CEO Insights Magazine

Financial leaders are pivotal figures in corporate landscapes, wielding their expertise to navigate complex economic landscapes. Beyond number-crunching, they align financial plans with overarching business objectives, optimizing resources for growth and stability. Their analytical acumen and strategic foresight make them instrumental in shaping broader organizational objectives, ensuring resilience and success in an ever-evolving market.

Katsunori Araki stands as an esteemed leader in this dynamic landscape. Holding pivotal roles as the Board Director, CFO, Head of Corporate Group, and Managing Director of UPWARD's Singapore office, Katsunori's professional profile is a testament to his multifaceted expertise. His journey encompasses pivotal roles in esteemed companies, with expertise spanning finance, accounting, and strategic planning. Katsunori's leadership prowess is underscored by his dedication to human resource development and innovative growth strategies. With a steadfast focus on driving progress, he's at the forefront of UPWARD's dynamic trajectory toward global success.

In an exclusive interaction with CEO Insights Asia, Katsunori Araki sheds light on his professional attributes and provides deeper insights into UPWARD.

Could you give a brief account of your professional background and experiences? What is the motivation that fuels your daily routines?

My academic foundation rests upon a degree in Economics from the esteemed University of Tokyo, bolstered by my attainment of a certified public accountant qualification in the United States. On the professional front, I began my journey as a new graduate at Nomura Securities, encompassing branch sales, fixed-income marketing, and eventually finance and accounting operations. Seeking to broaden my skill set, I navigated toward the finance department, a pivotal move that honed my abilities. This trajectory led me to Mitsui & Co. where I embraced the responsibilities of financial planning and settlement in Tokyo. As the Deputy General Manager of Finance, I cultivated an expansive expertise in steering the financial landscape of the Singapore office. The allure of UPWARD's inventive approach, specifically tailored to surmount the challenges I encountered during my tenure at Nomura Securities, propelled me into the role of CFO.

Motivated by a deep-seated desire to drive social progress through business, I am drawn to the transformative power of ‘Geographic Information System – GIS’. This dynamic tool, combined with CRM databases, stands as a cornerstone for business decision-making, enhances efficiency, and provides strategic insights. I want to convey the possibilities of GIS and our products based on the technology to as many people as possible.

How would you define UPWARD as an organization and its current position in the market?

UPWARD is a Tokyo-based SaaS company, dedicated to spearheading digital transformation initiatives with a primary focus on optimizing external operations such as field sales and service. Our service, ‘UPWARD’, emerges as a Sales Engagement powerhouse, seamlessly integrating a precision-driven Mobile Application bolstered by cutting-edge positioning technology. In particular, our sphere of influence revolves around providing invaluable support to sales professionals engrossed in daily customer interactions, enabling the automated capture and integration of their sales endeavors into the CRM databases of industry giants like Salesforce and Microsoft.

With a steadfast presence, UPWARD has solidified its footprint across 400prominent enterprises, effectively metamorphosing each customer interaction into a strategic corporate asset.

As the Chief Financial Officer of UPWARD, how do you plan to apply your experience in this domain to add more stars to the organization's profile?

As the Chief Financial Officer of UPWARD, I plan to infuse my extensive professional experience into the organization's fabric, synergizing financial expertise with the core growth factors of a talented workforce, innovation culture, efficient operations, robust financial management, scalable infrastructure, performance measurement, and employee empowerment. By aligning these essential elements, I aim to elevate UPWARD's trajectory, fostering a holistic approach that drives our profile to new echelons of success.

Tell us about your leadership approach.

My leadership approach is grounded in the belief that effective leadership encompasses the art of guiding, inspiring, and influencing our team members to coalesce around a shared goal and vision. In the dynamic landscape of startups, I attribute paramount significance to meticulous team development and talent nurturing, as evidenced by my focus on recruiting exceptional individuals and fostering human resources since joining this company. A leader sets an example through their actions, integrity, and decision-making, serving as a role model for their team or organization.

What future destination you are heading towards?

Our envisioned future trajectory entails achieving triumph in the realm of overseas business, establishing our identity as a prominent global software entity with roots in Japan. To realize this vision, expanding the reach of our software beyond domestic borders necessitates a meticulously devised strategic approach. This journey mandates dedicated efforts in the realms of localization, UX optimization, international partnerships, robust global customer support, strategic international marketing endeavors, as well as adept pricing and monetization strategies.

Katsunori Araki, Board Director, CFO, Head of Corporate Group, & Managing Director of Singapore office

KATSUNORI ARAKI is a distinguished professional serving as Board Director, CFO, Head of Corporate Group, and Managing Director of UPWARD's Singapore office. His multifaceted expertise spans finance, accounting, and strategic planning, while his leadership is marked by a dedication to human resource development and innovative growth strategies, driving UPWARD's global success.

Hobbies: Watching Movies & Sports

Favorite Cuisine: Sushi

Favorite Book: How to Win Friends & Influence People (Dale Carnegie)

Favorite Travel Destination: Hokkaido