Asians@ introduces Leon Arnold from Pinterest Japan

While Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month is recognized nationally in the United States, at Pinterest, we’re celebrating our global Asians@ community members. First, we’re headed to Japan and excited to introduce Leon Arnold, Lead Data Analyst. 

Hi Leon, thanks for chatting with us! What led you to Pinterest?

I joined Pinterest because I was drawn to its culture and the opportunity. First of all, Pinterest stood out as a place that truly valued kindness, work-life balance, and inclusivity. And second, I was at a point in my career where I wanted to apply the skills that I gained previously in a completely new setting. I’ve always loved connecting dots, solving problems, and bringing structure in a growing organization — Pinterest offered the perfect space for that.

What has your career path looked like here?

When I joined, my role was initially focused on improving our customer support operations. Since then, my responsibilities have expanded and then evolved significantly — I now lead initiatives related to data, insights, and strategy for our global support teams. I’ve been able to collaborate with people across the globe, and I focus on contributing to improving the organization through scalable efforts. What’s kept me engaged is the opportunity to have real impact while still enjoying flexibility and a healthy work environment.

How are you celebrating Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month?

Spring seasons in Japan are traditionally associated with 新生活 (shin-seikatsu, “new life”) and thus fresh beginnings. My family and I are moving into a new home, my daughter is starting at a new school, and we’re all excited for what’s ahead. We’re also looking forward to Golden Week in May, a time when many of us in Japan pause our routines to travel, relax, and spend quality time with loved ones. It’s the perfect opportunity to slow down, appreciate the simple joys—like sharing homemade onigiri (rice balls) in the park.

My daughter and I enjoying a game of baseball, which is the biggest sport here!

What does the theme “Woven” mean to you?

To me, ‘Woven’ represents the richness that comes from having multiple cultural threads in your identity. I’m actually half-Dutch, half-Japanese, and I think my personality reflects that — I have the Dutch habit of speaking plainly, but I also try to be considerate of others or “read the air”, which is an important part of Japanese culture.

At work and in life, I often find myself adopting different communication styles and mindsets. I am not perfect - conflicts do happen - but I see that flexibility as a strength. Above all, I try to stay grounded in clarity. To me that’s what being woven means: making a strong, unique personal fundament from all the threads in your life.