Home school: WU, Vienna, Austria
Host school: VŠE, Prague, Czech Republic
Original NGC project: La Plataforma, Spring 2017
Current position: Senior Materials Manager @ Hilti Group
Welcome back to NGC, Veronika! Can you tell me a little bit about your background?
Thanks, happy to be back! I am originally from Russia, Saint Petersburg, but I moved abroad 8 years ago. I completed my Bachelor’s degree in Finland, with various international student exchanges, and then my Master’s in international management at WU, Vienna, with an exchange semester in Prague. After graduation, I started working at Hilti, and, to this day, I am very happy with my decision.
You have been working as a consultant, a project manager, an international relations manager, and a business development manager at NGC before – altogether almost 2 years, quite the resume! What made you want to come back as head of project managers?
Well, my story with NGC had a bit of a bumpy start, actually. My application as a consultant was rejected twice, but I was really excited to get in, so I asked for some feedback because I felt a really good fit with the projects I applied for. I was wondering if I could improve my motivation letter or CV before my next application, but I was told that it just came down to some applicants having more relevant experience for those specific projects.
My drive and motivation, however, stuck with the HR manager, Carole, and, as soon as some free-riders needed to be replaced, I was asked to jump in, and pick up the slack for the team, which I was more than happy to do. The project was infectious. I enjoyed working on a new and exciting topic (FinTech in Latin America), with various nationalities, so I took the opportunity to continue as a project manager, where I lead 5 projects throughout the next year. Then, I moved into my next two roles, until I had to take a break due to some personal issues.
This abrupt exit, however, never quite felt like the end of my journey with NGC. I knew that as soon as things settle, I want to continue giving back to society in my spare time, so learning about this new opening came at the perfect moment. I’m really looking forward to further learn and develop in this new role while, hopefully, also utilizing the skills and knowledge I gained from my previous positions.
You have a super interesting-sounding job at Hilti Group in Liechtenstein as a senior materials manager. What exactly does this position entail, how did you end up at Hilti, and what skills did you learn at NGC that you are able to utilize in your current work?
My role is a combination of an operational purchaser and a logistics project manager. It provides a great overlook of all aspects of supply chain management. I used to be an intern at Bosch, and I wanted to continue my career in this industry. As a CEMSie, I heard a lot of positive things about Hilti, and, after two 6-month internships, I stayed on full-time.
Even though mine is not your typical consulting career path many CEMSies choose after graduation, I can still utilize many skills I honed during my NGC involvement. First, communication skills. They are so important, no matter the path you take! Second, chances are, you will also work with people from diverse backgrounds, and, at NGC, you learn how to better handle the nuances of multi-cultural teams. Third, project management skills are a core aspect of my current job. With NGC, I learned how to be flexible in a fast-paced environment, how to prioritize and delegate tasks, and how to deliver the results to various stakeholders.
Thanks a lot for sharing all this with us, Veronika! To wrap it up, as we are currently recruiting for our summer projects, why do you think CEMSies should apply to become NGC consultants?
Sure, anytime! I truly believe that being involved in a social consulting project is a fun and rewarding way to spend your summertime. This is a great opportunity to utilize your knowledge and get connected with other CEMSies, while also contributing to society. If somebody needs a motivational push, I should also mention that this experience will look great on your CV and will open up opportunities to enter the NGC board afterward.