Part 2: Sharing Experiences, Building Connections:
Inside ANA's Global Stretch Training
Managers and participants share how the GST program fosters
understanding and strengthens international collaboration.
Members of ANA's Global Stretch Training (GST) are overseas gateway staff who participate in a training program within host departments in Japan. They play a key role in bridging the cultures and values of the ANA Group.
In this second installment of our series [Read Part One: here], we sat down with the management team for a glimpse into the program's benefits:
● Momoka Yoshida, Director of Operations Management Center (OMC) Team 3, from Ting Wang's team
● Tetsuya Uno, Director of Operations Management Center (OMC) Team 6, from Aleksei Khaidukov's team
● Yoshiyuki Ohara, Manager of ANA Cargo Narita Airport Warehouse Operations, from Wandong Guan's team
● Natsuki Uehara, Manager of Corporate Branding and Public Relations Department, from Ninda Rachmawati's team
● Ryotaro Nakamura, Director of Operations Support Center (OSC) Contract & Quality Overseas Department, from Youssef Ghassouli's team
How has the department accommodated incoming GST members?
Uehara: One of our top priorities is to ensure the accommodation and comfortability of all staff members. For example, we have a prayer room that accommodates for prayer during working hours, allowing Rachmawati to feel more comfortable while working in Tokyo. During celebrations, our team actively seeks foods that include pork and alcohol-free options. We worked closely with administration to provide a dedicated prayer room to create a secure space for our members.
How are the members supporting your team?
Yoshida: Having team members like Wang, with their knowledge of routes to China, are invaluable for our team because the region has very unique characteristics. The program aims to continue accepting participants to facilitate and promote cross-cultural learning and improve the success of international flights by better understanding different customer reactions and cultural differences. Wang has been active in single-airport operations, but now manages schedules of aircraft worldwide. This experience has led her to gain a deeper understanding of ANA's products and how to enhance the overall quality of operations for optimal efficiency.
Uno: Having international staff encourages the use of English in face-to-face interactions. While Khaidukov was initially anxious due to the lack of Japanese materials, the OMC team provided materials in both Japanese and English. Working together and learning from each other's perspectives, languages and cultures is a key benefit of having global staff in the department.
Ohara: At overseas stations, freight forwarding staff is typically outsourced, but in Japan, employees handle the work directly. This hands-on experience provides incoming members like Guan the opportunity to experience actual handling and improve their skills, especially with the influx of cargo through Narita. For our department, working with overseas staff is exciting, strengthens personnel exchange and enhances cooperation with overseas bases.
Uehara: I have a personal connection with Rachmawati from my time in Malaysia, so it's exciting to see her professional growth through this program. I hope together our team can learn about global PR practices and gain new international perspectives.
Nakamura: Our team manages contracts with overseas airports, so it is beneficial to expand our knowledge on culture and language. It's difficult to know how passenger and ramp operations take place in other countries, especially post-pandemic, so working closely with colleagues like Ghassouli can help us better understand overseas operations.
Do you have any messages to share with your GST member?
Yoshida: Wang has shown great progress over the past six months and seems to be enjoying her work. I hope she will take her experiences to Shanghai and share it with her colleagues there. With her remaining time in Japan, I hope she takes the opportunity to travel and build new connections.
Uno: Khaidukov is a valuable part of our team with a focus-driven, earnest personality and all of our colleagues are happy to welcome him. While it may have been initially challenging, I hope he makes the most of his remaining training period in Japan.
Ohara: Although a year is short, I hope Guan shares his training experiences to inspire more overseas colleagues toward quality improvement, benefitting ANA Cargo and strengthening partnerships with local freight forwarding staff. I also encourage him to continue discovering Japanese culture and enjoying his personal time.
Uehara: I hope Rachmawati takes full advantage of her time in Japan. This is a great opportunity for overseas colleagues to challenge themselves, develop a broader mindset and better understand the ANA Group's goals and values. We’re overcoming challenges together, so we will make this a meaningful and successful year.
Nakamura: I hope Ghassouli can learn about both Japanese culture and international practices to improve overall performance, even after he returns to Chicago. Because of his time in Japan, I believe he is able to build stronger connections with OSC and learn more about the manuals and regulations. By sharing the experiences and knowledge gained, the operation and service qualities at overseas airports can be enhanced.