Another thing they mentioned was how helpful senior members of the company are – and how they help younger employees. They were right about that! I work in an international team, who are based in The Netherlands, USA and India – and everyone supports each other, regardless of where they work.
If I have any concerns, my manager is always on hand to help, and you never hear the word “no” from anyone. This is important, because, there is always something new to learn in the field of R&D, and the helpfulness of my colleagues gives me confidence to ask questions.
We also hold regular knowledge-sharing sessions within R&D globally, which provide many stimulating insights about new technology. Furthermore, I have worked with the team at the Indian Innovation Centre, where we test different components and get real-time experience of using the equipment. My goal is to keep learning and one day become a product owner, which means taking responsibility for a Vanderlande solution, handling any queries and addressing problems.
I am really developing as a person at Vanderlande, not only in terms of increasing my technical knowledge, but also in improving my communication skills. Last year, I had the opportunity to be the host of our Annual Day – Jashn 2023, which involved engaging with an audience of over 1,500 people. I was nervous, and even though I have been public speaking since my college days, it was a real challenge, as well as a great experience.