I could leverage the project and program management skills I had developed over the years, I decided to apply.
――You’ve changed jobs several times in the past, and while the roles may have been similar, adapting to a new workplace can be quite challenging - especially when working in a foreign country. Could you share the approaches you took when you joined Rakuten Group mid-career?
In a new workplace, it’s important to first observe, listen, and actively learn the process and approval systems. At Rakuten Group, work processes are systematized through shared management tools like Jira and Confluence, and I believe it’s essential to make full use of these tools.
I also try to keep an open mind and always be open to suggestions for growth in a new work environment. At Rakuten Group, I’ve had the privilege of working with colleagues who support and encourage one another, which has empowered me to take on new challenges.
A lively workplace built on collaboration with team members
――Please tell us about the service and tasks you are currently responsible for.
I manage projects in the mobility sector, including car rental and bus booking services. Our mission is to enhance the existing platform and drive revenue growth.
Currently, we are working on making the service available in both English and Korean to attract more customers to book car rentals through Rakuten Travel.
――What is your main role as a project manager?
As a project manager, I am responsible for schedule development, communication planning, risk and issue management, stakeholder management, and project/program-level status reporting. I am now managing five active projects in the mobility sector, focused on car rental and bus booking.
In addition to these roles, I am part of the PMO (Project Management Office), an organization that supports project management, where I contribute to improving project management processes.
――Could you walk us through the general workflow of your job?
A project typically goes through several phases, which can roughly be categorized into four: Initiation, Execution, Monitoring and Controlling, and Closing. First, I work on developing the product requirements, followed by creating a plan together with the assigned development and quality assurance teams, after which the development work begins. After that, we conduct thorough testing of the application and, based on the results, create plans for auditing and release.
――What kinds of people do you work with?
I collaborate with a variety of people, including developers, project managers, testers, managers and section managers. In our daily meetings, we discuss project details and provide status updates.
――Please tell us about your team.
The PMO project manager team I belong to engages in lively discussions about process improvements, as well as the latest challenges and solutions in project management. We also participate in team activities, such as team lunches, to strengthen our connections.
――Can you tell us about the appealing aspects of Rakuten Group that you’ve noticed after actually working here?
One of the appealing aspects of Rakuten Group is its strong sense of teamwork and the way its “Five Principles of Success” are fully embraced by everyone, from leaders to regular employees.
Additionally, with the rapid advancement of AI technology, Rakuten Group is continuously adapting to the evolving business environment and delivering services that meet customer needs.
――Lastly, could you share a message for those interested in a career change to Rakuten Group?
I truly enjoy working for Rakuten Travel. My team includes several project managers, and the workplace is lively, with everyone supporting each other to drive projects forward. Working at Rakuten Group PMO has been incredibly rewarding for me.
Best of luck to you all in your journey with Rakuten Group, and I look forward to the opportunity to work with you!
Come work with us!
Commerce & Marketing Company Travel Development Department (TDD) is seeking talented individuals to join our team in developing new services, managing daily operations, and driving continuous improvements. Recruitment is open for a variety of positions, including engineers and product managers. We look forward to receiving your application!
