Airion Inc. is a University of Tokyo-born startup specializing in AI system development and DX consulting for the manufacturing industry.
In this interview, we spoke with Koyasu, who draws on his career as a designer while supporting multiple projects as a PM (project manager).
He talked about the role of a PM, what makes it rewarding, and the working environment that is unique to Airion.
From Designer to PM
— Thank you for joining us today! First, could you briefly introduce yourself?
Koyasu: My name is Koyasu, and I work as a PM at Airion. My specialty is building UX that leverages AI-powered image recognition. Before joining Airion, I worked as a freelance UX designer. I joined Airion through my connection with Ohkuma (our CTO), who was originally a friend of mine, and I now work as a PM while drawing on my background as a UX designer.
— With your career as a designer, what led you to start working as a PM?
Koyasu: When I first joined Airion, I was working as a UI designer on a project that Ohkuma was managing. As I got involved in more projects, I increasingly found myself weighing in on product design from a UX designer's perspective, and I began joining business meetings with clients as well. After working on several projects in roles like designer and inside sales, I was asked, "How about trying your hand as a PM?" — and I decided to take on the challenge.
The Growth and Satisfaction That Come with PM Work
— What do you find rewarding or fulfilling about the PM role?
Koyasu: A PM's job is to look at the project as a whole and guide it to completion. Concretely, you're expected to fill many roles: managing scope and schedule, and coordinating quality and stakeholders. Airion has some of Japan's top AI engineers, and I find it deeply rewarding to think about how to combine our members' strengths so that the team's output is maximized. It may sound cliché, but when a project succeeds and the client thanks us, the sense of accomplishment is real.
At Airion today, many of our clients are still working with us for the first time. Airion's PMs are expected not only to lead each project to success on its own, but also to build relationships with clients that lead to new and additional projects. The sense of responsibility — knowing that my every move affects the trust placed in the company as a whole — also drives my own growth.
— What does your work look like in concrete terms?
Koyasu: On my current projects, I use Notion to visualize tasks. By making each member's tasks and their statuses visible, I aim for a state where anyone can objectively judge how the whole project is progressing. For communication, we use Slack. Creating conditions where members can communicate easily and building a comfortable working environment is also an important part of the job. An understanding of the underlying technologies is essential too. Having knowledge across AI, frontend, backend, and other areas helps me keep collaboration between members running smoothly.
The most important part of the job is communication with clients and follow-up. I strive to ensure clients are satisfied not just with the project's deliverables, but with the entire process. When this careful, steady work leads a client to say, "We're actually struggling with something else — could we ask Airion to help?", the sense of achievement is tremendous.
Airion's Environment and the Thrill of Working at a Startup
— Tell us about the work environment at Airion.
Koyasu: Airion has the kind of energy you only find at a startup. At the same time, there's the logical, calm atmosphere that comes with highly skilled engineers. I think it's a fascinating workplace where passion and composure coexist.
Another appealing aspect is how close everyone is, including the CEO and CTO. When you deliver results on a project, the CEO and CTO always take notice. You then get entrusted with projects that demand more advanced technical skill, or given greater discretion — my impression is that your work gets recognized right away.
What Qualities Does a PM Need?
— What kind of person do you think is suited to being a PM at Airion?
Koyasu: A PM needs a perspective that takes in the whole project. When a problem arises, you need the composure to think calmly about how it affects the entire project, rather than fixating on the incident itself. And above all, I believe the most important quality is communication skills. A PM is not just a task manager. To lead a project to success, you need the ability to stay in close dialogue with everyone involved and keep showing a direction that everyone can get behind. People who are good listeners, or who can stay calm under any circumstances, are especially well suited.
Whether you can build long-term relationships of trust with clients also matters. As I mentioned earlier, Airion often runs projects with clients who are working with us for the first time. And because we work with AI — a cutting-edge technology — we frequently get to take part in projects that are new for the client, or in new business development. Beyond addressing the client's own challenges, it helps to have the breadth of vision to think about the client's customers as well.
While a PM needs this kind of composure, our members are full of fire. At times you also need the drive to stoke that passion even further and sprint down the shortest path to project success. Someone who can move back and forth between calm and passion is a perfect fit for Airion.
A Message for Those Hesitating to Apply
— Finally, do you have a message for anyone who is unsure about working at Airion?
Koyasu: Airion is not just another startup. We're in our second fiscal year with nearly 30 members, and so far we've taken no outside funding. We take pride in having grown this far by steadily building up a track record. Each member's growth and credibility ties directly to Airion's growth and credibility. You get to work while feeling, firsthand, the impact your actions have on the company.
PMs in particular have a wide sphere of influence. Your actions and decisions affect the actions of every member on the project. And the project's output, in turn, affects the client. In proportion to that reach, I think you also feel a stronger sense that your work has contributed to the whole company. Airion isn't looking for PMs who merely "keep projects turning" — we want PMs who maximize the output of their project members and take on the challenge of exceeding clients' expectations. For anyone interested in that kind of work, I think this is the best environment there is!
You may find yourself torn between seeking security and stability, or taking on a challenge. When I thought about my own future, I chose the environment where I could grow "now." Airion is a workplace that rewards that spirit of challenge.
— Thank you very much for your time today!