I joined Kioxia America, Inc. in 2021 as a part of the New College Graduate program and I have enjoyed working on the Customer Technical Support (CTS) team ever since. As a CTS engineer, I have had the opportunity to work with several of our customers on qualification for our Enterprise and Datacenter products.

I am extremely proud of Kioxia’s first to market win on PCIe^® 5.0 technology with KIOXIA CD7 Series in the E3.S form factor. This was a double-win because Kioxia introduced our first enterprise E3.S form factor drive along with the newest PCIe^® 5.0 technology! Our teams worked very hard to bring this to market ahead of our competitors and I feel honored to have been a part of it. It was a great example of Kioxia’s innovation and technology leadership.

Have you ever received support or a learning opportunity from a colleague that positively impacted your career?

I work in an office, that is small enough for everyone to know everyone else. After we returned to the office following pandemic office closures, I was fortunate enough to meet a manager, Bory Marsh, in our office. She turned out to be one of the kindest and funniest people I know. She helped me develop a few under-utilized skills, including public presentations, training others, and networking. Since then, she has found opportunities for me to work with different teams here and internationally. I have been able to increase my visibility in the company, meet more wonderful people, and build skills that have helped me be a better engineer. I am very grateful for the mentorship.

If we were to look back a year from now, what impact would you hope our collective #GiveToGain efforts have had?

I hope that over the next year, every person finds an opportunity to give someone else a chance to succeed. Whether that means encouraging them to speak up in a meeting, offering to teach them something new, or even giving a little grace where it’s needed. If we each actively look for ways to be a positive influence, the impact will be greater than we can estimate and everyone will be raised up.

Working 20 years in Toshiba Corporation and Kioxia Corporation. My hobbies are swimming and jogging.

Besides work, raising 2 powerful boys keeps me busy. I have also been a member of the Girl Scouts of Japan for more than 35 years, leading young girls.

History:

• 2006 Joined Toshiba Corporation supporting US mobile accounts in the Memory Business Unit.
• 2011 Transferred to Toshiba Electronics Europe GmbH (former entity of Kioxia Europe GmbH) as a member of Memory Marketing.
• 2013 Joined SSD Marketing supporting mainly US PC and Data Center accounts.
• 2018 Back to Memory Business Unit supporting Consumer UFS/eMMC Product Marketing.
• 2025 Promoted to Group Manager of Consumer SLC/eMMC Product Marketing Group.

How do you actively give support to your colleagues? What have you gained from these efforts?

I make a point of listening attentively to colleagues who are struggling with workplace or job-related issues. When a colleague faces a career path I've personally navigated and is feeling troubled, I do my best to offer advice and support.

Have you ever received support or a learning opportunity from a colleague that positively impacted your career? How did you pay that forward?

I felt anxious about the promotion, but after hearing from a senior colleague with experience, I became more positive about shaping my future career.

The theme reminds us that giving is a form of multiplication, not subtraction. How can we better foster a mindset of abundant giving and collaboration on our teams?

Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses. What matters most is showing consideration for one another.

Valentina joined KIOXIA Europe GmbH in 2020, following her studies in 2019. In her early years at the company, she was responsible for procuring and allocating various flash memory products to B2B customers across Europe. She later assumed a dual role in Marketing Operations and Global Accounts Marketing, supporting U.S. customer business in Europe as a Senior Marketing Specialist.

During her bachelor’s degree, Valentina worked as a student assistant and completed several marketing internships in Germany and Brazil. KIOXIA provided her with the opportunity to gain experience in an international environment and fostered her strong interest in combining marketing with data-driven analysis. She completed her Master’s Degree in Marketing and Communications while working at KIOXIA in 2025.

What is a small, everyday act of support you can commit to that would help foster a more inclusive workplace?

I believe that small, everyday actions can play a meaningful role in fostering a more inclusive workplace. One commitment I can make is to actively support stronger professional networks, particularly by encouraging colleagues to engage in mentoring relationships. Simple gestures, such as having lunch with new colleagues, checking in regularly, or offering guidance and support as someone in a senior position, can make a real difference for younger or less experienced employees.

These actions help create a welcoming and inclusive culture where individuals feel valued and supported. In turn, this makes the company more attractive to everyone and diverse talent and contributes to a more positive, respectful, and less stressful working environment. When people feel seen and connected, collaboration improves, motivation increases, and the organisation benefits from stronger engagement and mutual trust.

In what ways do you challenge stereotypes or question bias when you encounter it?

If I encounter stereotypes or bias, I address them respectfully and express clearly that I do not agree with views based on generalisations. In my personal experience, women are still often underestimated in certain professional fields, which can present obstacles to career development. I believe employers should place greater emphasis on encouraging all employees to share their expertise, build confidence, and strengthen professional networks. Creating these opportunities for everyone helps challenge outdated perceptions and supports a more equitable and inclusive workplace.

What new skills, knowledge, or insights have you “gained” from your colleagues? And how have you applied that learning?

I have gained a great deal from my colleagues at KIOXIA, who welcomed me very warmly when I joined the company six years ago. As a fresh graduate, I benefited from a thorough onboarding process that provided valuable insights into professional life, while also teaching me the importance of strong social skills and respectful, collaborative interaction.

I am particularly grateful for the example set by our manager, who consistently places trust in the team and genuinely listens to our opinions and ideas. This leadership style has shown me the value of open communication and psychological safety, which I actively apply in my own work by sharing ideas openly, supporting colleagues, and encouraging constructive dialogue.

Moreover, seeing the many strong and professionally successful women at KIOXIA continue to inspire me. They serve as role models which motivates me to seize new opportunities, build confidence, and commit to continuous personal and professional development.

Lena has been working in the IT industry for 20 years. Before joining the Marketing Communications department at KIOXIA Europe GmbH, she spent several years as a Marketing Manager for an international software company.

She studied American Studies, History, and Business Administration, earning three M.A. degrees, and gained valuable international experience at UCLA (University of California, Los Angeles).

In what ways do you challenge stereotypes or question bias when you encounter it?

I actively strive to remain objective and open-minded, ensuring that personal biases or stereotypes do not influence my professional interactions or decisions.

The theme reminds us that giving is a form of multiplication, not subtraction. How can we better foster a mindset of abundant giving and collaboration on our teams?

For me, it starts with mutual respect and honest communication. When people feel heard and valued, collaboration becomes natural and generosity grows within the team.

How do you actively give support to your colleagues? What have you gained from these efforts?

We support each other through openness, kindness, and knowledge sharing. This creates trust and helps all of us grow professionally and personally. I also believe this attitude should be shared by everyone, regardless of gender.

Stephanie joined Toshiba Electronics Europe GmbH (later KIOXIA Europe GmbH) in 2015, where she is part of the Customer Service team, looking after B2B and Global Accounts.

She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration and is applying her knowledge and experience to provide excellent customer support and continuously improve work processes and tasks.

How do you actively give support to your colleagues? What have you gained from these efforts?

In the past, I have had the opportunity to deliver training sessions for other team members, allowing me to share my knowledge and experience. I also make a conscious effort to remain approachable and available for questions and brainstorming discussions. Through this exchange, I have gained valuable insights into different processes and ways of working, including approaches beyond my own role, which have broadened my perspective and strengthened collaboration within the team.

Have you ever received support or a learning opportunity from a colleague that proactively impacted your career? How did you pay that forward?

A major career opportunity arose during the transition period, when our company separated from Toshiba to become KIOXIA. At that time, I was offered the chance to take on responsibility for supporting the transition of our Global Accounts business. This role exposed me to a wide range of new processes and products that I had not previously been closely involved with.

Throughout this period, I received significant support from my manager, whose guidance was instrumental in navigating the challenges of the transition. Her trust and encouragement played an important role in my professional development and helped me progress to where I am today. I have since paid this forward by offering the same level of support and guidance to colleagues who joined the Global Accounts business later, helping them build confidence and succeed in their roles.

The theme reminds us that giving is a form of multiplication, not subtraction. How can we better foster a mindset of abundant giving and collaboration on our teams?

I believe fostering this mindset starts with being open-minded and recognising that everyone brings different skills, perspectives, and experiences to the team. Viewing collaboration as an opportunity rather than an obligation encourages people to share knowledge freely and learn from one another. When teams value learning, trust, and mutual support, giving becomes a natural part of how we work together and ultimately helps everyone grow and improve.

Her role focuses on developing and running Python automation tests across multiple servers simultaneously. She has been working at KIOXIA Israel Ltd. for nearly six years.

What do you think is the biggest challenge women face in the workplace today?

In many fields that are still largely male-dominated, women can sometimes hesitate to share their views openly. Simply working in such an environment is already a significant accomplishment. The next step is for women to strengthen their self-confidence and feel comfortable expressing their ideas and perspectives.

How do you manage the balance between your professional and personal life?

I organize my work by setting priorities and focusing first on tasks that are most urgent. Knowing deadlines in advance helps me manage my time effectively and avoid unnecessary stress.

Do you feel comfortable speaking up and sharing your opinions at work?

Yes, I do. I make sure to prepare thoroughly so I understand the subject matter and the purpose of the discussion. Confidence did not come naturally to me at first-it developed over time through practice and preparation. Learning not to hold back and to come prepared helped me express my thoughts more naturally. Today, I feel confident sharing my opinions whenever I believe it is important to do so.