The international section is a fixed part of the KION Management Trainee Program. For five months, our trainees travel to one of our international locations and actively work on projects on site. Four trainees talk about what they have learned about the KION culture and way of working.
2024-11-06
For his international assignment Giovanni was based in Xiamen, China. There, he worked in the procurement department for the International Procurement Office (IPO).
How are you supporting local colleagues?
I support my colleagues working in a sourcing project by facilitating the coordination with EMEA colleagues. I also support by preparing templates and dashboards to have a better understanding of the data in the projects. Additionally, I had the opportunity to see how the work is performed in the different commodity in scope, and I have suggested some improvements on how to make more efficient the processes.
Did you have a moment where you thought to yourself "oh, that's why it's like that in that country"?
Yes, before going to China I have been told multiple times how dynamic the country is, but just after being there I realized how everything is moving at Chinese Speed!
How has your international experience affected your approach to your work?
The international experience has affected my approach to work in different areas. It definitely had a huge impact on understanding how different cultures work and how to better adapt to the local way of working, but also, I have become better in coordinating different activities and tasks at the same time.
What do you think of the opportunity to spend part of your traineeship abroad?
The opportunity of spending a considerable time to work abroad gives you an incredible boost. Not only you learn a different culture, but it gives you the open mind thinking that is necessary in today’s professional world.
Can you sum up your international experience in one sentence?
An incredible time that has boosted my learnings professionally and personally.
His favorite experience has been going hiking in Zhangzhou, a city nearby Xiamen, with his office colleagues. This experience has been great to see new places, that normally only local people know, but also to experience the local food.
Marie is currently located in the Linde MH Spain Office in Barcelona where she is roviding support to the Controlling and Business Transformation Team of Sales & Services Iberia both in Spain and Portugal.
What has been your favorite experience, both at work and in your host country?
One of my favorite experiences at work so far had been a customer visit regarding an automation project at Gosbi. Alessandro, the manager of that project, walked us around the site and explained all the details. I got to learn about the challenges of the A&IS business and all the details you need to keep in mind when planning such a big project. During our visit they were doing test runs and it was fascinating to see an automated warehouse coming to life.
Did you have a moment where you thought to yourself "oh, that's why it's like that in that country"?
Our colleagues in Spain are known to deliver their results and take action. They are a highly motivated team. I now understand what makes the difference in this region, as I got to experience it first-hand. They embrace a very positive attitude when it comes to change. The key: always being open to new ideas and looking for the positive impact that updating and rethinking processes and procedures can bring. They always ask themselves: how can we profit from this change and how will it change our way of work? How can we use this to optimize and make our day-to-day job more productive and maybe also easier? With a strong focus on open and positive communication, they manage to get the whole team on board and work towards the same goal. It was absolutely inspiring to see the companionship and the positive attitude of the Iberia team.
How has your international experience affected your approach to your work?
Yes, it had. For one it’s their positive attitude towards change as I mentioned beforehand. Secondly, they get to work with a healthy dose of pragmatism. The first attempt to solving a problem does not have to be perfect, but you have to start somewhere. Once you have a rough idea of how that could work, you can go from there and optimize your first attempt. Do not overthink it, do it!
What do you think of the opportunity to spend part of your traineeship abroad?
I believe that the opportunity to spend part of my traineeship abroad is fantastic as it has allowed me to gain a better understanding of our business and the challenges faced by colleagues in different regions. This experience will enable me to address topics more effectively in the future, and I will carry the positive approach to change and daily challenges with me. Besides that, the opportunity to improve my Spanish skills had been a nice ad on for this section. As I already worked before my international rotation with our Iberia colleagues, it was wonderful to get to know them in person and work together on our reports.
Can you sum up your international experience in one sentence?
My international rotation was a great development opportunity and gave me the chance to get a deeper understanding of our business and processes.
In addition to her professional responsibilities, Marie thoroughly appreciated the opportunity to explore the impressive architecture and landmarks that Barcelona boasts. She loved to spend her weekends walking around the city, diving into Barri Gótic, exploring all the artwork that you can find there but also in the other parts of the city of Gaudi, like Sagrada Familia and Park Guell.
Robbin is currently based in Luzzara, Italy, working with the Product Sustainability & Advocacy Team. His primary task in the team is the preparation of the Product Carbon Footprint of the Linde X30 truck in order to showcase how much carbon the truck produces over its complete life cycle. This information can be used to improve our products but also to inform our customers which are more and more sending out requests regarding carbon emissions.
What has been your favorite experience, both at work and in your host country?
I truly appreciated the opens arms with which I was welcomed in Luzzara. Besides the warm welcome in the first days, I was lucky enough to always being appreciated for my work and finding open ears whenever I had any questions or remarks. This positive atmosphere has helped when working on my own projects like the development of a summary document for our Life Cycle Assessments.
Did you have a moment where you thought to yourself "oh, that's why it's like that in that country"?
Coming from Germany it is well-known that Italy has a particularly rich cuisine. But what I was not expecting is that people are deeply knowledgeable about regional differences and local specialties. Therefore, I could always rely on my colleagues' detailed recommendations for weekend trips, and every time I was impressed by the variety, quality, and taste of the food.
How has your international experience affected your approach to your work?
My work here in Luzzara has reinforced my conviction that collaboration is a main lever in the complexity of the sustainability field. The Life Cycle Assessments show that there are unique challenges that need to be addressed, requiring tailor-made solutions for each product. While there is a lot we can already do internally, there is also a big need to cooperate with suppliers and customers.
What do you think of the opportunity to spend part of your traineeship abroad?
I think this opportunity is quite unique. It allows you to fully experience a different culture in- and outside of work. It is not just a way to broaden your network and your intercultural knowledge, but also a chance to gain a better global understanding of our organization. Additionally, it allowed me to learn from my colleague’s experiences and to immerse myself in an unknown environment, building up my confidence as a professional.
Can you sum up your international experience in one sentence?
My time abroad has not just offered me great personal growing opportunities and helped me deepen my knowledge about our business, it also strengthened my belief in intercultural and cross-departmental cooperation.
Outside of work Robbin enjoyed visiting the historic cities in Italy, like Florence, Verona, Bologna, or my “hometown” Mantova. “It is like you are visiting a big outside museum where you can breathe the history of the place with every step you take”, he says.
For his international section Rody is currently based at KION North America, in Summerville. There he was embedded in 3 teams (Fleet Management, Advanced Applications and Automation). Rody supports them with constructing new sales strategies, automation and advanced application sales, and demos for our stakeholders.
What has been your favorite experience, both at work and in your host country?
My favorite experience was to program my own AGV from start to finish. As a non-engineer I was excited to learn such a complex process. It helped immensely during customer visits and helped in the sales training. Otherwise, travelling across the country for customer visits, converting sales opportunities was a huge eye-opener on how our business operates in the United States.
Did you have a moment where you thought to yourself "oh, that's why it's like that in that country"?
I could name three things that made me fall in love with the United States so far. One is convenience of work and travel; every step of the way is built for comfort and efficiency. Second was the variety of foods in the southern region, locals dub it as ‘’soul food’’. Third, and perhaps the main one, is the Southern warmth, hospitality, and diversity. People here are extremely polite and courteous. This makes daily life in South Carolina very charming. A bonus point, as an International Key Account Management trainee, is the sheer scale of businesses that comprise our customer base.
How has your international experience affected your approach to your work?
The main thing that I enjoy about working at KNA is the drive, speed, and collaborative spirit I observed with the team here. The are no small challenges, which help one grow at a fast pace. Everyone I had the pleasure to work with was always open to teach and challenge me towards becoming better at my job. Whenever I asked for new opportunities, my team always made sure to involve me in their daily operations and projects.
What do you think of the opportunity to spend part of your traineeship abroad?
I think it is a great opportunity in all aspects. As trainees, we have the luxury of experiencing different countries, cultures, and markets. It helps to get a global view of KION and acquire knowledge that we can bring back to our home bases. In many ways those experiences shape us as drivers of positive change and future leaders in the company. After experiencing it, I can confidently say that it is an essential part of the trainee program, and am very thankful to everyone who works hard to make it possible.
Can you sum up your international experience in one sentence?
I can confidently say that I am leaving this section of my trainee program as an improved professional.
Rody on a trip in New York City.
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