Meet our trainees

People
Prisca Chassain

Prisca Chassain

  • French-Caribbean. Lives in Ulm, Germany
  • Trainee 2020 - 2022
  • MSc in Project Management
  • International Exchanges:
    • Germany
    • Sweden
    • Brazil

“If I were to apply for a ‘normal’ job I would only learn that certain position, with this program I get this global vision.”

What have you learned so far? 
During this journey, I have worked both at Gardena France and Gardena Germany. And the biggest learning I have had so far, is that people is what makes the company, not the brand nor the products. It is easy to assume that the same enterprise with offices in border countries would run the same way – or at least in a very similar way. Well, not at all! As a global trainee, this is where my fun has begun – I had to re-think what I did, how I did it, how I would communicate or even how I would have my lunch! Of course, a lot is influenced by the country’s culture but very much also by the local office’s culture. To be able to observe all of that, I think it is unique.

What were your expectations on the program?
To travel, meet lots of people and to learn as much as possible. Because I know, if I were to apply for a ‘normal’ job I would only learn what I am supposed to do within that certain position and that certain team, with this program my expectations were to have this global vision –  to understand how all pieces of the puzzle work individually, but in the end manage to fit all together.

How have those expectations been met so far?
I’m happy with the program! I know that we are only eight global trainees and that this is a fortune program that is quite hard to get in to. They expect a lot from us, but I also expect a lot from them. What I think is quite unique is that they really listen to you. If you have anything special you want to learn more about or want to develop within, they’ll listen and support you.

Prisca’s advice on how to get the most out of the program
1. Be open. Absorb everything you can; skills, learnings, networks.
2. Don’t be afraid to communicate. If there is something you want to learn more about or develop within, they will listen to you and support you.
3. Adapt. Because you will be in different teams, countries and people so you need to be able to adapt to the different settings.
Oscar Gezelius

Oscar Gezelius

  • Swedish. Lives in Copenhagen, Denmark
  • Trainee 2018 - 2020
  • B.Sc. Business & Economics, Marketing
  • International Exchanges:
    • Sweden
    • France
    • Malaysia
    • USA
    • Germany
    • India

 

“It’s about experiencing a company from head to toe. If you are interested in international business, there is no better way of learning than being a part of this program.”

You have been with Husqvarna for almost four years now. Would you rather skip the trainee program and jump right into a permanent position? 
If I would have skipped the trainee program and straight away gotten into a “normal” marketing job, I would probably not have had the reason to interact with people from logistics, R&D, product management or sales for example. At least not to the same extent. In between each rotation we were doing trips to different offices and production sights. Getting lots of presentations from people high up in the organization. This, I would say, gives you a holistic view of the company and the business which you don’t really get in any other way. 

Why should you apply to the program? 
It’s about travelling, meeting lots of people, seeing every department; from HR to R&D, logistics, marketing, business development, sales. It’s about experiencing a company from head to toe. If you are interested in international business, there is no better way of learning than being a part of this program. 

Is there anything that has astonished you, something you didn’t know about Husqvarna Group that you found interesting? 
The attitude towards innovation! I mean, the first thing you think about a large, industrial company isn’t really cutting edge technological innovation. I am happy that it is such a big part because I would probably be bored to work at a more conventional industrial company.  

What are your main take-aways from the program? 
The intangible. But that’s also what makes it so rewarding to travel with your job. To see other departments, other regions, cultures and countries. 
I think, being in different settings give you an understanding that is important to take into account. When I have contacts with lots of people from different regions and cultures, it is very useful for me to know how to communicate with them in the best possible way. Everything from how to interact to manage expectations. But also smaller things like how to write an email.

Asmita Rao

Asmita Rao

  • Indian. Lives in Huskvarna, Sweden
  • Trainee 2020 - 2022 
  • Double Masters – M.Sc. in Data Science and Machine Learning and MBA in Technology Management
  • International Exchanges:
    • Sweden
    • India (online due to covid-19)
    • Brazil
    • USA

 

“You get a sense of what kind of decisions do they take, what is the input, how do they react. You really get to step into the shoes of the management.”

What were your expectations on this program?
To work in different departments and to travel. Due to covid the travel part was not fulfilled, instead I have had three rotations within different departments. It has really given me a much better understanding of the company and how it works. Together with the other trainees I have had hands on product training in Huskvarna, Sweden and Ulm, Germany. Now I’m excited to go to Charlotte, USA for two months. My last training will be in Brazil where we will focus on hands on training for a week. That I am really excited about! We got to do that already in Ulm and I really liked it.

Why should you apply for the Global Pioneer Program?
You are given an opportunity to drive your career. You are given an option to plan your career. This program is not stiff. It is not written in stone. If there is something you want to learn more about or develop within, they will listen to you. It is also very different from India, where I come from. In Europe, you get a goal and then you have to find your way there. In India, you are told what to do. You get the goal AND the map. Here it is just to raise your voice and they will support you and give you the opportunity.

For example Husqvarna Group has an “Innovation Day” where you get to send in your ideas and the best ones get awarded and implemented in the organization. Me and my team handed in 5-6 ideas and one of them won! Now, I’m in discussions with relevant departments to discuss the implementation process. Experiences like this I would say, makes you more confident and helps bring out the best in you.

You have been a trainee for 14 months now out of 20. What part of the program have you appreciated the most so far?
The hands on training. In Ulm, Germany, we had project management training. We really got hands on training. There were hardly any slides, instead we were given a board game where we were supposed to plan a real project. That really made it the best experience!

Is there anything that has astonished you, something you didn’t know about Husqvarna Group that you found interesting?
When I visited the Huskvarna museum I felt very proud. They have so many products! For example, Husqvarna Group is the first company to launch a robotic mower, first company to have a crock pot and they are the inventors behind the axel that works as a driver in bicycles today. When you walk through the Huskvarna museum, you come across so many, many products that you don’t realize was invented or commercialized through Husqvarna Group. I come to think about Frank Ocean’s quote “hustle in silence and let your success make the noise”.  Husqvarna Group really represents that.

Kevin Caleca

Kevin Caleca

  • American. Lives in Charlotte, USA
  • Trainee 2018 - 2020 
  • Electrical Engineer
  • International Exchanges:
    • Sweden
    • Germany
    • USA
    • India (online due to covid-19)

 

“I didn’t expect the level of input that was given for us. They asked me: ‘What do you want to learn? How do you want to learn? How do you want to do this?’ I really appreciated that”.

What were your expectations on the program?
The idea of a global trainee program is pretty unique from an American standpoint. Last time I checked the statistics on this, 60 percent of Americans didn’t even have a passport, or it was expired. So, I was excited about the travelling part. Other than that, I was excited to just learn. But I didn’t expect the level of input that was given for us. They asked me: ‘What do you want to learn? How do you want to learn? How do you want to do this?’ I really appreciated that.

What was good about the program?
I facilitated an Automower project where we did university testing, which meant a lot of contacts with the different universities and to talk to the experts on the field. That is different from the usual role you get as an engineer that is more task driven. You usually get ‘this is A and you have to get to B’. Here, I was leading the meetings, making sure everyone was aligned and that work was getting done. So, product management is more of people skills and the business side of it I would say.

But it was really a phenomenal experience! You’re speaking with those hyper experts, like turf facility – so basically grass. The equipment they have are wild! They had this special machine that could tell you how much dead grass you had, in percentage, – from the tip of a single grass straw! So, they were able to prove, that our auto mowers actually cut better than traditional mowers. It was neat!

The parts in-between the different rotations were very beneficial as well. Me and the other trainees, did a lot of team building activities.  We took a cooking class together, did escape room, went to different events and dinners. Meeting with management and occasions like that. So, it was exciting. I still talk to some of the others. Some every day or every week. So, we’re still pretty close.

If you were to summarize the program. What would you say?
I truly believe this is a once in a lifetime opportunity. To have a program like this where you can experience different facets of the company and different parts of the world. People work differently in different countries. The experience we get from this program, I think is impossible to get in any other way. That you get to step into different roles – and learn them. Most people graduate from university and then have the same role at a company for a couple of years or five. During the 24 months here, you have tried on several roles and learn about them. Definitely, pushes you to branch out from your comfort zone.