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.
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.