How a mid-career professional built on her previous work experience and core skills to lead HR operations at the forefront of the chip industry

Kaori Takeuchi is currently Director of the Human Resources Dept. at Tokyo Electron (TEL), a world leader in semiconductor production equipment. She worked for a foreign-affiliated consulting firm before choosing a career in the semiconductor industry, where there are considerably fewer women compared to men. In the following interview, we asked her how the industry—and TEL in particular—appeals to her as a former outsider. We also asked her about the HR initiatives she is leading for the industry, and in particular for women looking to advance their careers.

Key topics in this article:
- Seizing Opportunities that Lie Ahead by Leveraging English, IT, and HR Skills
- How TEL Puts “ONE TEL, DIFFERENT TOGETHER™” into Practice
- Contributing to Industry-wide Talent Development as a Leading Company and Participating in UPWARDS, a Japan-U.S. Industry-Academia Partnership

Seizing Opportunities that Lie Ahead by Leveraging English, IT, and HR Skills

Semiconductors are the building blocks of modern society and have an enormous impact on the development of AI. Tokyo Electron (TEL) is a global leader in semiconductor manufacturing equipment, providing superior technology to support the production of leading-edge semiconductors. Kaori Takeuchi joined TEL in December 2017, when she was in her late 40s. It was a bold move into an unfamiliar industry and business, but Takeuchi says the new playing field allowed her to bring all of her previous experience and skills to bear.

“I studied computer science in college and after graduation joined a bank. I was first assigned to the systems development department and then to the IT section of the HR department, where I was responsible for the entire HR system. I planned to continue on this career path, but then the bubble economy burst and a financial crisis ensued. As I witnessed the harsh reorganizations and policy changes, I realized that I needed some solid skills to fend for myself. So I resigned from the bank, and as a first step, I studied in the U.S. for several months to improve my English.”

Takeuchi then took on a series of jobs using her IT skills and HR experience, broadening her field of expertise and reinforcing her unique strengths.

“To enhance my IT skills, I worked for six years at a foreign consulting firm as a system integrator and another five years at a foreign IT company performing various IT tasks such as network and server management. I then moved to another foreign consulting firm as an HR systems consultant.

“The first client I worked with in this company was TEL. I spent two years as a consultant overseeing the renewal of their HR system, and as a result of that engagement, I was invited to join TEL.”

Takeuchi says she had no hesitation in jumping into the semiconductor industry, an unfamiliar field at the cutting edge of science and technology.

“I started my career at TEL in Austin, Texas by applying for an expatriate position, something I’d always wanted to do. For four years, I was responsible for the operation and development of HR systems in the U.S. and Europe, while also managing a team in Japan. Upon my return to Japan, I was appointed Director of the Human Resources Dept. in charge of HR technology, HR development and training, and the DE&I Promotion Group. I’ve been in my current position since October 2024.

“I've built my career by seizing opportunities that lie ahead and seeing them through, one project at a time. I had built up English, IT, and HR skills as the three pillars of my career, and I am delighted that they have finally come together at TEL.”

As a former consultant who has worked with many companies, how does Takeuchi feel about TEL’s corporate culture?

“The short answer is that there are so many nice people and they are not prickly at all. In fact, they are quite appealing as individuals. Respect for others is embedded in the corporate culture, and employees treat each other as equals regardless of their position. I had sensed it as an outsider, and the impression was reinforced after joining the company. Perhaps their camaraderie is a reflection of how well the company is doing. Expectations for innovative semiconductor technologies continue to rise.

“As TEL’s semiconductor production equipment supports many industries, its sales continue to grow and its operating profit remains high. This gives us the freedom to take on a variety of challenges, and TEL as a whole has a positive atmosphere that stems from its traditional love of adventure. Our employee turnover rate in Japan is only 1.1%, and employee retention worldwide is as high as 97.5%, reflecting TEL’s favorable working conditions.”

How TEL Puts “ONE TEL, DIFFERENT TOGETHER™” into Practice

TEL is the fourth largest semiconductor equipment manufacturer in the world. Operating from 87 locations in 19 countries and regions, TEL is a truly global company with approximately 90% of its sales generated overseas. In its efforts to create technological innovations to produce more advanced semiconductors and contribute to the greater development of society, TEL places the highest value on people.

Accordingly, the company’s values corporate growth is enabled by people, and our employees both create and fulfill company values. With a unique perspective gained from her nomadic career, Takeuchi is implementing various measures to create a work environment where all employees can reach their full potential, regardless of nationality, gender, age, or disability.

“Today, TEL Group companies employ approximately 18,000 people in 19 countries and regions, with 55% in Japan and 45% elsewhere. To grow the company, the TEL Group must work closely together and maximize its value. This determination is reflected in our slogan, ONE TEL, DIFFERENT TOGETHER™, under which we are implementing a series of initiatives across four focus areas: Global, Gender, Generation, and Diverse Workstyles.

“A prime example of our global, company-wide initiatives is DE&I Week. A designated ambassador at each group company takes the lead in planning and organizing the event around a chosen theme.

“The event varies greatly from place to place. Some locations host career development seminars with lectures, while others offer multinational cuisine in the cafeteria. One of the events included a workshop using virtual reality (VR) technology to help participants experience what it is like to be someone other than themselves, such as a person with dementia.

“By imagining yourself in other people’s shoes, you can learn to communicate better with others and contribute to a culture of respect for each other’s uniqueness. These and many other approaches are being implemented spontaneously in locations around the world, all of which perfectly embody the slogan “ONE TEL, DIFFERENT TOGETHER™” and demonstrate the high level of interest in this topic at our global locations. This year’s DE&I Week is in March, and I can’t wait to see how it turns out!”

Takeuchi also points out that the issues to focus on may vary from one country or region to the next.

“Every country has different priorities. In Japan, for example, we are very active in promoting female employees. There are significantly fewer women than men in science and engineering jobs in Japan, and since 80% of TEL employees are engineers, the percentage of women in TEL is about 15%, and only 3.1% of its managers are women. As a company listed on the Prime Market of the Tokyo Stock Exchange, TEL is required to increase the percentage of female managers to the benchmark level.

“In addition, recruiting more women has become an important mission for us because of the high-profile nature of our fast-growing industry and the breadth of our work, which requires more people with diverse experience, knowledge and skills than ever before.

“We recently held a career seminar, workshop, and leadership training for female employees, as well as an online networking event for female engineers. These programs have been very well received and have created solidarity among female employees. In some cases, learning about the secret struggles of fellow workers has prompted compassion and led to improvements.”

Contributing to Industry-wide HR Development as a Leading Company and Participating in UPWARDS, a Japan-U.S. Industry-Academia Partnership

There is little doubt that the semiconductor industry will continue to grow. This is why the current shortage of workers in scientific fields is so serious. To address this issue, the “Japan-U.S. University Partnership for Workforce Advancement and Research & Development in Semiconductors (UPWARDS) for the Future” was launched. TEL participates in this program as a corporate partner, and Takeuchi is at the forefront of its activities.

“UPWARDS supports the education of students and researchers who are the key to future semiconductor innovation, and provides additional opportunities for female researchers and students. UPWARDS has five main goals, including Curriculum Design and Implementation, Women in Semiconductors, Experiential Learnings (lab workshop), Semiconductor and Memory-Centric Research (non-IP), and Student and Faculty Exchange. The partnership began in 2023 and will implement various programs over the five-year period. The network brings together 11 universities (six in the U.S. and five in Japan), TEL, Micron Technology, Inc., and the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF).

“As an UPWARDS partner, TEL has offered semiconductor classes taught by TEL engineers and a three-day summer camp for female students that included a semiconductor lecture, a TEL fab tour, a cleanroom suit try-on, and other events. The camp was attended by 33 people, including eight from American universities.

“UPWARDS provides career development opportunities for women and younger generations, benefiting the semiconductor industry as a whole. The initiative gives participants a better understanding of semiconductors, which are ubiquitous but often poorly understood. It also allows them to get to know TEL and its people, as well as the excitement and promise of the semiconductor industry. I will continue to plan and organize a variety of activities with my team.”

As someone who has changed jobs four times before crowning her career at TEL, what message does Takeuchi have for those in the workforce?

“I would tell them not to think it’s too late to start something new. Age restrictions are much less common than they used to be, so you should choose the best time to look for a new career and take advantage of the opportunities available to you. Speaking for myself, I took and completed an online college course while I was on assignment in the U.S., and even went on to get my master’s degree. Relatively many women seem to have a fear of failure, but no one is perfect. It changes you when you develop a skill that you can be confident in, which varies from person to person. You should take a good look at your career and seize your opportunities.

“The semiconductor market is expected to grow even larger. In this dynamic business environment, TEL has the financial resources to invest aggressively, the culture to support the challenges, and the opportunity for each employee to shine in a global arena. Employees have a great deal of discretion in the way they do their jobs, which contributes to a satisfying work environment. We have female employees with diverse backgrounds and skills, in addition to those who are trained in science and engineering. If you are ready for a new career, take a look at what TEL has to offer!”