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Insights from our CEO: Empowering Engineering Culture in Japan

What brought you to the IT industry?

So, my journey into the IT world started back in high school in Algeria when math was my thing. Initially, I was leaning towards the chemical industry because Algeria's known for its oil. But then, one day, I had this talk with a career advisor who said, 'Hey, you're pretty sharp with math. Ever considered diving into math and informatics?' Without much second thought, I dove right into the IT world. It was a game-changer and turned out to be a great move! Ended up moving to Japan and getting my Ph.D. in Computer Science from the National Institute of Informatics in Tokyo.

What factors motivated your decision to start a business in Japan specifically, and what unique opportunities or challenges have you encountered in the Japanese market?

My career took me through various roles in product startups and System Integrators (SIers), where I faced firsthand experience of the challenges of traditional and modern practices in tech. Many companies were stuck in old ways, relying heavily on IT vendors for system development. Realizing the need for change, I saw an opportunity to do something different, something that could blend the best of both worlds. That's where LiNKX comes in—a company that fosters a culture of excellence in engineering while guiding enterprises toward digital transformation. Unlike traditional SIers, LiNKX embraces a new approach, attracting top engineering talent and encouraging collaboration in software development. Our mission is simple: to create a community where engineers thrive, empowered to shape the future through their work.

My journey in Japan (find me in the university pamphlet!)

In your opinion, what mindset or values do you believe are essential for our members to uphold in order to thrive within LiNKX's culture and achieve success in their roles?

At the heart of LiNKX, there's a strong culture of collaboration and empowerment that runs through everything we do. Our core values of Empathy, Teamwork, Professionalism, and Challenge are deeply embedded in our culture, guiding us in our daily interactions and decisions.

Passion and ownership are the driving forces behind our work. We own what we do and bringing that passion to the table. And when it comes to our success, it's all about having a growth mindset, being proactive, and working together as a team. That's what really fuels our progress.

What makes LiNKX special is that it's not just a regular workplace; it's a tight-knit community and safe environment where every voice matters. We encourage all our members to freely voice their opinions because we truly believe in the importance of respecting everyone's contributions. So, being part of LiNKX isn't just about fulfilling a job role; it's about thriving in your position and making a meaningful impact, all within this fantastic community.

Looking ahead, what are your long-term visions and strategic priorities for LiNKX?

Our vision for LiNKX is pretty clear: we want to shake up Japan's engineering culture and help businesses embrace the latest technologies and practices. We're not just here to make deals; we're all about building strong partnerships with our clients. Together, our goal is to drive innovation and business growth while making a positive impact on society and empowering people's lives.

Looking ahead, we've got big plans to tackle a major issue in Japanese society: the over-reliance on IT vendors (known as SIers) for developing new products. For years, many Japanese enterprises have overlooked IT and software solutions, thinking they weren't essential for growing their businesses. But times are changing, and now they're eager to create their own products to drive growth. That's where we step in. We want to spread the culture of in-house development within these enterprise customers. By doing so, we believe we can enhance software know-how within enterprises and drive forward digital transformation, ultimately boosting their business on a much bigger scale.

Plus, we're looking to make a great impact in the financial market here in Japan. The financial sector still relies on legacy core systems with outdated technologies, and there's a lot of room for improvement. It's just the beginning for us, but we see tremendous potential in modernizing these systems. Finance is one of the major pillars for our society, and by disrupting and changing it to new, modern systems, we can truly make a real difference in people's lives. With continuing to expand our partnerships and collaborations with clients, we are confident that they'll be able to thrive in today's digital world and take their businesses to the next level.

Could you give our employees and future members a message?

To all our team members, past, present, and future, I want to say this: LiNKX is more than just a company; it's a community built on the shared values of growth, collaboration, and integrity. As we continue to expand and evolve, let’s stay true to ourselves and our commitment to excellence and community-driven innovation. I’m fully committed to making sure this is a place where engineers can really shine and make a difference in the world.

What is the story behind LiNKX's establishment?

The whole LiNKX journey started with a random chat with Yuichi-san, our advisor, over coffee in Odaiba. Our shared alignment in business goals sparked the idea for LiNKX. With the guidance and the support, I incubated the software business within a stable organization before spinning it off independently. Fast forward four years, and here we are, still growing strong. It's all thanks to our amazing team of engineers and the referrals we've gotten along the way. They're the real driving force behind our growth.

LiNKX's 1st office located inside Progress Technologies in Odaiba
2nd office in Shimbashi (with the Hardware Team!) 
Our current office in Toranomon! 

What do you like to do outside of work?

When I'm not at the office, you'll often find me enjoying spending time with my family (I have two cute little boys)! We like to do fun stuff together, like camping, going to the park, or swimming at the pool. Spending time with them is super important to me, and I love making memories with them.

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