Welcome to our Professionals series, where we spotlight the outstanding professionals working at the PayPay Group.
In this installment, we speak with Mikako Mizutani, who is in the Enterprise Sales team promoting PayPay to online merchants. We asked her about her mindset towards her work and the unique fulfillment that comes with being a sales professional at PayPay.
Mikako Mizutani
Team 2, Sales Department 1, Enterprise Sales Division 1, Sales Group
As a new graduate, she joined a major securities firm, engaging in asset consulting services primarily for high-net-worth individuals. She joined PayPay in February 2022 and has been responsible for promoting the use of PayPay among online merchants as part of enterprise sales.
The Appeal of PayPay as a Product
Could you tell us about the role and mission of your team?
I’m part of Enterprise Sales Division 1, which is responsible for new sales initiatives and promotional proposals for major corporate merchants that have implemented PayPay online payments. I am in charge of promotions for major e-commerce sites, with a focus on foreign-affiliated companies. Our mission is to grow together with our merchants who have introduced PayPay’s online payment system and to expand the scenarios in which PayPay can be used.
What is your career background, and what led you to join PayPay?
After graduating, I joined a securities firm and was involved in asset consulting. For our clients, we were dealing with intangible products—stocks—that they could buy from any securities firms. I had to persuade them to buy from us. I enjoyed the challenge of an environment where your character matters, and I approached my work with the desire to become a trusted partner for my clients by devising my own unique approaches.
While I found my days fulfilling, I was strongly drawn to PayPay, which was taking the Japanese cashless market by storm with incredible momentum. Witnessing their rapid business development and bold campaigns, I remember intuitively thinking, “I feel like I could grow at this company.” At the time, my personal life was extremely busy with my partner’s job transfer and raising a child. However, I learned that at PayPay, as long as I was committed to producing results, a hybrid work style and flexible hours were possible. I felt I could still be highly productive as a salesperson under these conditions, so I decided to make the move.
A Turnaround Success: Executing a Campaign by Exceeding Expectations
Could you tell us about a recent project?
It was a campaign initiative utilizing PayPay on a major foreign-affiliated e-commerce site. Among our online merchants, this site has a particularly large GMV (Gross Merchandise Value) and we had been trying for some time to implement a campaign with them, but without success.
The turning point came when the client representative suddenly reached out, saying they wanted to use PayPay for an urgent sales promotion. We worked closely together to negotiate with the decision-maker, but we couldn’t get the green light until the absolute deadline. I was honestly on the verge of giving up. In the end, however, the representative’s passion to “absolutely use PayPay!” won out, and the campaign was realized.
I flatter myself to think that behind the representative’s passionate advocacy for PayPay was not only the quality of the PayPay service itself but also the “approach that exceeds expectations” that I always strive for. From the moment I was assigned to this client, I made a point of not just responding to requests, but of inferring the background and intent behind them to uncover their true needs.
For example, their initial expectation was to “maximize sales during a major sale event.” But as I delved deeper into their needs, I discovered that the underlying problem was a revenue structure that was overly dependent on these major sales. So, I proposed measures to boost sales during non-peak periods. Ultimately, this proposal was adopted, and we were able to provide an enhanced experience for both the merchant and its users.
What is the best part of working in sales at PayPay?
A huge attraction is the high degree of autonomy and the ability for even a single team member to move the company. We have a user base of 70 million (as of July 2025) and a seamless payment experience. In addition, we have a variety of solutions like PayPay Point. I have the discretion to decide what kind of measures to propose and when, by combining all of these assets. I find it incredibly rewarding to contribute to business growth with the ultimate plans I’ve devised myself, all while pursuing a user-first principle.
Furthermore, if you present a proposal to the company with sound reasoning and evidence, you can gain the cooperation of not only your superiors and fellow sales representatives but also other departments. I can truly feel the company moving based on my proposals. In the project I just mentioned, my team leader and department head took on all the internal coordination so that I could focus solely on my interactions with the client. On the other hand, this means you are not simply handed a plan from the company; you are required to think and act proactively.
What are your goals for the future?
In relation to this project, I want to continue contributing to solving our client’s challenges through collaborations on new solutions, such as PayPay Point and PayPay Gift. I also want to apply this success story to other business operators to help drive their growth.
Personally, I want to expand my sales playbook and acquire the ability to handle more complex challenges. Of course, there are not many problems that can be solved alone. I want to enhance my ability to involve other departments and improve my communication skills so that we can overcome the challenges we face as one team.
Do you have a message for our readers?
PayPay is home to professional members with diverse backgrounds and experiences. As a salesperson myself, I gain so much inspiration and learning from the sales styles they have all cultivated. For example, some people are excellent communicators who excel at building client relationships, while others are great at field sales—everyone has a completely different approach. In a good way, many people here have a strong sense of their own style in how they do their work, and you can learn from their convictions to expand your own toolkit. For anyone with a strong desire to grow, PayPay offers the ultimate environment. It is the perfect company for those who seek stimulation and want to learn constantly.
*Job openings and employee affiliations are current as of the time of the interview.