Karen Cuerci - Making sure our projects stay on track

In this employee portrait, we had the pleasure of having a chat with Karen Cuerci , who is one of HMH’s Project Controllers. With her academic and professional background in accounting along with work experience in 3 countries, we wanted to find out more about her journey and how she ended up joining HMH.

Good to see you Karen! Should we maybe open a bit with talking about you? Who are you and what do you do here in HMH?

“So my name is Karen, I’m from Brazil and live here in Norway. I have been here for a bit more than 7 years now, and I joined HMH in March 2022. I have 2 kids – soon to be 3 – and moved here with my husband as he is Norwegian.”

“I work as a Project Controller, which I find very exciting because it was a new role for me when I started here, having my background in accounting. But also because I get to work alongside so many different people here, and have a job where not one day is the same. Some of my responsibilities are to set up new projects in our systems, budgeting projects, and find optimal ways to run projects that is good for both our project groups and our customers. We are a team of Project Controllers who help each other and share information so that we can continuously improve, which is something I appreciate.”

It's an interesting journey you have had, how did it happen that you went from Brazil and ended up in Kristiansand, Norway?

“Well, I started my education with a business administration degree and realized that I found accounting really interesting and chose to do my degree in this field. I then started working for another company, that also had an office in Houston, Texas – which was a big decision for me, but ended up accepting a job in the same company there. It was in Houston I met my husband, and the reason why I ended up moving to Kristiansand!”

She then mentions that she never really saw herself moving to other countries when she was younger, so it’s fun to think of how some decisions lead to a route that would be difficult to imagine and plan for in advance.

We hope you enjoy life in Norway! So why did you choose to join HMH and how have your experience been so far?

“I started my career in the same industry, and I had heard good things about HMH - which was actually on top of my list of companies that I wanted to be part of. Someone tipped me about a vacancy that could be relevant and interesting, so I applied and I got the job I have today as a Project Controller! It was in fact a bit new role for me, but I really like the variation and I think it’s developing and gives me broader competence being different from what I have done before.”

“I find that there is a good team spirit in my department, and I’m fortunate to work together with some great people! They are helpful and I think we have a way of sharing knowledge with each other that benefits all of us, and I always feel comfortable asking any questions I might have as well. Even though we work for the most part independently on our own projects, we still work closely together as a team so that we’re all well equipped to do a good job.”

Is there anything that you feel others should know about HMH, that they might not know about?

“Here in HMH’s location in Kristiansand, we have many different sports- or activity groups. I’m part of a group that goes swimming all year around, even in the winter! As the Kristiansand office is by the sea and have its own pier in which we can jump in the sea from, we do this on a frequent basis then go for a breakfast together before the workday starts. This is something social and fun (and freezing!) that we do in this group.”

That sounds like a fun, but certainly a cold activity to do, especially in the Norwegian winter season! Finally, what are your thoughts on what the future holds for you and for HMH?

“I feel that I enjoy it here in HMH and my thoughts is to stay here and develop even more in my job. There is a lot to be improved and developed within projects, that is where I want to focus on the close future. For HMH, I think we have exciting times ahead with new technology and goals to achieve – and I think it’s exciting to be part of this journey!”

Thank you Karen, for taking your time to have this chat with us. We are also very excited for what lies ahead for HMH!