Meet Our People: Hyobin Noh

I was born and raised in South Korea and moved to Japan in 2001 after graduating from high school, encouraged by my sister who was working here at the time. After two years of intensive Japanese language study, I went on to earn a degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering at a Japanese university.

I started my career as an engineer in thermal and geothermal power generation before joining ABB^* in 2015 to pursue opportunities in a more global environment. Today, I work as a Sales Manager in Transformers Business Unit at Hitachi Energy Japan.

Looking back, it is remarkable to realize that I have built my entire career in Japan over the past 25 years.

^{*ABB: Hitachi Ltd. acquired ABB’s power grid business in 2020 to form Hitachi ABB Power Grids, which was renamed Hitachi Energy in October 2021.}

At ABB, I mainly worked on export projects, supplying equipment for overseas plants built by Japanese EPC contractors. Because of differences in standards and market requirements, I had limited opportunities to work directly with customers in Japan.

That changed around 2019, when I began working on domestic projects. The expectations, contract requirements, and overall complexity were very different from what I had experienced before. Large-scale projects could be challenging, but overcoming those challenges helped build stronger trust with customers.

Challenges are inevitable in large projects, but so are opportunities to build trust. One of the most rewarding moments in my career was hearing a customer say, "I'm glad you were there."

One of the things I value most at Hitachi Energy is the willingness of people to support one another. Whenever I face a challenge, I know I can turn to colleagues for advice and fresh perspectives—and I try to do the same for others.

What stands out most about my team is how we approach problems together. Rather than working in isolation, we share ideas, learn from each other's experiences, and find solutions as a team. That collaborative spirit is something I'm proud to be part of every day.

What I value most about Hitachi Energy is its culture. People are encouraged to excel at work while also making time for their personal lives, creating an environment where they can thrive both professionally and personally. Having the time and space to share experiences with my family often gives me fresh perspectives that I can bring back to work, and I believe that balance makes me both a better professional and a better person.

At the same time, working in a global organization has challenged me to grow. Early in my career at ABB, I often found myself having to gain support from colleagues across the business and communicate my ideas clearly in English. Those experiences taught me how to build consensus, work across cultures, and bring people together toward a common goal.

Today, I am proud to work alongside talented colleagues from diverse backgrounds, contributing to the infrastructure that powers our society. Being part of Hitachi Energy continues to challenge me, inspire me, and help me grow.

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