The importance of understanding and helping each other-- my insights from my career #2(Click here for #1)

Margaret Hoagland, VP of Global Sales and Marketing at SIOS Technology Corp.

Margaret, the VP of the global sales and marketing department, says that there is a culture of mutual
respect at SIOS Technology Corp. We asked Margaret why this is so and what challenges the company
faces in the future.

Respect and trust that members have for each other- What is the workplace atmosphere at STC?
Margaret: STC is small, with only about 50 employees, so everyone knows each other well and there isa family atmosphere.
STC is more interested in investing in human resources than the average U.S. company, and thisattitude has been passed on to its employees. Perhaps because of this, some employees have beenwith the company for 15-20 years. In the U.S., where changing jobs is the norm, many of ouremployees have been with us for a relatively long time.
The kickoff meeting for the marketing and sales teams at the beginning of the year was the first inperson meeting since the pandemic. We are a small team of several people, and it was the first time ina long time that all members had met face-to-face. Working remotely can sometimes be lonely. Throughthe meeting where we all came together, we were able to deepen our mutual understanding of how wework and how we overcame challenges. It is also a very valuable opportunity for us to cultivate
teamwork and make sure we are supporting each other.

- If you had to describe STC in one word, what would it be?
Margaret: Respect. We also value Integrity, Honesty, Collaboration. Mutual respect is not only between
employees, but also with customers and sales partners. As I have mentioned, I believe this from myexperience of seeing many different workplaces. I feel that SIOS Values *1 are truly rooted in thecompany.

- What, if any, efforts are being made to foster culture?
Margaret: I feel that teamwork and collaboration have become more active since Masahiro Arai took
over as COO in 2020.
For example, we strive to create an atmosphere where it is easy to speak up even when differing
opinions make it difficult to speak up at meetings and to maintain an environment where people can
express their opinions to each other. If there is an attitude of respect even for differing opinions, it iseasier for people to honestly confide what they are thinking.
Arai also often says, "Think about things from a different angle and look for breakthrough ideas andnew solutions. It is difficult for one person to solve a complex problem or create a new solution, but if weall take on a challenge together, the possibility of creating something new increases.
- How do you deal with conflicts of opinion or deadlocked problem-solving?
Margaret: In such situations, we discuss thoroughly. We look for the underlying cause, "What is thecause?" Sometimes we ask other departments because our own perspective may be only one aspect of
the event or symptom. Once we find the cause of the problem, we will consider how we can solve theproblem to everyone's satisfaction.
- Perhaps it is this environment of mutual respect and discussion that has led to the awardof "Best Places To Work in South Carolina" for three consecutive years. Now, the lastquestion. Please tell us about your future challenges.
Margaret: There are many challenges, but first of all, we need to build stronger relationships with oursales partners. It is also important to strengthen cooperation with SIOS Technology (Japan). Although
the markets in Japan and overseas are different, we share some common problems and exchange
information on a regular basis. Understanding the differences in our business environments has madeour collaboration smoother than ever, but I would like to build an even better relationship.
I would like to challenge myself to provide support to my colleagues.
I used to ask myself what I needed and what I lacked in order to increase my market value andcontribution to the organization. The answer I found was that I was not challenging myself enough.
Repeating the same thing over and over again in the same way will not open the way.
I have continued to find new opportunities and challenges, but I could not have done it without thesupport of understanding supervisors and colleagues around me. It is difficult to keep working in asenior management role due to various factors such as childcare. It is important to understand eachother's environment and help each other. Now that my child is grown, I have taken on much more
responsibility at work. Now I want to support the challenges around me. I also hope to pass on what I
have learned.
Teamwork is important in business. I believe that organizations can be more wonderful when we
support each other.

*1 SIOS Values: The values of the SIOS Group are clearly stated and consist of the five key words "Creativity, Passion, Commitment,Integrity, and Teamwork," each with its own action guidelines. Each of the five keywords clearly defines the guidelines for action.