ˈæftɚ ɡɹˈædjuːˌeɪɾɪŋ fɹʌm oʊhˈaɪoʊ stˈeɪt jˌuːnɪvˈɜːsᵻɾi, kˈɑːnoʊ wˈɜːkt æz ɐ hˈaɪ skˈuːl tˈiːtʃɚ ænd swˈɪmɪŋ kˈoʊtʃ ɔnðɪ ˈaɪlənd ʌv kaʊwˈaɪiː, həwˈaɪiː, ænd lˈeɪɾɚ bɪkˌeɪm dᵻvˈɪʒən mˈænɪdʒɚ fɚɹən ˈɛkwᵻɾi lˈaɪf ɪnʃˈʊɹɹəns kˈʌmpəni.
After graduating from Ohio State University, Konno worked as a high school teacher and swimming coach on the island of Kauai, Hawaii, and later became division manager for an equity life insurance company.