Making our world a better place — together

From Nissan South America to Dubai

At Nissan, we've always been at the cutting edge of purpose-driven innovation. Our goal is to empower society by asking: How we can enrich people's lives, and then deliver on that vision?

Part of this mission is empowering employees. We strive to create an environment where employees feel valued, respected and included.

In this special interview from Nissan-Global.com, hear from Nissan employee Diego Dacal, a deputy general manager for Consumer Experience. He joined Nissan to coordinate precision marketing in South America, and then he shifted to consumer experience. In December 2021, he began working as a consumer experience manager in Dubai where he focuses on Africa, Middle East, India and Oceania.

Diego’s experience reflects Nissan’s effort to empower its employees and give them opportunities that suit their interests and growth.

"I feel like a global citizen. Since 2015, I had wanted to live in Dubai. Last year, I had a career talk with my manager, and we discussed what my next steps in Nissan could be. A few weeks later, an opportunity came here and with the support of many people at Nissan South America, we made it happen."

He adds: "My home now is Dubai. It's a very different reality from the one I had in Brazil because expatriates make up 80% of the population. Thinking about consumer experience in another region has a lot to do with understanding the culture and the consumer's buying journey, as well as exploring their options, how they maintain their car and what motivates them to buy again. I had faced a similar challenge at Nissan South America as Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Peru can be very different culturally, and it was my first time working in a regional position. Each market is unique with different challenges, but I look for synergies among them to support their development under a single Nissan customer-centric vision."

Nissan South America is proud of its Employees First mantra, which consists of putting employees at the heart of the company. This is accompanied by its Nissan Way culture, which emphasizes to employees that power comes from inside. Nissan empowers employees through the creation of a collaborative and innovative work environment.

When asked how the Nissan Way culture has empowered him, Diego replies:

"I always saw the positive side of our company, the responsibility and respect for each and every employee. I believe that much of how I feel is due to our leadership and its desire to produce cultural changes and build values through the Nissan Way."

For Nissan South America, it's vital to understand the needs and interests of its employees to contribute to their development and growth within the company.

Since FY2017, more than 20 South American employees have filled key positions in other locations. And it's thanks to the Nissan Way that the region has become a source of global talent.

Read more interviews with employees on Nissan-Global.com.

Read more stories on Global.NissanStories.com.