KPMG Consulting Co. Ltd.
Nam Hyunyeong
Digital transformation acceleration manager
Came to Japan to enter university and gained a degree in political science. Joined KPMG Consulting in 2017 after getting an MBA. As a manager, leads teams helping to accelerate clients’ digital transformation.
A mid today’s rapidly changing digital landscape, KPMG Consulting guides organizations through their digital transformation (DX) journeys. With offices in Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya and Fukuoka, KPMG Consulting provides comprehensive business solutions for clients. KPMG Consulting leverages its deep experience in technology transformation and risk management, serving as true end-to-end partners for client companies and helping them to realize their new values in the market.
For this reason, KPMG Consulting emphasizes the development of human resources, which is the heart of its consulting services, and strives to create a work environment that utilizes the strengths and perspectives of each employee. It promotes efforts to maximize work performance by establishing systems that allow employees to work flexibly according to their individual mindsets and circumstances.
The company has specific DEI policies — which it calls “IDE” to emphasize inclusion, defined as a “sense of belonging” — to address the needs of certain groups of employees, ranging from reduced working hours for those raising young children or caring for others, to a mentoring network for women. IDE is part of the DNA of the company, whose culture celebrates diversity, allowing staff to feel their voices are heard and their contributions truly valued.
Nam Hyunyeong, a manager in the Digital Transformation Acceleration (DXA) team, is a case in point. Since joining the firm in 2017, she has embodied the resilience and adaptability that align with the core values of KPMG Consulting. Nam has been consistently involved in DX-related projects. She provides a wide range of DX support tailored to each client’s phase, from strategy formulation, business improvement and system introduction to the development of DX promotion personnel and the strengthening of internal systems within the clients.
Challenges into opportunities
Originally from Busan, South Korea, Nam came to Japan to pursue her university studies. Her subsequent journey through the often-challenging Japanese corporate landscape has demonstrated her positive mindset.
“When I first arrived in Japan, I could barely speak Japanese and thought I’d get by using only English. Since I had enrolled in an international university with a lot of foreign students, I could easily get through daily life on campus with just English,” Nam recalled.
“However, the university is located in the countryside, and once I stepped outside the university, most people didn’t speak English. I quickly realized I had to learn Japanese to survive.” She subsequently worked hard to hone her Japanese skills and can now hold her own in any business setting.
Nam enjoyed studying in an environment where multiculturalism was the norm. This foundation of diversity and inclusivity she encountered as a student would lay the groundwork for her future career in consulting.
However, when she started working as a direct procurement buyer for a Japanese manufacturing company after graduation, Nam encountered some cultural barriers, at times feeling marginalized in the workplace simply because she was young, female, or a foreigner.
“But I’m a person who takes pride in my work and doesn’t like to lose, so I held tight to my job and kept pushing myself to improve my business Japanese and professional demeanor,” she explained. “Although the environment didn’t change drastically, I gradually built up my mental resilience and confidence.”
Despite her determination, Nam eventually began to question whether she was on the right path. After much deliberation, she decided to enhance her skills by pursuing further education. “I took the bold step of quitting my job and enrolled in the MBA program at a graduate school in Japan. I rediscovered the joy of learning, and I was also fortunate to have supportive classmates, professors and workmates at my part-time job,” she said.
Building a career in consulting
Upon graduating with her MBA, Nam chose to join KPMG Consulting, based on the career growth she felt the firm could offer. “When I joined KPMG Consulting, I assumed I would naturally work as a business consultant. However, the first project I was assigned to involved a large-scale RPA (robotic process automation) implementation,” Nam said. “This experience made me realize it wasn’t possible to do consulting without a grasp of digital concepts. That’s when I decided to join my current department, where I primarily support DX initiatives.”
KPMG Consulting places a strong emphasis on nurturing talent and fostering an inclusive culture. Nam’s experiences highlight how the firm encourages individuals, regardless of their position, to take the initiative in problem-solving in the workplace and in designing their own career paths.
Nam struggled in her first few years to elevate her technical skills to a level where she could stay up to date with the latest technology. “I realized that rather than trying to turn my weaknesses into strengths, it would be more effective for both myself and my clients to focus on enhancing my strengths while seeking help from colleagues in areas where I was lacking. This has allowed me to maintain balance,” Nam commented. “After that, I could collaborate with team members and successfully execute projects without trying to handle everything alone.”
Her proactive stance and can-do attitude propelled her forward, and she was promoted to manager.
Fostering inclusivity
Nam’s role at KPMG Consulting has evolved significantly since her early days with the firm. “When I was a junior consultant, I primarily worked on single projects at a time. But since becoming a manager, I often handle multiple projects simultaneously,” she said. This shift has enabled her to take a macro perspective on challenges and devise strategies that address broader issues.
As a manager, Nam is keenly aware of the importance of creating an inclusive environment within her team. “Although I’m relatively good at communicating with people, I realized after becoming a manager that team management in a business context is not as simple as just being friendly. You need to have a broad perspective, a hunger for growth, sincerity and strong ethics,” she explained.
“These qualities shouldn’t be left to the individual’s efforts alone; the organization — and senior members like myself — must guide them. This, I believe, is the most critical role a manager should fulfill,” she said.
Nam articulates her expectations and goals with her team. “What I prioritize in my communication is honestly and accurately conveying my expectations, my feelings, and the shared sense of purpose I want our team to have,” she said. By fostering an open dialogue, she strives to maintain an environment where team members feel valued and empowered to contribute their ideas, with communication naturally becoming two-way.
Diversity in driving innovation
Nam’s focus on communication informs her interactions with her clients, too. As she has taken on more responsibility for client projects, she recognizes the pressure that comes with engaging top management. “It’s not just about providing high-level expertise but also ensuring that every word and action reflects the value of a professional,” she noted.
At KPMG Consulting, diversity is viewed as a key driver of innovation and creativity. Nam’s experiences in the firm highlight how diverse perspectives lead to more effective solutions for clients. According to Nam, while nearly all companies are now adopting DX in their operations, many of them still feel they are not fully benefiting from it. One key issue often cited by firms is a lack of in-house talent who can drive DX with a comprehensive view.
“In many of our projects, clients lack leaders who can spearhead DX initiatives internally, or it becomes heavily dependent on a few individuals, leading to frequent reliance on consulting firms as external resources,” Nam pointed out.
“While utilizing external resources is undoubtedly effective, companies must have in-house talent capable of leading DX. To create a culture where DX naturally occurs, we focus on establishing a foundation for continuous growth,” she said, adding that the end goal is to facilitate a situation where clients can advance DX independently.
Some of Nam’s projects take her into areas where she has no prior experience. However, she always makes a point of actively engaging with the task at hand, drawing in her colleagues and striving to exceed client expectations.
Looking to the future
Nam sees her career as a means to achieving “happiness” in the workplace. “It’s the small moments, like producing a slightly better document or getting positive feedback from clients for my team,” she explained. Such moments of fulfillment contribute to her overall sense of purpose and satisfaction in her work.
“I don’t have a particular focus on detailed mid- to long-term career plans at the moment. I want to steadily build up my professional skills, face each challenge step by step, and keep putting in the effort so that I can be even 1 millimeter closer to a happier tomorrow,” she said. “That said, in the long run, I’d like to become a partner, a senior position within the firm, and continuously provide substantial value to clients and the market while also helping to nurture consultants who can do the same.”
“I aspire to become a partner who can create an environment where our diverse members at KPMG Consulting can continue to positively impact themselves, business and society, leveraging their individual skills, talents and abilities — all the while being driven by a shared sense of purpose,” Nam explained.
Nam’s journey serves as an inspiring example of how KPMG Consulting’s IDE-forward culture empowers individuals to unlock their potential and perform with confidence. Through an inclusive environment that encourages all employees to contribute, KPMG Consulting exemplifies how embracing diversity enriches both the workplace and the clients it serves. Fostering diverse working styles allows employees to build careers in line with their individual growth aspirations, discovering and creating their own “happiness at work.”
KPMG Consulting Co. Ltd.
KPMG is a global network of independent professional firms providing audit, tax and advisory services. KPMG firms operate in 143 countries and territories, with more than 273,000 people working in member firms around the world.
At KPMG Consulting, as a member firm of the KPMG global organization, we support our clients in the fields of business transformation, technology transformation, and risk and compliance. We strive to help enterprises enhance their corporate value, guiding them on their journey to excellence.
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URL (KPMG Consulting): https://kpmg.com/jp/kc
URL (Recruitment): https://recruit.kpmg-consulting.jp
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KPMGコンサルティング株式会社は組織のDX戦略の策定などデジタル変革を幅広く支援している。技術変革やリスク管理における知見を活かし、クライアント企業のパートナーとしてマーケットに対し新たな価値を提供している。
そのため、コンサルティングの源泉である人材の育成を重視し、社員一人一人の強みや視点を活かす職場環境の実現に力を入れている。個々人の状況に合わせ柔軟に働ける制度を整備し、仕事のパフォーマンスを最大化する取り組みを推進。IDE（包括性、多様性、公平性）が企業文化の根幹に組み込まれており、多様性が尊重され、強みや特性を活かすことができるカルチャーになっている。
DXA部門のマネジャーである南晛碤さんは2017年に入社し、DX全般に関わるプロジェクトを推進している。戦略策定から業務改善・システム導入のほか、企業内のDX推進人材の育成や体制強化など、クライアントのフェーズに合わせた支援を行っている。
韓国・釜山出身の南さんは大学進学とともに来日し、大学卒業後、新卒で日本の企業に就職。その後、国内の大学院に入学し、MBAを取得後、KPMGコンサルティングに入社した。最初のプロジェクトで大規模なRPA（ロボティック・プロセス・オートメーション）の実施に関わった経験から、コンサルティング業務にはデジタルの概念を理解することが不可欠だと気づき、現在の部署に加わった。
自身の強みを伸ばし、同僚と協力しながら積極的にプロジェクトに向き合い成果を出すことで、主体的に業務やキャリアデザインに取り組む姿勢が評価され、南さんは2021年にマネジャーに昇進した。
KPMGコンサルティングは人材育成とインクルーシブなカルチャーの促進を重視している。南さん自身もチームのインクルーシブな環境作りの重要性を認識し、マネジャーとして広い視野を持ち、「成長への意欲、誠実さ、正しい倫理観を持つことが必要」と話す。チームの期待や共通目標を明確にし、オープンな対話を通じて多様なメンバーが貢献できる環境の維持に努めている。
一方で、クライアントとのコミュニケーションにおいてはトップマネジメントとの関係構築を大切にしている。専門性の提供だけでなく、クライアントが自立してDXを推進するところまで伴走し、クライアントの期待を超える価値を提供することを目指している。
南さんは自身のキャリアを「幸せをつかむための手段」と捉えている。提案力のある資料を作成した、メンバーのプレゼンが好評だったなど、日々の積み重ねを大事にする一方、長期的には最上位職であるパートナーとなって顧客やマーケットに持続的な価値を提供するとともに、次世代のコンサルタントの育成にも寄与することも目標にしている。
KPMGコンサルティングはIDEを推進することで、個々の潜在能力を引き出し、自信を持って業務を遂行するカルチャーを実現している。また、多様性を受け入れ、全社員が活躍するインクルーシブな環境を育むことで、KPMGコンサルティングは職場にもクライアントにも豊かさをもたらしている。