What inspired you to work for Coto Academy?
My inspiration at work is definitely the learning experience I can get here. At Coto, we encouraged everyone to be proactive and explore their potential. If you want to try managing Google advertisements, You can do so.
That is how I ended up with most of my projects here. At Coto, you also get to work with people from different backgrounds, which allows you to be more open-minded and adaptive.
Gigi traveling
What is your favorite part of your job?
My favorite part of the job is to learn new things. As a start-up company, we do not have the resources that the more prominent companies do. Therefore, there are a lot of things that we have to learn on our own.
For example, I must learn digital marketing (e.g., Google Ads) and content marketing (e.g., how to produce a blog) at Coto. As a person who is not a fan of routine jobs, having this much opportunity to learn different areas at work is preferable for me.
Gigi traveling on water
What advice would you tell your pre-travel self?
I would tell my pre-travel self to take it slow. It is okay to try new things along the way, and you should not think that you have to follow exactly what is planned in your mind. Be okay with changes; they do not always lead to bad results. Get out of your comfort zone, see more, and learn more so you are well-prepared for any kind of situation.
Why should someone choose Coto Academy over competitors?
They should pick Coto over other language schools' competitors because Coto is diverse. We have employees from AK around the world, including Taiwan, Japan, Indonesia, France, and more.
Also, our working culture is nice because it is flexible. We can work from home 2 times a week for the marketing team. In the team, everyone is close to each other like friends, and we look after each other.
What are some current projects you are working on?
Besides tasks such as creating and monitoring the performance of Google ads and creating blog content, one current project I am working on is optimizing our online platform. We try to improve our user experience by adding additional features and modifying some current ones.
In this project, I am a designer and co-project manager. I have to come up with the new UI design through Figma, discuss the features with our operation team, and communicate with the design agency.
Gigi Liew on graduation day
What is Coto Academy's mission and how do you continue to work toward it?
Our company slogan is "Enjoy Working, Enjoy Life." To achieve that, I will continue to make the working environment as positive as possible. I will also look after people who need help!
To live up to that slogan, I will put my best effort into my work, but at the same time, I will prioritize things that are important in my life, such as family. Reaching that work-life balance is important to me.
What do you hope participants take away from your programs?
I hope our participants can gain valuable experience here at Coto while giving them opportunities to explore the cities in Japan. This valuable experience includes Social Media Management, Networking Skills, Collaborating Skills, Digital Marketing Skills, Content Creation, and more. They can also make lifetime friends here.
Why do you think learning a new language is important?
As an individual who has been traveling since childhood and has lived in three different countries (Taiwan, Japan, and Canada), learning a new language is essential. You will have to communicate with the locals or know how to read the menu at a restaurant if you live in a different country. Of course, you can choose not to learn, but it will increase the difficulty of living smoothly in that foreign place. Also, learning a new language allows you to communicate and make friends with others.
Gigi at work with peers
Why is it important for people to travel abroad and experience new cultures?
As someone who has spent her lifetime in three different countries - Taiwan, Japan, and Canada, traveling abroad and experiencing new cultures allow you to be more open-minded and adaptive. Communicating with people not originally from your culture is challenging, but having these experiences allows you to get the hang of it.
What does meaningful travel mean to you?
Meaningful travel means gaining valuable experiences such as learning one's culture, meeting new people, eating good food, spending time with loved ones, and more. Of course, happiness is the most important of all. Be happy, be curious, and stay positive. That is when you can gain experience and try things you did before.
