Alumni stories

Aya Tanabe

Studied a Bachelor of Business majoring in Marketing, graduated in 2018

Currently working for XBlades as a Marketing Assistant

In 2019, XBlades asked the Monash Marketing Internship program for assistance to find an international student who was Japanese and interested in rugby for a marketing position within their company. After hunting high and low, Aya was found! She started at the company as an intern based on her individual capabilities (her language skills in both Japanese and English, and her Marketing degree) as well as her knowledge of Japan’s market and passion for rugby. They loved her excellent work and she fitted in well, so they kept her on offering her a role as a Marketing Assistant. Hear more on Aya’s journey here:

Marketing is all about people: Why did I choose to study Marketing?

I have lived in 4 countries over the past 8 years, Japan, New Zealand, Belgium and Australia. Through this time, I met people with different values and ways of thinking. Growing up in a culture of conformity where people try to fit in by agreeing with others, when I first moved in a foreign country at 16 years old on my own, seeing my friends expressing opinions confidently in a large class was inspiring and something new to me.

Now that I reflect on my past, this was the moment I discovered my curiosity in people because it made me want to know more about their backgrounds. I strongly believe this led me to study Marketing. To me, the fundamental of marketing starts with people. As a marketer, I have learnt that understanding consumers and how brands/products speak to them on the same level is important.

Internships are great ways to prepare for your future career

Aya on set of an Xblades product shoot

My highlights as a Monash student were going on a study abroad to the University of KU Leuven in Belgium, where I discovered my new interest in Psychology and gained hands-on job experiences through internship units. I highly recommend students to get to know opportunities Monash offers and take advantage of them!

As an international student, I have often struggled to find companies that welcome international students due to visa conditions and a perception that hiring locals has less risks in the long run.

On the other hand, I am very fortunate to have completed four internships while I was a student, and of which I completed two through the Internship units at Monash.

I do enjoy theory-based learning, however, having professional work experience before getting a first full-time job allows you to evaluate your suitability to types of industries, fields, and positions. Also, by stepping out of the comfort zone, you can analyse and practice your skills while gaining new ones.

The new chapter of life: My first career!

I landed on my first full-time job at a company called XBlades, as a Marketing Assistant, where I originally started as an intern through the Internship program at Monash.

XBlades is an Australian sports and apparel company and expanded its business into Japan as a Rugby brand in 2018. What makes XBlades special is the people. All my colleagues are friendly, open-minded, and there is a strong sense of trust in each other.

My primary role is managing the Japanese market that involves from the start to finish of the business model that is product development, production, product launch and feedback by liaising with clients including sales distributor, retailers, grassroots to professional players and influencers. I find the advantage of working for a small company is its exposure to different aspects of the business!

My advice to interns

Aya on her first business trip to Japan

• Once you start, your boss will assign tasks and treat you as an employee, but they don’t expect you to know everything from the beginning, so don’t be afraid to ask for help. In saying that make sure you try your best to figure it out, and when asking for help demonstrate how you have attempted to problem solve by yourself first.
• Show your initiatives! Don’t be shy and speak up when people ask to contribute opinions. If you are unsure of something, share your ideas with colleagues and get their views it before proceeding further (This also helps to foster a relationship with them too).
• Get to know other people’s roles and learn to collaborate effectively. If assistance is required from another area of the business, provide a clear communication as to why you need their help, and outline individual roles and tasks.