SkyCell's Employee Spotlight: Insights from Mark

In our #EmployeeSpotlight series, we delve into the diverse career paths of SkyCell employees. They share inspiring personal stories, career expertise, and a glimpse into what makes our company culture unique.

Today, we sat down with Mark Lehmann , VP of Improvement and Quality, to discover his unique journey within the company and gain valuable insights from his experience.??

1. What drew you to apply to SkyCell, and how long have you been with the company?

My journey began back in 2016 when I connected with SkyCell and Richard Ettl (SkyCell’s CEO) through a common start-up foundation at the university. Prior to joining, I was already familiar with SkyCell’s vision and values.

While Richard and I had met a few times, it was a mutual close friend who urged me to talk to him about a potential project where I could support SkyCell. Shortly thereafter, Richard and I sat down at the renowned SkyCell meeting room table, where we mapped out the project. The rest, as they say, is history.

2. Has your role evolved since you first joined the company, and if so, what steps did you take to advance your career?

I started at SkyCell within the R&D department with a project that seamlessly integrated aspects of sales and operations. Despite our small team size at the time, the products were already highly developed, and I did my part to optimize certain elements of the containers' performance. After roughly one year, I was given the opportunity to build the Quality Management System in compliance with ISO 9001:2015 and GDP standards, in collaboration with a colleague.

During this time, my focus shifted more towards supplier management and external relationships, which led to my next position within SkyCell, where I built the Technical Services team from scratch. In this role, I expanded our global warehouse network and established operational quality procedures across all stations. Additionally, I formed an operational team to manage shipments, maintaining zero temperature excursions globally.

From this position, I increasingly moved towards strategic projects and business operations. I strongly supported Richard and Nico Ros (SkyCell’s CTO) in strategic projects, structure, and process management, which led to my role as PMO. As PMO, I created a team to align interdepartmental projects and initiatives. Since April 2024, I have been the VP of Improvement & Quality, overseeing global improvement initiatives for our business operations, container product management, and corporate quality.

3. Could you share insights into the pivotal moments or projects that have shaped your career journey within SkyCell?

Embarking on my journey in the quality role was a pivotal moment I initially hesitated to embrace. Little did I know, it would unveil the intricate connectivity within our company, providing me with a platform to amplify my strengths. As I delved deeper, I discovered a passion for cultivating teams and pioneering structures from the ground up.

Since then, I've spearheaded numerous teams and transformative projects, refining processes and products that have propelled SkyCell to its current success. This journey has been a huge pleasure for me, even though it started with a step I initially thought I did not want to take.

4. Can you share any advice or lessons learned from your career experiences within SkyCell that might benefit others seeking to develop their careers within the company?

• First learning: At SkyCell, we uphold stringent standards for both speed and quality in our product performance. Finding the delicate balance between the two is crucial. Understanding when to prioritize speed and when to emphasize quality is a key element at SkyCell.
• Second learning: Taking ownership empowers you to drive initiatives at SkyCell and gives you the freedom to innovate. We highly value diverse perspectives and active participation, recognizing that collaboration and varied viewpoints lead to optimal solutions.
• Third learning: Sometimes, patience and trust are all you need. I never pushed my career at SkyCell but focused on delivering output, speed, and quality. I always aimed to provide value to the company, and as a result, I was rewarded with many opportunities to lead significant projects and build critical structures.

Ready to embark on a transformative career journey like Mark's? Explore our current open positions and apply today ????.

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