A Journey That Started with the Sea: Haru Shigenobu’s Work Style at 7-Eleven International

Traveling within Japan was familiar through trips with her grandparents but everything changed at age eight when she joined a children’s cruise tour to Guam. After several days of seasickness and homesickness, she finally stepped onto the island and was greeted by the vivid emerald ocean. In that moment, the world seemed to open up and feel so much bigger. “New places have the power to change you,” she recalls.

A few years later, she traveled to Australia with her family and discovered the excitement of using English for the first time. She was eleven at that time. Even a simple phrase made communication fun, and she began to imagine a future connected to the wider world.

At thirteen, she joined a homestay in Melbourne. It was her first strongly voiced decision. Experiencing a new language, daily routines, and different values sparked her curiosity about the world beyond Japan. She often reflects on that time as a major turning point in her life. Inspired by the experience, she chose a university focused on international languages and set her sights on a career with global connections.

Her professional journey at Seven-Eleven Japan began in Nagoya where she started in store operations. Looking back, she recalls that she was drawn not only by the company’s global presence but also by the strong sense of connection she felt during her interview. “I felt I could be myself,” she says. “Even then, I was already dreaming that one day I might get the chance to work in Hawaii.”

She later moved into a role supporting franchise owners as an Operation Field Counselor. The work often came with pressure and there were times when she struggled with self-doubt and uncertainty. Still, by daring to step forward and challenge herself, she gradually began to change. Over six years, she built strong relationships with store owners under her care. That experience eventually led her to the next stage of her career in product development while her eyes remained firmly set on a future overseas.

Eventually, an internal application program opened a path to a global role while she was working as a merchandiser at the Tokyo headquarters. Each year, she was keenly aware of the opportunity to work overseas, yet the demands of her daily work kept her from taking the leap. In 2023, she once again received the familiar message from a colleague: “The deadline is coming up.” It was also the moment she had just signed up for Seven-Eleven Japan’s internal English training program. Encouraged by colleagues who knew her long-held ambitions, she finally paused to reflect on why she had continued studying English all those years. When she chose to act on that motivation, the opportunity she had long hoped for finally opened up.

The secondment to 7-Eleven International was an enriching experience, though it came with its share of challenges. At 7-Eleven International, meetings encourage open discussion instead of polished presentations. She needed to embrace cultural and business differences from day one, speaking up and taking initiative. Every role required defining one’s own responsibilities rather than following established routines.

“It pushed me to think differently every day. I learned to take the lead and build my own path,” she says. That mindset broadened her skills and strengthened her impact. Over time, her hard work paid off and she grew more confident navigating a global environment.

Today she supports 7-Eleven licensees in Vietnam and the Philippines through product development and promotional activities. She collaborates closely with local licensees to strengthen and localize the 7-Eleven customer experience. Her approach is grounded in listening first.

“Different markets have unique customer needs. Understanding those differences is where innovation begins.” Guided by this belief, store visits, shopper observations, and direct dialogue with local teams form the foundation of her work. Open communication and mutual respect allow ideas to take shape as products and promotions that truly fit each market.

There were times when the impact of those efforts felt uncertain. Even so, recognition gradually spread across regions. One day, her manager shared feedback from a partner company executive: “Your teamwork and positive influence are truly appreciated.” It was a moment that confirmed the work was making a real difference.

When asked to describe her working style as a color, red was the answer. The reason was simple. “It represents excitement and enthusiasm. I want to bring energy and make things more enjoyable wherever I work. When I commit, I go all in.”

From that first view of Guam’s ocean to her role today connecting markets across Asia, her journey continues with confidence and curiosity.

Her bright red path is still expanding and shaping the future of 7-Eleven’s global presence.