“With challenge, comes change.”
In our lives, we are constantly presented with unprecedented challenges, which may seem impossible to overcome.
However, with such challenges come opportunities for change. These changes can either hold us back or drive us to be innovators of the future.
In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the world around us faced many unprecedented challenges. Yet, this change propelled us to reimagine how we engage with and serve our customers.
As International Women’s Day approaches, we’re introspecting on the positive impact made by the women at ELGi, who have made incredible contributions to ELGi’s #60YearsOfTransformation with their expertise, talent and drive, especially in the ‘New Possible’ era.
In this blog, let us hear from Jennifer Gerold, Marketing Manager – ELGi Europe, who continues to #InspireTheFuture with her strong marketing acumen and drive to make ELGi #AlwaysBetter.
What encouraged you to choose the manufacturing industry to pursue your career aspirations?
In my early childhood, science-related subjects were not my favourites. As I grew older, I discovered that I enjoyed Mathematics and Physics.
However, my main interest had always been in languages and social science, which also included Economics. This was why, after school, I chose to study International Business.
While studying, I started working in a work-study program, where I had the opportunity to work in the Tools Division of a large industrial company. While working there, I realized that I had a lot of fun in this field. This was why, after this, I decided that I wanted to continue working in the industrial sector.
Currently, my Marketing role does not require me to be well-versed with technical knowledge; however, I realize that the interests that I discovered later in school (Mathematics & Physics) have helped me a lot in navigating the compressed air world.
What ELGi values have stayed with you since you first joined?
I feel a connection to all the ELGi values. Yet, the ones that have stayed with me since I first joined are as follows:
- Collaboration: I am a team player, and I see that we are a strong team at ELGi. Without strong teamwork, I believe that accomplishing a common goal is much more difficult.
- Speed: My main philosophy is, ‘The best way to do it, is to do it’ and this aligns with ELGi’s value of Speed. Speed, I believe, helps accelerate your success.
- Cost prudence: In my marketing role, I have to think deeply about the things we decide to invest in and how they will contribute to our overall success.
What do you feel is most important to young women working professionals today?
I believe that respect and equality are important to young women, and it could be much more important than financial success. Additionally, development is a key point.
Young female professionals would prefer to be in a role where they can develop their skills and potentially take additional training than receiving a promotion where they would not be able to further develop their skills.
What has been your biggest success during the Covid-19 lockdown phase?
Professionally, my biggest success has been to increase our brand awareness in Europe, mainly through digital accomplishments, such as launching and promoting our ELGi Europe LinkedIn page. Since our launch in June 2020, we have gained over 2,000 followers who are interested to learn about our journey in Europe.
On the personal front, my biggest success has been to walk 4km every day, with only very few exceptions (when the weather really didn’t allow it). I also took the time during lockdown to start meditation and yoga which I learnt is important for my personal wellbeing and (mental) health.
Which woman or women inspire you and why?
While this might sound like a cliché, but my main inspiration is my mother.
Although she does not have a university degree, she has been working all her life in different roles, with only an 8-week pregnancy break.
She has always taken care of me, supported me and pushed me to go above and beyond. She also taught me that you can only accomplish as a goal by hard work and encouraged me very early to earn my own money.
When I was 13, which was the legal age to start part-time work in my home country, I started my first job. I delivered newspapers on Sundays, and until my studies ended, I continued to have different jobs. I was a tutor, a waitress, and I even prepared the tools for finishing in a tools factory.
Of course, I would also like to give a shout-out to my father (even though he is not a woman) since he is also part of this puzzle and along with my mother encouraged me to do better, be better.
What does the International Women’s Day slogan, #ChoosetoChallenge mean for you in your work life?
As stated on the International Women’s Day website, a challenged world is an alert world‚ and from challenge comes change. And change is exactly what is important in our world today, not only in our personal lives but also in our work lives. Only by challenging, we can change the way we do things and enhance the way we work. Through change, we accomplish new goals that we have set and become #AlwaysBetter.
If you could learn to do anything, what would it be?
I would love to be able to speak all languages in the world and be able to converse with anyone.
What do you think is the biggest issue faced by women of your age in terms of your career outlook?
I think the biggest issue faced by women is having people understand and acknowledge that family planning is part of our lives, but that we can integrate this with our professional life.