Meet Manuel, ready to make a difference

”Hi! My name is Manuel Mair and I’m the first Global Graduate from Austria. I’d say there’s no better way starting your professional life, than as a trainee. SKF has opened doors for me, which I could only dream of.”

Manuel went from calculating complex quantum mechanical systems in school, to being responsible for a global purchasing project, in under one year. Having always been interested in new technologies and studying Technical Physics, Manuel wanted to work in an innovative and future-oriented environment. With an additional strong interest in economy, law and the entrepreneurial way of thinking, SKF was a great fit for Manuel.

“I would say I have a business oriented, innovative mindset combined with analytical thinking and the ability to understand and apply technical applications. That has turned out to be a useful strength in the Graduate experience.”

A sense of purpose

Manuel wanted to be part of the technological future change and help make the world more sustainable.

”As a young professional, I am aware that my generation must make a difference concerning sustainability, find innovative solutions for green manufacturing and apply the agile way of working and lead."

During the Programme, his goal is to learn from the best and most experienced leaders, professionals and mentors, to get their point of view, learn about their way of working and understand how they operate. "I hope to combine their different working styles with my own Graduate experience and mindset, to aim for the best result in every opportunity I get. As a Global Graduate, I have the chance to be part of, and even lead, global projects where I can apply different project management methods and develop my professional skills, which helps me build a solid platform to leverage my future career.”

During his first rotation (out of three), Manuel is working with Group Purchasing CAPEX, where he, in his first week, took over a global project. Manuel is responsible for providing information, lead, support and help in the purchasing process, when any of our SKF factories, located in more than 130 countries, upgrade or renew their compressed air systems. He also handles communication with key suppliers, regarding contracts and negotiating benefits for various SKF business units.

A truly global context

“Basically, I act as a single point of contact towards key suppliers and all SKF factories. The best thing about it is that I have already built a large network and learnt about the working proficiency of many other cultures, being so closely connected to many different SKF factories globally. The variety and large field, for which I am responsible, provides different, new and interesting challenges every day.”

“For me, being part of the SKF community means being part of a big family. We are around 41 000 employees worldwide – and while everyone is a unique person –we work together to reach the same goals. The way people here deal with each other, is really motivating."

"Everyone has the chance to contribute and speak up. People are open and helpful, which results in such a pleasant atmosphere”.

#SKF #weareSKF #meetourpeople