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Top Insider Advice
The Golden Rule is : Treat others how you want to be treated. I have always treated my suppliers with utmost respect. Even when they are not perfect. In my 25+ years of career in purchasing, I have learned that working together and making yourself available in order to achieve Alstom's goal is the winning formula. When things are not going well with my supplier, instead of being angry and demanding, I always ask "how can I help?" or "what can we do together in order to achieve X or Y ?" . This has worked every single time. It has opened the relationship with them and has done more than being angry. Suppliers are people and people will go the extra mile when you ask them to go that extra mile with you, not when they are being demanded to. That is my biggest advice for a buyer or potential candidate.
Career path
Commodity Buyer
Alstom Americas
Started 03/2019 to PresentBuyer
Alstom Americas
From 01/2008 to 04/2019Cofounder of Alstom True Colours (LGBTQ+ ERG)
Alstom Americas
Started 06/2022 to PresentCompany
What do you like about your job and the company?
If we have an effective supplier base, we can assure the customer that we will deliver their order in time and in fashion. Our supplier's quality will directly reflect in the quality of our products and services. Their pricing will also directly influence in our market competitiveness when we bid. When our supplier delivers on time, we are also building our trains in time as per our schedules and our customer's required dates. To be someone who has a direct interaction and influence with the supplier, is a big responsibility that is also very rewarding. And to be the person who conveys this message to our suppliers is my honour.
Greatest achievements
When we had a big workload because we were starting 4 APM projects at once, I was given the task to train 2 interns and 3 external buyers so they could support my commodity in different moments in time. Being the person who supported their incursion into the purchasing of metallic parts for APMs will always be a source of pride in my day to day. APMs are little trains that move people from one airport terminal to another. But their drawings and engineering are very specific and have their quirks and particularities. I am always happy to support people in their advancement and in their career paths.
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Israel R
Top Insider Advice
Professionally, I have worked for several companies, but only at Alstom did I see the culture of really valuing the intellectual capital of employees, of valuing and promoting the knowledge of its employees.
Paul L
Top Insider Advice
There are lots of knowledge silos at large engineering firms and it's useful to get to know people on other teams and understand what they do. I have often made progress much faster on issues with my subsystem by having relationships with engineers on other teams who often have relevant experience or understanding I would not have benefited from otherwise. Even areas I'm less involved with like project management, bids, or HR, have people willing to share a lot of information that helps me get a better understanding of the organization as a whole and all the things that go into making a project successful.
Claudia R
Top Insider Advice
Be curious: Ask questions, seek feedback, and always be willing to learn. Curiosity is an essential ingredient to growth and development, and it will also help you to build meaningful relationships. Be adaptable: The world is changing at an unprecedented pace, and organizations must learn to adapt quickly. Embrace change, be flexible, and stay open-minded to new possibilities. Build relationships: Collaboration is key to success. Invest time and effort in building relationships with your colleagues, stakeholders, and customers. Take initiative: Don't be afraid to take on new challenges and responsibilities. Taking initiative shows your employer that you are proactive and eager to contribute. Foster a growth mindset: Embrace challenges, learn from mistakes, and celebrate successes. By developing a growth mindset, you will be better equipped to tackle challenges and achieve your goals. Remember, your success and the success of the organization are interconnected. By following these pieces of advice, you can help to create a thriving work environment that benefits everyone involved.