1 year at Bridgestone EMIA

Today I am marking in my calendar one year with Bridgestone EMIA - my first professional, official experience, of which I could write pages and pages and I would still not do it justice. But today I am sharing some thoughts and gratitude on what this experience has meant for me and why I encourage young people to challenge themselves, their studies, their comfort zone and go for what scares them the most from the professional point of view!

I took this picture last late spring when we were allowed to take shifts for going to the office, due to covid. I started off right when covid hit Europe, in particular Belgium, and my experience had to be adapted, re-adapted and.. well, the rest you know.

My experience could be summed up with statistics, facts or KPIs, but that is not why I am here. The learnings were there, I assure you. But each and every working experience has an impact due to the people that we have the chance to work with and to learn from. And trust me, I had a chance to work with fantastic people, in particular some brilliant women leaders that I want to highlight in this article.

I started my internship at Bridgestone under the supervision of Astrid Rahn, the CFO of Bridgestone - who, besides and behind this great title in top management, is a fierce believer in young leaders and young talent. Astrid was the President of AIESEC in Belgium several years ago, when she was also starting off her career, and this helped me so much in becoming more and more ambitious to push forward and chase my dreams!

For believing in me, for offering me this chance to grow and use my knowledge, for listening to my needs and expectations, for taking your time to talk to me when I most needed support - thank you! Thank you a million times for seeing my potential even after the end of my contract - and supporting me in chasing my dreams from within the organization! At the same time I must thank Teresa Perez, our Management Assistant - you are a light! Your positive energy, your smile, your unconditional support and willingness to always help turned my experience into a brighter one - thank you!

My first internship would have not been the same as it was without the mentorship that I have received from Evelyne Van Vosselen, our HR Director who is working for Leadership and Organizational Development. Evelyne was like a mother to me, and I did not hesitate to tell her that. She integrated me in her own team like I was a permanent worker, without having second thoughts. She guided me, supervised me and talked to me as a friend, going beyond a working title.

I still think that some people don't understand how crucial it is to work as your authentic self, where you are being encouraged by your managers and colleagues to not feel restrained and afraid. Of course, politeness and kindness should always be in place, and our authentic selves should act with respect towards all colleagues, regardless of the situations that we are facing.

For allowing me to grow and be part of your team, for brightening my days, for acting like a friend and guide all-at-once - thank you! You are an incredible human! In the same line, I would like to thank these amazing women as well, who are part of Evelyne's team, and now part of my life as well: Vanessa Sieg, Kasia Biernacka, Sandra Geulette.

Now, moving onto my second internship within the CSR department.. I am still so puzzled writing these lines. For those who don't know, CSR stands for Corporate Social Responsibility, a great field for generating positive social impact as a corporation, but also a great open-door into the needs of our society - from the environmental point of view to diversity and inclusion.

Isabelle de Cambry was (and still is for at least today) my manager. With Isabelle the relationship started a little bit shy, perhaps even skeptical from both sides, but it rapidly blossomed into what I am calling today the best working relationship that I have had so far.

As a fierce leader herself, Isabelle gave me the liberty to thrive into a better version of myself, to take the lead on various topics, to give my input, to feel that my voice matters.

And today, at the end of my contract, I am smiling because I do know that my voice matters. For working within the CSR department I pushed my limits, my beliefs, my expectations to the maximum (and beyond). Working with Isabelle felt like working with a friend who allows me to create the safe space for developing myself, to show raw honesty, vulnerability and ambition. Isabelle was from the very first moment the person who stood by me and applauded each and every step, and for that and way, way beyond - thank you!

I have learned so much. I have known so little. I learned to put the glasses of a critical thinker, who challenges different realities and different approaches. I learned how a corporation functions, inside-out, what can be challenged and what can be not.

I am saying my farewell to the CSR department (so far) with a bittersweet smile. For now, I must take upon a new challenge that I am soon going to talk about.

I could not say a complete farewell to my current role at Bridgestone without applauding and showing lots of gratitude and love to my incredible task force colleagues: Sofie Bronserud (thank you so much for pushing me - I needed it!), Ranu Kulshrestha, Adeshni Sewbaran, Raquel Montes, Martyna Stando, Ekaterine Kalmakhelidze and David Sanchez Ramos. You are absolutely incredible people and I am so happy to be working with you!

Thank you Bridgestone EMIA. Thank you for giving me these wonderful people. Thank you for helping me pave my way into the professional world. Thank you for so much and beyond.