My Choice
I was originally hesitant to join a program geared toward people at an earlier stage of their careers than I was, but the flexibility of the Graduate Programme was instrumental in allaying my fears. While there was a plan as to what my functional roles were to be, my experiences and exposure within those roles were left up to me and my managers. This program can be whatever you make of it, so if you are conscious of managing your own career, the Graduate Programme can work for you as well.
The global aspect to the program has also opened my eyes, both personally and professionally. Are you hesitant to move abroad? I was. In fact, I originally had no plans to ever work abroad when I graduated from business school. Personally, I have enjoyed the new experiences and challenges that come with living in foreign environments, and have discovered that I actually enjoy life as an expatriate. Professionally, I have grown as well. Business is business… except that it really isn’t. Business fundamentals may be the same wherever you go, but being able to effectively work in different work cultures is a valuable and essential skill in itself, both in dealing with co-workers and customers.
My role
In my current role, I am responsible for forecasting the financial return of proposed wind parks, from the customer’s perspective. It is a very interesting combination of applying principles of wind energy to finance, under the umbrella of project valuation. The corollary responsibility to my role, which is equally important, is pricing analysis. What should we price a turbine for? How do we think competitors price, and how do we compare? I work with Sales Managers on a variety of projects that Vestas is pursuing, forecasting the range of prices Vestas is able to competitively offer.
My everyday work life
I am new to the wind energy industry, but that has not held me back from being considered an equally-valued employee at Vestas. What I have found to be true with the work culture in Vestas, can be described in one word – trust. My managers have trusted me to give me real responsibility right away, and have had the confidence in me that I have the skills and ability to produce a quality product without micro-management. My co-workers trust me enough that my opinions are heard and considered. This culture has allowed me to seamlessly slip into my new roles every eight months and to quickly get involved, as opposed to spending the first half of my rotation simply proving myself in order to earn the right to take on responsibility. The very last thing I wanted was to be treated like an intern, and I have been very fortunate to be treated as an equal no matter what office I have worked in.
My opportunities
There are so many different roles and responsibilities at Vestas, both on the Technology, Business Unit or Group level, that I continuously am being introduced to new and interesting roles. My three rotations have exposed me to many different roles across the company, while my colleagues in the Graduate Programme have also helped me explore. Together, we have been exposed to most facets of the company, or have been able to help each other fill in any gaps. The Vestas network, made possible through the Graduate Programme, has also been an invaluable resource. Chances are the people you most want to speak with are at most two to three levels of connections away. Again, this program is what you make of it, and if you choose to fully utilize the resources at your disposal, there are a multitude of opportunities that can be opened up to you.
My life
The Graduate Programme has afforded me the opportunity to explore the world and experience new and unfamiliar lands. In my spare time, I have travelled throughout Northern and Eastern Europe, both regions that I probably would have never visited otherwise. When I am not travelling, I enjoy running, biking, and indoctrinating myself to new sports like the other “football” sport that is so popular outside of my home country, the United States. While in Sweden, I look forward to trying my hand at curling and floorball.
