Unleashing the Potential in Diverse Talent Worldwide

At Mercari, we are updating how we structure our organization and invest in human capital with AI at the core. In an era where our ability to compete depends on how quickly we make decisions and learn, as well as the range of ways each person can contribute, it's crucial that we move beyond individual use of AI and make it foundational to how our company operates. As CHRO and CAIO, I am committed to combining our AI and HR strategies to maximize the performance of our people and our organization.

The transformation happening in the AI era still depends on people. Streamlining routine tasks and organizing information using AI allows people to focus on more important areas, such as decision-making, creativity, and taking on new challenges. Mercari will use AI not as a replacement for people, but as a foundation that unleashes the potential of every individual. Today, Mercari is home to members from approximately 55 countries and territories, and members of foreign nationalities make up about 60% of our engineering organization. Diverse backgrounds and perspectives are what enable us to create new value in a rapidly changing market. However, results don’t come from having diversity alone. Diversity only becomes a source of sustainable competitive advantage when structures are in place that allow people to feel safe expressing different perspectives, and for those perspectives to be reflected in decision-making and translated into tangible outcomes for the business and organization.

To foster this kind of environment, Mercari is continuously updating its culture and systems to encourage new challenges and learning grounded in our values. At every turn, we consistently ask ourselves whether we’re taking on bold challenges toward achieving our mission, and whether we’re learning quickly from both failures and successes. We reinforce this culture through concrete practices, such as expanding opportunities for promotion and appointment based on the value people deliver and ensuring competitive compensation regardless of background.  Together, these efforts are helping us build an organization that allows diverse talent to leverage their unique strengths and step up to greater responsibilities and bolder challenges.

That’s why Inclusion & Diversity is crucial as the foundation of our company, even in the AI era. AI is expanding what individuals can achieve and enabling people to transcend roles and organizational boundaries. In such an environment, it is increasingly necessary to ensure people feel safe speaking their mind and can leverage the strengths they have to offer. By continually reassessing our approaches to performance evaluation, talent management, and organizational structure, we will turn the potential of our members into business growth and greater corporate value.

Mercari will embody the goal stated in our material topic, “Unleashing the Potential in Diverse Talent Worldwide,” in ways made possible by the AI era. We will continue to evolve our corporate environment, leveraging AI as a foundation to expand human potential, and enabling diverse talent to take on challenges, learn, and create even greater value.

Shunya Kimura
Vice President, Chief Human Resources Officer, Chief AI Officer
Mercari, Inc.