This time we interviewed Yuto Kano, the representative director of Brand Cloud Inc.
About Yuto Kano
Born in Kanagawa prefecture, Japan in 1993. Graduated from the Faculty of Science and Technology at Keio University.A member of JAPAN MENSA. He became acquainted with the founder of Brand Cloud, Masataka Ihara, while studying at University, and studied under him. In 2018, when Brand Cloud joined the Vector Group, he was appointed as a Director in charge of the Sales Department. On 24th May 2023, he was appointed as the President and Representative Director of the company.
ーA Society Where People Can Try Again
Editor: What kind of business does Brand Cloud engage in?
Kano: We mainly provide countermeasures against reputational damage and branding support using the ORM (Online Reputation Management) method.
Ai: Could you give more specifics about what you do?
Kano: We receive consultations from companies and individuals who are struggled with fake news and online slander, and we mainly implement measures to disseminate correct information to users, deliver facts, and reduce the visibility rate of negative information on the web.
ーGiving Back to Society
Editor: What made you start working on the SDGs?
Kano: About 10 years ago, there was a growing trend, particularly among large companies, to focus on sustainability and DE&I (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion), but now, as the importance of the SDGs is becoming more widespread in society, and the pace of progress is accelerating, we will be focusing our efforts on the SDGs with the keyword ‘a society that can try again’ as the main axis. We would like to be a company that tries to tackle the SDGs and give back to society, with the keyword ‘a society that can try again’ as our main focus.
It is clear that this trend is not a passing trend, but a new set of values for a new era. We decided to work on the SDGs not only to increase social value, but also as an opportunity to produce economic value as a new pillar of business.
ーCountermeasures Against Reputational damage and SDGs
Editor: What is the relationship between your main business, countermeasures against reputational damage, and SDGs initiatives?
Kano: In today’s world, where the influence of the internet and social media is strong, we believe that the spread of slander and incorrect information has a potential to damage the trust that companies have built up and the mental health of individuals. Through our service, our service, “Fuhyo Higai Cloud” (Reputational Damage Cloud), we aim to protect the trust of companies and the mental health of individuals as a business, and also contribute to creating a more sustainable society.
Ai: There is a real need for such services for companies and individuals who are active in society.
ーFair Society Without Prejudice
Editor: Are there any initiatives you are working on to create an equitable society?
Kano: At BrandCloud, even before we decided to work on SDGs, we naturally adopted DE&I (diversity, equity and inclusion) and tried to conduct recruitment that is free from prejudice related to gender, educational background or race. Within the company, we have a culture of learning from each other rather than envying success, which creates a synergistic effect and leads to the company’s growth. We aim to further pursue a diverse workplace where all employees can can maximize their abilities without being satisfied with the status quo.
Ai: Recently, I have been asked “as a woman” quite a lot, and sometimes I think that people who say “as a woman” are being too conscious of women. I’m sure there are inherent differences related to gender, but I think it’s truly amazing to hire people based on their abilities and characteristics.
Kano: There are many people in our company who are able to disclose their weaknesses, regardless of gender, and involve trusted colleagues to solve problems together. I feel that we have developed a corporate culture in which we respect each other’s individuality and naturally create a way of thinking that complements each other’s shortcomings.
Ai: By working together to solve problems, it would be nice if we could better understand how the people we work with feel about each other.
Kano: That’s right. I believe that as more people respect each other and utilise their strengths to cooperate with each other, it will naturally lead to more sustainable organisations and societies.
Ai: I would like to see more people like the employees at Brand Cloud, who are not prejudiced by gender or educational background. In the end, those are the people I want to work with, so I hope we can continue to support and spread more positive feelings and mindsetsto more and more people.
ーContributing to Job Creation
Editor: I heard that you are establishing a subsidiary in Bangladesh. Could you tell us why?
Kano: Bangladesh is a developing country that has reached a certain level of IT literacy and English proficiency, but it continues to have employment problems. Therefore, we hope to contribute to job creation by hiring Bangladeshi people with technical skills and establishing a subsidiary.
ーFrom Small Initiatives
Editor: I understand that you are also taking environmentally friendly initiatives within your company. What specific efforts are you taking?
Kano: We are using carbon-neutral mineral water and environmentally friendly materials for our business cards. I think that a certain level of awareness arises within the company through training sessions and other events, but as time passes, people tend to forget about it, and I think it will be difficult for the company to instill the idea of ”sustainablility”. I think that by gradually making changes in our daily lives, people will subconsciously become aware of it, so we are starting with what we can do now. Editor: Ai-san, are there any SDG initiatives that you are usually involved in?
Ai: Recently, when my children have been leaving the water running, or the fridge open, I would say “What a waste!” and then after that, when I leave the water running, my children started saying “What a waste!” to me. Even when I am not fully aware, my children are reminding me, so I think I have become more conscious of it more often. Recently, there has been more and more information about ecology, so if you just learn and put it into practice a little, you will feel like you are doing something good, don’t you? Doing something good makes you like yourself a little more, so you can be kind to others again. I hope the world will become like that.ー Not Just Initiatives, but Personal Storytelling Editor: Were there any challenges in setting SDGs goals, and what is your vision for the future?
Kano: When we set our goals, we realized that Brand Cloud’s businesses and internal initiatives applied to more SDGs categoriesthan we had expected, so it was challenging to choose which ones to focus on and how to prioritize them. From now on, each and every employee will make a conscious effort to achieve both economic success and contribution to society.
-EmpoweringEach and Every One of Us with SDGs Mindset
Editor: Finally, can you tell us about future prospects?
Kano: We want to ensure that our SDG initiatives are not a one-off event and continue well in the future. I would also like to spread the concept of SDGs throughout the Brand Cloud company, and then use it as an asset for each and every one of us to spread sustainable communication to society.
This article has been reprinted and edited with special permission from our partner media.