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I joined Frigoglass in 2004, straight after my military service, responding to an International Management Trainee program advertised by the company. My only work experience before that, was as a Project Engineer in a UK engineering company for one year.

I hold a Manufacturing Systems Engineering degree from the University of Portsmouth and a Master of Science in Operations Management and Manufacturing Systems from the University of Nottingham in UK.

Looking back, I am always grateful to have responded to the challenge offered to me to make a career abroad. I had the luck and honour during this period to be appointed in different assignments around the globe such as in Greece, Romania, Indonesia, Norway and Turkey.

Being expatriate, in a Global organization like Frigoglass, has been a fascinating experience both in professional and personal level. The demanding and dynamic environment of such a fast growing organization helped me to widely develop as a person and rapidly grow career wise giving, to a young professional like me, opportunities and responsibilities that hardly any other organization would.

The best thing about it though, was the fact that I got to cooperate and communicate on a daily basis and even share strong friendships with people around the world. People from different backgrounds and cultures who each one of them made me feel like home wherever I have been so far making my integration process as smooth as I could ever imagine.

Working for Frigoglass as an expatriate, apart from the professional aspect, it also gave me the opportunity to further develop my personal interests as well. Photography became part of my daily life and all those different places I lived at have been a paradise for a photography enthusiast like me.

My job may be demanding and time consuming, but I strongly believe that good work-personal life balance is an absolute requirement for somebody to succeed. And I am very happy to notice that the company respects this balance and is promoting such a culture in between its people.

If I had to summarize the most important elements of my experience as a member of Frigoglass family in just a few words, those would be: Professional and personal growth, Respect to its people and great experience!

I had strange feelings before joining Frigoglass. After 11 years of studies and work in Germany, Singapore and France, I was coming back to my home country to work here for the first time in my life. My initial 5 years of work experience were crafted at Daimler AG, a university in practice, from various points of view. What would Frigoglass, a multinational with HO in Greece look like to me after such an experience? Simply Great!

So far & yet so near

Adapting to the new working environment was easier and quicker than I expected. Welcoming colleagues, ready to support and answer every question, provided for my problem-free settlement. From China to the US, from Ireland to South Africa people in “Frigo” communicate as if they all work in one office. Open to listen and share their valuable experience or current concern. Although more than x,000 of employees we are a “small” family with a flat structure that allows for quick informational paths, direct contact to anyone in the Group and short decision procedures. Flexibility is an important benefit of Frigoglass that is being passed over one-to-one to our customers.

As if it’s my own company

Life in Frigoglass is as it should be in every healthy business environment. Challenging projects make the day feel short while the mind is continuously stretched to find optimal solutions for the customer and the future. I find a visit in the market always the best reward for me. When I see Frigoglass products all around, taking care of consumers’ refreshment and well-being, I feel not only the great responsibility but also the strong motivation to create the most reliable and attractive products. Each one of us in “Frigo” feels proud for the considerable contribution we provide to the consumers’ world.

Driven by innovation

An invaluable contribution we provide to the physical world as well. Sustainability comes from doing good to the company, but more important doing good to the earth. Low impact on global warming, low energy consumption, recyclable materials and renewable energy are some of the key features in our innovation strategy. We engage internally and together with our business partners to provide environmental friendly solutions all around the world. Acting and even more thinking globally is the best thing in our team: you always know that there is somebody out there who can help.

I was very excited when I got selected in Frigoglass. Who am I? First, I’m Indian, which means I’m a very positive, open person. Second, I had earned degree in Commerce from Delhi University, India & then got a master’s degree in HR from Institute of Management & Technology, India. Third, I’m a go-getter, lively and highly enthusiastic. And last, I’m very passionate about human relations. I am emotional and attached to my work.

Frigoglass values my contributions

In my first month, I was given assignments and realized that they valued, expected a lot and trusted me. I could talk openly with my seniors, surprisingly, compared to my previous jobs, not only were they open to dissent, they wanted to hear what I thought.

Both stretched and supported

When the business and the organization grew manifold during the last three years, HR had lot of challenges. As a part of team I have been given to coordinate training, improving the facilities and infrastructure, provide administrative support to the visitors from our group companies, customers and stakeholders with a personal touch and international standard. In addition, I was assigned to handle all HR related processes towards implementation of ISO 14001:2004. The Frigoglass management team supported and guided with their valuable advise which resulted in achieving the targets.

The people I work with motivate me

Frigoglass people, with diverse background from different regions are interesting, genuinely nice, and care about how well you do. Their competencies, skills, and expertise continually motivate me to exceed my own expectations. They also volunteer for many non-profit initiatives, which is important to me. In fact, my assignment involves develop the plan to conduct the industrial visits by the students of engineering and business schools. Also I handle welfare programs for the school children in the nearby villages.

I found my “home”

Frigoglass is a pretty big firm and everyone could find a place in it, whether it’s a particular office, a practice, a function, or an industry sector. It depends on what really excites you. I eventually became really passionate about my work—making things run better. It’s still my passion.

A great mentor

A departmental colleague helped me get into the kind of work I wanted to do. We worked on several projects together and he really helped me learn in the HR arena. That was very special for me. He took interest in my career and in grooming me to take more challenges and responsibilities.

I’m a big fan of team events

I believe people perform better if the team is functioning well. Team events can be a great way to bring people together. We celebrate family day with the entire team & their family members which was fun.

I was pleasantly surprised

When I came to Frigoglass, I wondered “will there be any chance of career growth?” My work and performance was acknowledged, appreciated and was given freedom to operate with more responsibilities. I was flexible to adjust to the new environment and cope up with the new challenges.

I’m proudly South African

Born on the east coast of sunny South African, the land of the rainbow nation, and proud hosts of the 2010 Soccer world cup, a country that has 11 official languages, I’m not joking! I love SA, I travel and see different places but to me there is no place like home, South African’s all over the world will agree with me. Being the middle child in my family; with an older brother and younger sister, I was the first to leave home to encounter the big wild world all on my own. We all now reside in the city of gold, Johannesburg, now called Gauteng.

I’m a woman with a vision

My career started straight out of college at the tender age of 20, my intension was to seek employment in a freight company as shipping intrigued me. However I landed a position as an office assistant for a small mining company. I always set my sights high and within a year I moved into accounts and logistics. Moving on to be an indents coordinator for SA’s biggest furniture importers, gave me further exposure to logistics on a broader scale, now I am proud employee at Frigoglass South Africa for the past 2 years, starting off as the supply chain assistant.

I’m a team player, learning from the best

Supply chain feels like the heart beat in one’s body, if that stops then the whole body stops, so no 2 days are the same, getting bored at work is not an option. I gladly work alongside a wonderful manager Annetjie Swanepoel, who not only expects the best from her employees, but also sets the example by giving her best, and still finds time to groom and encourage us to perform at our best. I have learnt that I can only go as far as the lid above me, and I know she sets the bar of expectation high for my colleagues and I in the supply chain department.

I’m alive with adventure

I have adventure in my blood, and no matter how old I get I will always have my child-like spirit alive in me. I love the great outdoors, nature at its best and South Africa has so much to offer with its breath-taking sights, and its vast cultures. There is the occasional lazy couch day when all I do is lie in front of the TV watching movies in my pj’s eating popcorn and ice-cream…but I guess us girls all have those moments sometimes or the other.

I’m real, not religious

Being a Christian to me, means living everyday mindfully, I choose to put God first in all that I do. I believe in living life with purpose, and adding value to the lives of people I interact with. I mentor a group of teenage girls, and there is no greater reason to be real about who you are than when others draw from you. I have learnt that more is caught than taught, the weight of my words should be displayed in my character else it will be merely empty words…right

I’m serious at times…yet fun loving and playful

My colleagues will agree that I take my work to heart, as I am a passionate person. I love what I do, and I don’t like to be messed around. I always find a reason to laugh and make jokes to lighten up the atmosphere; can get pretty tense at times. I love the sound of laughter, and I know it is good for the soul. It is something that makes our work environment at Frigoglass SA a good one; it is not what we come here expecting, but what we make of things every day. We work together as a family that helps each other get through each day.

I’m hopeful looking forward…

My future is bright with possibilities; I believe that if I can dream it, I can do it. Every battle is won in my mind first. I will never stop learning, and reaching for my goals. It is what I put in that will determine what I get out in the end, whether in my personal life or at work, the same applies. I look forward to growing with the Frigoglass family, and I hope that my presence makes a difference to all of my work colleagues both in SA and abroad.