Hoffman Japan Nicole Irizawa
Senior Account Manager
Turning Diverse Experience into Strength: My Career and Work Style at Hoffman
Pursuing Relationship-Centered PR Fueled by a Diverse Background
Q: When did you join the company, and what has your career path been like so far?
I joined Hoffman in January 2025. My career path has been an unconventional, twisting, zigzag path. And I wouldn’t have it any other way. I’ve been part of the world of public service and non-profits, experienced life as an English teacher, voice actor and in-house editor, and eventually found my way into PR and communications about eight years ago.
Over the years, I’ve tried to honor my sense of curiosity and explore new opportunities as they arise, always with the goal of deepening connection and purpose. Ultimately, I’m driven by a desire to work with others toward a shared goal that benefits society.
Q: What do you find rewarding or meaningful about your work?
It’s an immense privilege to meet with client teams across different sectors and to have the opportunity to learn about their goals and challenges. This requires a bit of vulnerability on the clients’ part: to best serve them we need to understand their pain points and roadblocks.
Something I really enjoy is working across geographic and cultural borders and getting to listen to diverse voices and perspectives. I embrace working as part of a team to figure out how we can help clients achieve business as well as communications goals. I also welcome the awkwardness that can come with communicating across cultures.
I believe that great work starts with solid relationships, and I take pride in strengthening those relationships with a holistic, human-first approach.
I believe that great work starts with solid relationships, and I take pride in strengthening those relationships with a holistic, human-first approach.
A Culture Respecting Autonomy and Life Supports Professional Work
Q: What do you like most about Hoffman?
I love the autonomy at Hoffman. Do we have processes, structures, and rules? Of course. But the day-to-day life and overall workflow is largely up to the individual. Naturally, we prioritize client work, full stop. However, whether you need to run to the clinic, pick your children up from daycare, or care for a sick pet, there is understanding among colleagues that ‘life happens’ outside of work.
At Hoffman, compared to other companies I’ve worked at, I am much more comfortable to say without worry that I need to leave the office a bit early or work from home to take care of family matters.
Q: How do you usually spend your days off? Do you have any tips for maintaining a good work-life balance?
Work-life balance is so very important. I haven’t quite mastered it yet! I try to set an example, both internally among colleagues, and externally to clients, about working within the business day and reserving late hours for more urgent situations. Admittedly, it can be hard to put the phone down sometimes.
But as you get older, you realize how swiftly time slips away. So I consider my free time pure gold! I love to hike, be out in nature, explore the quiet backstreets on ‘urban’ hikes, try out new coffee places. I don’t consider it a good weekend unless I take at least one nap or stay up super late for family movie night. We are a family of film buffs and love all things celluloid, from old timey Hollywood to the golden age of Japanese cinema. Give me a bowl of popcorn and I’m good to go.