Career Talk - Izabella Bauhofer

In the Career Talk series, Swarovski colleagues talk about their career. Izabella Bauhofer takes us through her career path from Sourcing Manager to Senior Manager Supplier Performance and Development Europe & USA.

My name:?Izabella Bauhofer

My old position:?Sourcing Manager Watches, Home, Writing Instruments Europe

My new position:?Senior Manager Supplier Performance and Development Europe & USA

Number of years at Swarovski:?2 years and 3 months

Location:?Switzerland

What did you do in your old position at Swarovski?

I was setting up and executing strategies to achieve sourcing goals for the Swiss made watch category, developing and managing collaborative relationships with key counterparts and suppliers, as well as leading their performance monitoring process. I was driving cost saving activities in alignment with business requirements and led the selection, evaluation, and negotiation processes of new suppliers.

?What are you doing in your current position at Swarovski?

I work closely with our suppliers and internal stakeholders. My supplier performance management activities are focusing on risk alleviation, cost optimization and continuous improvement to increase suppliers’ efficiency, technical capability, capacity, and flexibility. I also look at lead time reduction, cost optimization, compliance, sustainability requirements and key performance metrics.

I lead the Zero Defect mindset program for External Manufacturing Network cross departmental project with global coverage in 2021. This project aims to raise capability and performance with suppliers through a standardized quality improvement program. I loved to work on this project with colleagues of Quality and Compliance as One Team, translating Swarovski's strategic goal of quality mindset change into actionable plans for our suppliers.

?How did this career move within Swarovski happen?

Last year, the Supplier Management team has been formed to better serve our business needs. I was happy to take this new challenge up, which also brought the opportunity to broaden my knowledge in the jewelry category and intense my collaboration with a larger number of suppliers and internal stakeholders. By developing jewelry category expertise and maintaining up to date market knowledge, I try to stay ahead of changes in the supplier base. I am grateful for this opportunity and try to do my best to deliver and implement sourcing strategies for measurable successes.

What does career mean to you?

My constant curiosity to learn more and to be better, helped me in all my career?moves to stay open for any challenge that might raise on the way. My approach to work, maintaining high standards of performance and following through on my commitments, was always highly appreciated by my managers. A successful and rewarding carrier path can be very different to all of us. I believe that success comes when you do, what you love to do. I love what I do, despite many challenges. I am passionate about my job and hope that everybody I work with can feel it. My motto is Live, Life, Love, Work.

The?Career Talk?series?showcases people who have lived our Swarovski career philosophy by taking on a new opportunity?to develop?through one of?the?six?Swarovski Career Moves.

Izabella's career?story is a great example of an?Expert?career move:

• Building breadth of skills
• Become a Subject Matter Expert or Guru

#Career #CareerTalk