Bosch Legacy Lens: Episode 2 ft. Vijayalakshmi Kunnur

Summary

Vijay Lakshmi Kunnur shares her inspiring journey at Bosch, starting in 1991 and spanning over three decades. She reflects on her accidental entry into the company, the challenges she faced as a woman, and her commitment to continuous learning. With experiences in multiple departments, including IT, procurement, and controlling, she highlights the importance of taking on new challenges, embracing change, and seeking opportunities. Vijay also emphasizes the supportive environment at Bosch, especially for women, urging them to dream big, speak up, and never give up in their pursuit of success.

Takeaways

• 😀 Vijay Lakshmi Kunnur’s journey at Bosch began in 1991 by chance, after an apprenticeship program had closed, but she was called to join when a vacancy opened.
• 😀 She emphasizes the importance of continuous learning, stating that stopping the learning process makes life boring and unfulfilling.
• 😀 The Commercial Graduate Training Program provided a dual experience of both university learning and on-the-job training, helping her develop into a versatile leader in multiple departments.
• 😀 Vijay took on new challenges and explored different departments, such as procurement, research & development, IT, and controlling, in order to grow professionally.
• 😀 She faced a significant life challenge when offered a role abroad, but with her husband’s support, she and her family moved to Germany, which became a transformative experience for her.
• 😀 Despite demanding roles, including turning around a struggling business, she found immense support within Bosch, which allowed her to overcome difficulties and rise again.
• 😀 Vijay highlights Bosch’s evolution from a closed-door organization to one that embraces diversity and gender equality, with more women joining the workforce over the years.
• 😀 She encourages women to dream big, pursue leadership roles, and never step back. Women should speak up when something doesn’t feel right and focus on their goals.
• 😀 Her advice to women is to make good use of education, break barriers, and take on leadership roles to create equal opportunities in the workplace.
• 😀 Over her three-decade career, Vijay has witnessed Bosch transform culturally, with a strong emphasis on diversity and inclusion, and is proud of how far the company has come.

Q & A

What led to the speaker's journey at Bosch?

The speaker's journey at Bosch began in 1991, almost by accident. The appointment for apprentices had already been filled, but when three people quit, she received a call to join Bosch.

How did the speaker describe her first day at Bosch?

Her first day at Bosch was memorable because it coincided with her birthday. She remembers a special lunch and a dish called '50-50' rice, which made her think that the food and atmosphere at Bosch would always be like this.

What was the speaker’s first formal training at Bosch?

Her first formal training at Bosch was the Commercial Graduate Training Program, which was a two-year dual training program involving both university education and on-the-job experience.

What is the speaker's approach to learning and career growth?

The speaker believes in continuous learning and is a true believer that life gets boring without it. She constantly sought opportunities to learn new things, move out of her comfort zone, and take on new challenges.

What were some of the key departments the speaker worked in at Bosch?

The speaker worked in various departments including Procurement, Quality, Research and Development, and later in IT projects and Controlling. She gained experience across multiple functions within the organization.

How did the speaker handle challenges and career transitions?

Whenever there was an opportunity to move to a different department or take on a new challenge, the speaker was always ready. She embraced change and believed it was a great way to keep learning and growing in her career.

What personal challenge did the speaker face while moving abroad for work?

The speaker was initially unsure about taking an international role due to family responsibilities. However, with support from her husband, she moved with her family to Germany, where the experience proved to be wonderful for her, her children, and her husband.

How did the speaker's experience in Germany impact her confidence?

Living and working in a foreign country, navigating a foreign language, and managing family responsibilities helped the speaker build confidence and courage, proving that challenges can be overcome with the right support.

How has Bosch evolved over the years in terms of culture and diversity?

The speaker witnessed a significant cultural transformation at Bosch, from a closed-door organization to an open-door one. Bosch also made great strides in promoting diversity, particularly in terms of gender representation, with many more women in the organization now compared to when she started.

What advice does the speaker give to women in the workplace?

The speaker advises women to dream big, speak up when something doesn’t feel right, focus on their goals, and never give up. She emphasizes that women are on equal footing when it comes to education and career advancement.