Ready for a challenge in a start-up environment
I graduated from the University of the Basque Country, Spain, in Language Translation and Interpreting, with a focus on law and business administration. The five year degree enabled me to become proficient in French, German, Spanish, English and Basque with deep knowledge of specialised terminology, and attain a practical knowledge of Italian, Swedish and Japanese. I spent the third year of my studies in the University of Hildesheim, Germany as an exchange student, and the year before graduation I completed a three-month internship at the Spanish Embassy in London working as a bridge between the agricultural offices in Madrid and London.
In addition to that, the financial crisis that started in 2008 hit Spain’s labour force harder than anywhere else in Europe, which was precisely the year I entered university. My father, the bread-earner of the family, was immediately made redundant and my family could no longer afford the cost of higher education for my siblings and I. A work-ethic based on perseverance and a conviction for the importance of academic achievement led me to work part-time while studying, and over the course of five years I worked as a translator, barista, teacher, tour-guide, waiter, gardener, tutor and furniture-restorer. These circumstances taught me to appreciate the incalculable value of education while experiencing first-hand the importance of hard work and dedication.
After the completion of my university studies, I went on to work in Munich, Germany in the health technology industry (www.brainlab.com), drawn in by the idea of contributing positively to society. My responsibilities included adapting, implementing and coordinating different marketing campaigns across international markets, as well as traveling to these countries and negotiating with customers from different cultural backgrounds. My areas of responsibility included Western Europe, Japan, Middle East, Northern Africa and Latin America.
In October 2015, I was assigned a project in Japan and was relocated to one of our offices in Tokyo for a period of six months, where 70 employees and more than 100 customer hospitals had contributed to making Japan the company’s second biggest market only after the US. During this time, I had the chance to be immersed in a completely Japanese environment, assisting mainly our support department and sales division in dealing with key customers and promoting the brand, whilst finding the right balance between the German GM’s vision and the Japanese way of doing business. This experience further enhanced my ability to deal diplomatically between agents with different international background.
During my time at Brainlab, I consistently exceeded quotas and more than doubled service contract orders in six months and experienced a substantial growth of my understanding of business potential and instincts for identifying and pursuing qualified leads. I also learnt first-hand the importance of providing stellar service to existing clients, but also focusing on establishing increasingly bigger numbers of new customers. Working in the medical technology field also expanded my grasp of technology. Three years in the industry helped me understand highly specialised software inside and out and relay technical information to customers in an accessible way. I made sure to make full use of our business intelligence tools, providing rich and helpful analytical data to tackle and successfully close all possible business opportunities.
Furthermore, I believe to have proven myself to be a strong cultural fit for international business. My linguistic versatility and multi-cultural understanding served my previous company to approach a wide range of European, Asian and South American markets. I believe my extensive experience in the global arena has allowed me to collaborate easily with international teams, always ready to lend a helping hand to my teammates and contributing during brainstorming sessions and meetings between the sales and marketing teams. I very much enjoy being an active member of the team and supporting my colleagues professionally and personally.
I am currently working in a Japanese company that develops electrical engineering products, in the product marketing department. My responsibilities include redesigning the website, as well as conceptualise, direct and produce audiovisual advertising material for our products. I also organise training sessions for international sales staff and maintain regular communication with offices around the world. Most of my colleagues only speak Japanese, and even though my Japanese skills are mostly conversational, ensuring a productive environment has proven a more than possible task.
I am now ready for my next challenge. I would like be part of a start-up and feel the atmosphere of excitement and opportunity of a young company. I am ready to give my best and invest all my dedication in a young, stimulating environment.
