For me, truly listening means questioning what I hear and exploring it fully. Often, it’s in the depths of that exploration that new and unexpected paths emerge – ones we may not have initially seen. Take Henry Ford as an example. When people asked for faster horses, he didn’t just hear the request; he understood the underlying need. He looked beyond the obvious and revolutionised transportation with the automobile. Did you know ❓ 🚗 By introducing the moving assembly line, Ford transformed car production and changed the automotive industry forever. 🇮🇪 Henry Ford was the son of Irish immigrants. 👨🏭 Ford Motor Co. was one of the first companies to implement the 5-day, 40-hour working week. Listening, questioning, and understanding are the keys to innovation. What lessons have you learned by looking beyond the obvious?
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Last week marked my first anniversary at JLR —a milestone that brings back memories of the anxiety, excitement, and nervousness I felt before joining. Moving to a new country with my family, so different from what we were accustomed to, was not an easy decision. Now, as I look back on this year, I can confidently say it was one of the best decisions of my life. Here’s why: 1️⃣ Work-Life Balance I’ve been able to manage work and family without compromising on either, thanks to a clear understanding of how my work impacts the end product, well-defined objectives, timelines, and incredibly supportive colleagues. The team made me feel welcome and provided consistent support throughout the year. 2️⃣ Freedom and Flexibility The freedom to execute work in my own way has been empowering. It allowed me to prioritize, plan, and focus on both the end results and the overall process. This flexibility also encouraged me to bring forward new ideas to enhance productivity. It’s not just about clocking hours but contributing to something meaningful. 3️⃣ Appreciation and Recognition Being appreciated and recognized for your work is a wonderful motivator. At JLR this culture runs deep—whether it’s delivering critical projects or contributing to noble causes. Every effort counts, and that acknowledgment inspires me to push harder and continuously grow. 4️⃣ Supportive Management Regular feedback and 1:1 discussions with manager have been game changers. These conversations provide a safe space to discuss challenges—both personal and professional—explore career progression, and receive constructive feedback. Knowing that you’re supported and not left to figure it out alone is incredibly reassuring. This past year has been transformative, both personally and professionally. It has taught me not just how to manage but also how to continually improve in every aspect of life.
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Heads up: This one’s long, sentimental, and probably emotional. Grab a coffee (or a tissue) if you’re in for the full read! It’s been exactly 8 years, 7 months, and 11 days since I joined the company – gaining invaluable experience, countless memories, and a few grey hairs along the way. But yes, as of tomorrow, it’s time to turn in my ID card and hand over the keys to my desk. Marking the end of this unforgettable chapter. My heart is full of gratitude for the leaders who saw potential in me and entrusted me with some of our most pivotal projects. I owe a special thanks to one mentor in particular – a true “#1”☝🏻 enthusiast who didn’t just talk the talk but walked it daily🤝, inspiring us all to raise the bar. His relentless drive for genuine excellence transformed our company, our team, and certainly me. Looking back, I’m proud of the footprints I’ve left behind – not just any footprints, but ones that I believe will continue to support and generate sustainable value for the company. From building new policies and projects from scratch to refining existing ones, I strived to create initiatives that wouldn’t just make a difference today but would be woven into the company’s fabric for years to come. Watching these systems, projects, products, services and improvements grow and flourish has been incredibly fulfilling. To my colleagues and my successor – brace yourself! The files you’ll uncover may leave you in shock. The journey of unraveling the layers of “organized chaos” might initially seem daunting, but I promise it’s all designed for smoother sailing in the long run (with a few surprises). As I step into a new adventure, I carry forward every lesson, every memory, and every laugh. Thank you all for the journey, the memories, and the impact we’ve created together. Here’s to new beginnings and the promise of more. Nissan Motor Corporation
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Six Months, Countless Lessons: Thank You, BMW After six transformative months, my chapter with BMW as a Digital Sales Intern has come to an end—and what a journey it’s been! It’s hard to put into words just how much I’ve gained from this experience, but I’ll try to do it justice here. First and foremost, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to two extraordinary individuals who have shaped my time at BMW: Ema Skoko and Sascha Thimmel, my supervisor and my manager. Their mentorship went beyond professional guidance; they empowered me to think big, stay curious, and embrace challenges with confidence. Thank you both for inspiring me every step of the way. I believe that growth often lies beyond comfort zones. With that in mind, I’ve made the decision to embark on a new adventure: diving into the fast-paced and innovative world of a scale-up company. The prospect of contributing to a growing organization and witnessing its evolution firsthand is something that excites me deeply. To my incredible colleagues at BMW, thank you for creating an environment where learning was a constant and collaboration was second nature. You’ve shown me what it means to be part of a world-class team, and I will carry these lessons with me wherever I go. As I turn the page to this next chapter, I’m more motivated than ever to take on fresh challenges, make meaningful contributions, and continue pushing boundaries. If you have insights about scale-ups, advice for this journey, or simply want to connect, I’d love to hear from you. Here’s to growth, new horizons, and the courage to embrace change!
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Have you ever felt stuck in a comfortable job? That's where I was in my early 30s. The year was 1978. I was working at General Motors importing auto generators from Adam Opel GM in Germany. To be frank, I found the work monotonous. I was there because GM was well known and the benefit package was outstanding. But what I really found myself captivated by was the world of *export.* Korean products were just entering the global market, and the potential for growth was exhilarating. Even though I had neither the experience nor the capital, I had an unwavering passion and a vision that pushed me forward. So, I left behind the security, prestige, and stability I had at General Motors to take a bold leap to join Hyundai Corporation, a much lesser known company at the time. Reflecting on that journey, here are some observations on how that move impacted my career: 1️⃣ The Value of Fresh Beginnings: Embracing new environments at Hyundai reignited my ambition, exposing me to diverse business cultures and challenges. This shift expanded my professional network and sharpened my innovative thinking in sales strategies. 2️⃣ The Value of Lifelong Learning: Navigating Hyundai's steep learning curve taught me adaptability and a growth mindset. I learned to embrace challenges as opportunities for growth, deepening my expertise in global trade and enhancing my resilience in a dynamic industry. 3️⃣ The Value of Overcoming Inexperience: Despite initial limitations in trade experience, I leveraged initiative and strategic thinking to excel. Seeking mentorship and applying existing skills, I developed effective market strategies and positioned Korean products competitively worldwide. #sales #trade #globalmarket #careers #motivation #personaldevelopment 👂 Share your stories in the comments! 🫵 What was a turning point in YOUR career? 🧐 Have you taken a risk that paid off?
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47 months ago, I moved to Sweden (in the middle of Covid) for a Graduate Program at Volvo Cars. For the next 30 days I'm going to share the strategy I implemented - a how to - that enabled me to achieve my ambition of moving abroad! We will cover the strategy in bite size, things like 🏋♂️ Mindset 💡 Planning and execution 🛣 Pre-requisites ⛰ Mistakes I made that you can avoid 🚧 Potential blockers It is possible for you. The possibility could be small, but it's there. We can increase our surface area of "luck" with a few small but important adjustments... but you only know IF YOU KNOW! This will be primarily LinkedIn content (for now) 👀 but I unpack more complex life "strategy" on my Youtube Channel and my new blog - take a look! 🎯
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"What tips do you have for new colleagues joining Volvo Cars?" "As a member of our people analytics team, what are fun facts you can share?" Every Monday, new hires join Volvo Cars at our Gothenburg HQ and online around the world for an inspiring first day hosted by our Global Head of Onboarding, Jesper Petersson. Each week, a volunteer from across the company joins to share their career journey and tips for thriving in a Q&A format. I feel energized by seeing new faces and listening to Jesper, who keeps it fresh with the latest news about our products and innovations as well as spontaneous, unexpected questions that ensure authenticity and personal reflection. Being a part of this event reminds me of my own exciting first day and renews my commitment to our values and mission. Yesterday I loved how Jesper phrased our focus on safety as "safety for all" and talked about our initiative to share safety data with the entire industry in a long tradition of working for the common good as well as organisational performance. I also think answers to a couple of his questions to me are of possible interest to a wider audience. 📊 Fun Facts: Volvo Cars has people representing 140 nationalities working in 65 countries with 30 percent of senior leaders who are women. I particularly love telling people that almost 25% of our team in Malaysia is made up of women, which I learned in Milan last year at the EX30 launch when I met one of our leaders in Malaysia who told me what an important and growing role they are playing. I also think an important tip for thriving at Volvo Cars is applicable at any large enterprise company: 🤝 Do not underestimate the importance and benefit to you AND the company of carving out time for networking with anyone and everyone you can beyond your team or department, from the lobby ambassadors to senior leaders. Newcomers have a unique opportunity to become bridge builders by uncovering synergies and connecting people with each other who have been here for years but may not have otherwise met. ☕️ Don't wait to have your ducks in a row or to feel you know everything before reaching out beyond your team. It's important to take advantage of being new, when you can be courageous and curious in seeking information about how things work and reaching out proactively for a Swedish "fika" to learn what people do and how different parts of the business operate. Your new perspective might just generate ideas for new efficiencies and processes. Wondering what to do or say to get started? It can be as simple as saying, "I was told in onboarding that networking is important here. Can you recommend two people in other teams you think I should reach out to for a brief introductory chat to learn about their typical day/what they wish they had known earlier (etc)?" Follow up and connect people you meet to each other or solutions to challenges. Happy networking! #LifeAtVolvoCars #volvoforlife #safetyforall #onboarding #networking
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We asked employees across the company one question: why Ford? Their answers revealed some common themes: opportunity, mentorship, development, and respect. Though their careers and backgrounds vary, there’s one thing they all agree on – there’s never been a better time to come to Ford. Move the world and make the future with us at careers.ford.com #WeAreFord #FordCareers #Innovation #CareerGrowth #FutureOfWork #Opportunity #Mentorship #ProfessionalDevelopment #DiversityAndInclusion #WorkCulture #JoinUs
Movers of the World, Makers of the Future
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What sets us apart? Our culture. 🤍 When you work at Porsche Consulting, you are part of an exceptional team. Our values and culture are the foundation of our daily work together. They create a respectful and dynamic environment where our colleagues love to get involved. Team spirit, sportsmanship, pragmatism, ambition, and passion are the key values of our day-to-day workday. This is how we guarantee that we can deliver excellent solutions while having fun at the same time. Do you want to know more? Then watch the video below. #Consulting #TeamCulture #CompanyValues #WorkWithPassion
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BLOWING MY OWN HORN! (because we need to celebrate our own success as well as others) Since April I'm hosting the first day Orientation Session for all new Volvo Cars employees in Gothenburg, Stockholm and Lund. The session is live at the west coast HQ and streamed to the other sites. I've developed the session to fit the remote format and during 1h15m I walk the new joiners through the company history focusing on safety innovations. I present our current state, corporate and product portfolio and we look into the future. And lastly I introduce them to our Blueprint, the why and how of our operations. The session ends with a practical info session before IT takes over. I've added interactive parts to this presentation to make it easier to stay engaged and active and also as a way for me to see how I'm doing. These include a small chat, a Q&A with a colleague and some polls. The sessions starts with the question "How are you doing?" to let everyone state the mood or vibe of the day. The sessions ends with the question "How are you doing now?" and I think the difference between the answers to these polls say a lot of the journey that the Orientation Session is. The new employees start off quiet but excited and at the end they are talkative, energized and ready to go. I'll share the results of this weeks final question and challenge you to ask your audience how they feel after presentations. It will help you stay on track and guide you forward.
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Today I celebrate 25 years at Scania! Much is of course the same as when I joined; successful company, premium products and fantastic colleagues. But a lot is also different. I still remember when I received the first invitation to a meeting via email and when we were almost half the size we are today. The reasons why you choose to stay at a company can vary over time such as interesting assignments and roles, development opportunities, good managers, nice colleagues, healthy work environment and interesting products and services and so on.. but "the oil (or the battery!) ) in the machinery” are the values. Without clear, reasonable and challenging values, it is difficult to hang on. Will the company be the same in another 25 years, well who knows, but for sure, you ain't seen nothing yet! I've been celebrating with the same cup of coffee since 1999. How many cups have I enjoyed in these 25 years? - Well you do the math. #scaniagroup #career #sustainability #HR
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