Redefining skills for a new age

Our new world demands a fundamental shift in how we work – to be more sustainable, more digital and more connected than ever before. But this transformation isn’t achieved through innovation alone. Its success is largely driven by the passion and dedication of the people behind these new roles, people who are courageous enough to expand their skillset and step into unfamiliar territory, and take on unchartered waters.

For Jessica Yu, the hardest part about taking on a new role is making the decision to move in the first place. So when this former engineer began working in Law and Regulations, a newly established part of the business, she found confidence in stepping out of her comfort zone.

She is responsible for keeping up to date with ever-changing laws and regulations across the globe, to ensure that new solutions built in our technology hub in Jinan, China, adhere to the specific rules for each market.

“There is a famous saying that if you move out of your comfort zone, the first stage is fear and that is true. My first year was the fear zone, but now I’m in the learning zone. I have built my network and in doing so I have built my confidence. I’ve learnt that I always want to keep growing like this. Technology is developing fast, and the world is changing, so I hope to continue to have the ability to do jobs I’ve never done before, all the way through my career.”

Paolo Mannesi A big part of the industry transformation is the shift to electric. Volvo CE has a clear direction with its electrification journey – setting a target to reach 35% electric machine sales by 2030. It is the responsibility of a newly formed department, Electromobility Solutions Sales to drive the commercial implementation of electric solutions.

Paolo Mannesi, who moved from Operations Finance through Technology to take on this new role in Sales, said: “Every time you move, you learn new things about yourself, you broaden your horizons and most importantly you increase your knowledge and network. For me, it feels natural to combine the knowledge I have built on the product side with the financials. It is not only a development step for me, but it is the obvious next development stage for our electromobility journey.”

Like Paolo, Tanguy Teyssier has embraced a new direction and a newly established position in Digital and IT, one which he took on after building a career in Global Sales. It is his role to help establish new e-commerce sites and subscription models for Volvo products.

“It’s challenging at times because you have to navigate in a new environment where you have more questions than answers,” he said. “You might have an eagerness to do things but not always the clarity on what or how it should be done, but that’s exciting. You need to be able to work on a daily basis without knowing what’s going to happen in a few weeks’ time. It’s an exciting responsibility to be part of this important digital transformation.”

Areum Kang put her skills as an engineer to good use when she took on a new role in Communications, acting as a catalyst between the ever-evolving Technology function and the wider business. And proving that collaboration is the key to success, she found that it was strong mentorship and support from those around her that gave her the motivation to push boundaries.

“This kind of job was unique in Changwon Technology, so it’s quite difficult to have a reference to follow. However, I discovered that I had mentors all around me – close colleagues and great female and male leaders across different functions who have been helpful in guiding me from time to time.

“While staying in the same field can be fulfilling, understanding different aspects and growing in alternative ways can also be beneficial. It's okay to face obstacles. Because nobody has tried it before. And if it yields good results, it's a great accomplishment!”