Meet Saori Hirota

It is often said that it takes a village to raise a child. In modern society, working parents not only need a supportive community but also opportunities to forge their own professional paths after having a kid, often starting from scratch. Saori Hirota knows the drill. After ten years as a dedicated nurse and a patternmaker, she confronted the challenge of balancing her professional life with childcare.

Striving for a fulfilling career that would allow her to work from home, she discovered her passion for writing in the medical field. With her nursing background, it felt like the perfect alignment. In 2019, she decided to start her own small business, the Medical Writers Office Medipen, where she oversees diverse medical writing projects and trains aspiring writers. Additionally, she founded Medipen Labo, a community that connects writers and fosters skill development.

Saori’s motivation to start her business initially came from outside influences but quickly changed. “I needed to balance work and childcare while using my nursing license from home. When I found a crowdsourcing service, I discovered freelance writing opportunities that allowed me to work from home. After I began writing, I noticed a strong demand for articles about the medical field, so I decided to focus my career there,” she shares.

To ensure her business’s success, she took proactive steps to educate herself on topics beyond her expertise that would be essential for anyone running a business for the first time. Through the Freelance Association Japan (FAJ), she discovered IBM SkillsBuild courses and began contemplating how AI could enhance her medical writing, from transcription and summarization to article structuring and title generation.

What a surprise it was when she found out that AI could provide even more significant advantages to her business. Through IBM SkillsBuild, Saori learned how to develop a virtual assistant using IBM watsonx Assistant, a conversational AI solution. One of the things that Saori highlighted is that the generative AI assistants was easy to create using the pre-built templates and she could tailored it to specific needs. This assistant allowed Saori to implement a fast and user-friendly customer care on her website, enhancing productivity and increasing her orders. “The chatbot has produced substantial benefits, allowing me to provide clients with instant access to the information they need. It reduces barriers to inquiries and serves as an additional resource to better understand client needs and identify areas for improvement. Many clients value the quick access to information, boosting their confidence in my services,” she explains.

Saori emphasizes the critical role of AI for small business owners: “AI liberates time to concentrate on tasks that genuinely require my involvement. For instance, AI transcription of interview recordings allows me to devote more time to writing articles. Additionally, virtual assistants handle questions from trainee writers, enabling me to focus more on mentoring and review.”

The discoveries did not end there. The insights Saori gained proved transformative: “Through various courses, I developed an interest in how AI could be integrated within the medical sector. This inspired me to enroll in a Clinical AI Human Resources development program, where I sought to gain the knowledge and skills to elevate my career and potentially innovate in the field.”

For those considering IBM SkillsBuild, Saori offers encouraging advice: “IBM SkillsBuild is an exceptional opportunity to uncover your potential. Engaging in courses that pique your interest can expand your expertise, allowing you to merge new skills with your existing knowledge. Starting with small steps—like completing a course or developing a chatbot—can lead to meaningful progress. Remember, a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step, and I wholeheartedly encourage you to take that first step and explore new horizons!”