Sustainability, People & Culture, Blades, Windsor, USA
My Choice
I wanted to gain international work experience in a global company. Having a global outlook means being able to understand different cultures and cater to different needs, which I find an extremely important professional skill. The Vestas Graduates, coming from all over the world, communicate frequently to share information within the network. This is a great resource – there is always someone somewhere who can provide you with the information you need, especially since the Graduates are working in offices all around the world.
The life as a Graduate continuously present you with an ever-changing environment which means that working life never is boring. Adapting to a new environment may be tedious at times, but with an open mind, I am able to appreciate the differences and make life interesting!
My role
Currently, I am involved in projects that make the Blades factory in Windsor, Colorado in the US a much safer and ‘greener’ workplace. My projects involve identifying safety gaps and establishing programs, such as improving the recycling and implementing instructions for personal safety. In order to understand the safety concerns of the workers, I’ve been out on the factory floor, working together closely with the other production workers. I can proudly say I have produced one of the many blades coming out of that factory!
My most challenging project so far in the Graduate Programme has been trying to manage a pre-certification project from an office 6000 miles away, in a country where the culture is somewhat different from the one I am used to. Not being able to be physically there to follow up on the project is challenging, especially with a tight deadline.
My everyday work life
My everyday work involves talking to people to get the information I need, walking in the factory to observe how people work, and also working at my desk to analyse data and information. So far, my experience all over the world has been that Vestas is a place where everyone is very open about what they think and will voice their views, especially when it comes to safety. The office I am in has a very friendly environment, where it is easy to strike a conversation with practically everyone, also people at a higher hierarchical level than myself.
The ever-changing environment in Vestas means that I’m learning new things along the way, which is a great way to get insights into the different aspects of the Vestas world. And I get to work on projects that I know can contribute to making a difference. It gives me a great sense of satisfaction!
My opportunities
After being part of the Graduate Programme for 2 years, I can see myself moving into a position to help Vestas improve the management of health, safety and environmental programs. Safety is a never ending journey - I can foresee myself working on our programs for a long time. I am motivated to work when I see people go home safely to their loved ones at the end of each work day; it means my efforts are paying off.
I think that Vestas does a good job of developing the employees by identifying their potential and interests through dialogues. Trainings are also identified to assist in the development, so I feel sure to have good opportunities after ending the Programme.
My life
I love to travel to experience the different cultures in the different countries. In Chinese, there is a saying that goes like this: “It is better to travel ten thousand miles than to read ten thousand books.” I am a firm believer of that, even though I do love to read too. To connect with the nature side of me, I like to bird-watch and scuba dive. Both are something I can do during my travels, so that works out pretty well.
