While technical knowledge and job-required skills can be learnt after being on the job, some skills, such as communication, presentation, data analysis, and visualization, are the skills I was able to learn from my time at Ritsumeikan.

Please share your career after graduation from Ritsumeikan University.

PranjalWhile being a student at Ritsumeikan University, I was able to intern within the Louis Vuitton Moet Henessey (LVMH) Group in multiple maisons (brands). I started with being the student ambassador at LVMH, later getting an opportunity to work as a client advisor at LOEWE Japan. Further on, I got the opportunity to work at BVLGARI in high-end retail operations. Through internships, I was clear that I wanted to work within the luxury industry and decided to apply for the opening of an e-commerce specialist at RIMOWA Japan.

courtesy of Modi Pranjal

Please tell us about your current work. What led you to this profession?

PranjalThrough internships, I was very much inclined to work within the luxury industry. While being a student at Ritsumeikan, I also did many certifications online that were related to the fashion/retail industry, such as omnichannel certification and certification in sustainable fashion, etc.

While job hunting and looking for opportunities, I came across an opening from RIMOWA on LinkedIn for an e-commerce specialist.

Today, as an e-commerce specialist, my responsibilities are to take care of the operations side of rimowa.com in Japan and liaise with HQ for new products and new project launches. In Operations, I take care of daily tasks such as order fulfillment or dispatch and return of ecommerce orders. My responsibilities also include site management & performance, ECOM planning, project management, sales planning, e-merchandising, inventory management, reporting and analysis, omnichannel operations & troubleshooting in case of an issue. What I find most exciting within my responsibilities is proposing new projects/features and working towards their launch. Finally, once the project is launched, I get to see how that is making a tangible difference to our customers. Providing a more seamless customer experience that increases the e-commerce business in Japan has to be one of the more rewarding experiences.

courtesy of Modi Pranjal

How does your experience while at the College of International Relations benefit you now?

PranjalWhile many believe that what I do now and what I have studied are very different, I like to rather say the opposite. While technical knowledge and job-required skills can be learnt after being on the job, some skills, such as communication, presentation, data analysis, and visualization, are the skills I was able to learn from my time at Ritsumeikan. As for every class at Ritsumeikan, the research we did, today I use the same techniques to propose new features/projects to HQ.

Also, by being in the college of IR, I became more prone to following the global trends and international happenings and using that to better predict how ecommerce at RIMOWA Japan could be positioned.

When looking back on your days at Ritsumeikan University, how do you find the College of International Relations attractive?

PranjalThe classes, along with the peers I was able to communicate with, who were all from different backgrounds, helped me be better at communicating and to gain understanding of different cultures. Ritsumeikan offered more than just an education—it gave me memories, friends, different types of classes, and the space to grow and contribute.

With the freedom of choosing the classes that resonated with my interests, I was able to focus on subjects related to political economy and governance. Along with that, having deep discussions in ZEMI allowed me to broaden my understanding of limitless topics within business, politics, security, and other such areas. The most attractive part about the College of International Relations, for me, was being able to choose the classes of your interest and the highly knowledgeable faculty, with whom you could dig deep into relevant topics and also reach out for support.

courtesy of Modi Pranjal

Could you send some messages to prospective and current students for the College of International Relations at Ritsumeikan University?

PranjalRitsumeikan offers so many opportunities to interact with people from around the globe with vast backgrounds; therefore, make the most out of it. Talking about student life, I would say to not be afraid to reach out and talk to people, whether they be students or faculty.

Along with that, through my personal experiences, I would say to go out and try everything that you can as a student. Even for myself, the networking opportunities and the experiences I gained from the internships opened a new path into getting a job that usually might not be for fresh graduates. Experiences on and off campus are very important in shaping your personality and may present a new perspective or opportunity for growth.

February 2025