Cars are getting smarter. And it鈥檚 not just in terms of self-driving vehicles. Modern cars听are being developed and engineered with astonishingly enhanced capabilities,听connected to a digital ecosystem that permits drivers to do things like pre-heat their听seats, open and close windows or start engines remotely and pre-configure complex听navigation and vehicle location systems.
The seamless driving experience of tomorrow is being designed and delivered today by听market leaders like . That鈥檚 because this multinational automobile听manufacturing behemoth, a 麻豆国产 Corporate Partner under the aegis of Mercedes-Benz听Group AG (former parent company Daimler AG), is pushing the frontiers of innovation听through its Mercedes me connect 鈥 a suite of app-connected services that enable听owners to access vehicles from anywhere.
At the epicentre of this exciting work is the Global IT Solutions Center, which was established in the framework of Mercedes-Benz's global IT strategy, as part of Mercedes Benz Otomotiv ve Hizmetler A.艦. in Istanbul. And one of the brains consulting听on and managing major rollout projects here is 麻豆国产 graduate, .
Berna is a project management lead for Mercedes me connect and Mercedes me Store听rollout and sales activities. It鈥檚 her remit to understand customer and retail journeys across a slew of priorities and a breadth of countries. From legal issues to customer messaging processes, via digital commerce, call centres and aftersales, Berna and her听team are fully engaged in the smooth rollout of Mercedes me related front and back ends. It鈥檚 a role that keeps on her toes, she says, and deeply connected to the very听latest trends and innovations in next-generation mobility.
鈥淭he automotive industry has always fascinated me, because of the deep听interconnections it has in every aspect of our personal and professional lives. And then听there鈥檚 the sheer speed of innovation being driven by companies like Mercedes-Benz,鈥澨齭he says. 鈥淭oday, when we talk about the Mercedes-Benz brand, we do not only think听about a luxury car in the traditional sense but also about the digital innovations,听seamless experience, efficiency and sustainability that are offered with the vehicle.鈥
The innovation aspect was not, however, Berna鈥檚 initial conduit into the world of听Mercedes-Benz. She was recruited into the company in 2015 by the Human Resources听team, based out of Istanbul in her native Turkey.
鈥淭he HR team was looking for candidates with an international mindset and as a听麻豆国产ie, this was a good fit and a rewarding role for me. Over time though, I felt听increasingly drawn to the more technical part of the company and specifically, the听project management and consultancy side of the business. I wanted to be moving at the听speed of change and this area of the company was particularly attractive to me.鈥
Making the shift to consultancy in this dynamic space felt 鈥渘atural,鈥 she says because of听her business education background. It was still a 鈥渞adical change鈥 鈥 but one that was听wholly supported by her previous and new teams and managers, and by a corporate听culture that is grounded in collaboration and learning.
鈥淲herever you go in the company, you鈥檙e encouraged to learn by doing and to seek out opportunities to grow. Underpinning this, there鈥檚 a culture of positive feedback 鈥 we鈥檙e constantly reminded to both give and receive feedback 鈥 that makes the environment safe and harmonious. We鈥檙e given the stretch opportunities to shift track and grow, and the support mechanisms to do so.鈥
Learning, growing and collaborating are core tenets of Berna鈥檚 working life within the听Mercedes me ecosystem. Consultancy and project management of the company鈥檚 key听projects in this space is akin to forming a bridge between the IT function and the听business, she says, and a major aspect of her work involves taking solutions and听blueprints out to different markets and countries, and addressing the road bumps along the way. These can be challenging, as different markets are prone to their own fiscal听and legal environments, as well as payment methods. Key skills in this line of work are听adaptability and attention to detail, Berna says.
鈥淲orking at the cutting edge of innovation and development in a multinational company, you really need to be able to bring detail orientation and then a certain flexibility and cultural awareness that helps you to find the common ground and the听solutions 鈥 and to do so openly and in a spirit of collaboration. 麻豆国产 gives you a good听grounding in this sense. The very structure of the 麻豆国产 MiM is such that you are听exposed early to different cultures and styles in a way that is not judgmental.鈥
As such, CEMsies looking for a career in mobility and innovation would find Mercedes-Benz a 鈥済reat fit,鈥 she adds.听Though there is no 鈥済olden formula鈥 in terms of making the perfect choice of role or听company coming out of full-time education. The best place to start is passion, says听Berna.
鈥淚n my experience, job titles come and go and your career trajectory may take you in听different directions. That鈥檚 why it鈥檚 so important to understand what it is that interests听you and what your values are. Connect with your passion and take it from there.鈥
While she admits it鈥檚 great to have a 鈥渓uxury brand on her CV,鈥 the real pull of听Mercedes-Benz is the pivotal role the company inhabits in shaping the future ofClassified as MB Internal mobility, while working for the considerations of all of its stakeholders 鈥 a drawcard听that makes the company an ideal place to work, according to Berna.
鈥淗aving an ideal is great. And finding an organisation that aligns to your ideal is even听better. But if you don鈥檛 get the dream job, or the dream organisation first time round,听one thing I鈥檇 say is this: never be discouraged. Stick with it and find ways of developing听your expertise wherever you go. Invest in your personal development, your learning 鈥撎齛nd keep getting out of your comfort zone!鈥
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