How Sunway Shaped My Career from Hospitality to Technology
My journey from Sunway to my current role has been shaped by three consistent themes: international exposure, hospitality, and helping people through technology. At Sunway, I learned how to work with people from different cultures, communicate confidently in English, take ownership in difficult situations, and stay curious. Those experiences became the foundation of my career.
I chose Sunway for reasons that felt very practical at the time. As a Japanese studying abroad, I noticed there were relatively few Japanese students enrolled, which meant I would be immersed in a truly international environment rather than gravitating toward a familiar community. Malaysia's multicultural setting gave me the opportunity to grow in ways that would not have been possible at home. Studying there was also more affordable than private universities in Japan, and Sunway's reputation as a leading institution further solidified my decision.
The experience that left the strongest mark on me was group work. Success was never just about completing my own tasks, I had to learn how to communicate, take ownership, and support teammates from different backgrounds. In one particularly challenging tourism project, my teammate and I had to step up and carry the work to completion when we encountered unexpected setbacks. It was difficult, but it taught me something I carry with me every day: in a team, you cannot only think about yourself. You have to be proactive, ask for help when needed, and take responsibility for moving things forward.
I was also part of the Sunway International Student Ambassadors (SISA) for a period. When I first arrived, I was not confident speaking English, and I often received help from my classmates and the people around me. Over time, as I became more comfortable, I found myself supporting newly arrived international students instead. That shift from needing help to offering it was one of the most meaningful experiences of my time at Sunway.
After graduating, I began my career in the travel industry, conducting luxury tours for senior Japanese travellers. That role was deeply influenced by a Sustainable Tourism class at Sunway, which taught me that tourism should benefit not only travellers but also respect local communities, cultures, and environments involved. I wanted to understand those dynamics firsthand.
I later joined Booking.com as a Partner Specialist, supporting hotel owners and property partners globally. Colleagues often told me that my communication style and ability to build relationships made me well-suited to sales, feedback that gradually shaped my career direction. When COVID-19 affected the travel industry, it prompted me to think carefully about the future. Moving into Software as a Service (SaaS) and technology felt like a natural progression, given my experience working at the intersection of tourism and technology.
After roles at DocuSign and Snowflake, where I developed skills in pipeline generation, mentorship, and sales strategy, I joined Notion as a Sales Development Representative. Today, I identify potential customers, craft personalised outreach messages, and create meaningful first conversations. What I enjoy most is the process of finding the right person, researching their company, understanding what might matter to them, and writing a message that feels genuinely relevant rather than generic. When that leads to a real conversation, it is very rewarding.
At its core, my career has always been about the same thing: understanding people deeply and helping them achieve better outcomes. The hospitality mindset and curiosity I developed at Sunway remain the foundation of everything I do.
Kenjiro Shinno
Bachelor of Science (Hons) in International Hospitality Management
2017
