From India to Australia: What I learned on my journey with Jungheinrich
A cross-cultural experience: Our colleague Vidula reports on her three-month project in Adelaide and the experiences she gained as part of an international IT team.
My name is Vidula, I come from India and have been part of the Jungheinrich team since 2014. I started as an IT manager in a small team of 25 people. Today, I head up the IT department in India and support a thriving team of more than 200 colleagues. My journey at Jungheinrich is closely linked to personal growth and global collaboration – a path that recently took me from India to Australia for three months.
Growth – personal and professional
Jungheinrich's growth mirrors my own development. As our team expanded and we took on new responsibilities, our influence grew. Having once dreamed of working for German companies (a goal that even led me to learn German), I ended up in the IT teams at Siemens (Deutsche Bank) and Beumer Technology, where I worked with intercultural and international teams. This collaboration prepared me for my assignment in Australia, which was more than just a test of my professional skills; it was also a remarkable personal journey.
Support from family and colleagues
When the opportunity arose to work with our Australian IT team, I was both excited and a little nervous. Moving to Australia was exciting, but also came with uncertainties. My seven-year-old daughter and family life made the decision difficult. This made the full support of my family and colleagues all the more important – they encouraged and supported me. The Australian team welcomed me with great hospitality and openness. They helped me find accommodation and with many other organisational matters, which made the transition much easier. There was no hierarchy, no ‘we know better’ attitude – just a spirit of openness and cooperation. We learned from each other and formed a bond that still exists today.
Cultural differences and new perspectives
Overcoming challenges – with flexibility and support
One major challenge was balancing family and work across time zones. Regular video calls with my daughter helped me stay in touch while remaining focused on my tasks. This experience has strengthened my confidence in successfully combining professional ambitions and family responsibilities.
More than just work: discover and learn
On weekends, I indulged my love of travel. I explored local sights, enjoyed the beaches and visited nearby attractions. I even took a trip to Sydney to meet up with an old friend from university. The culture of leisure and balance in Australia was refreshing. Adelaide, although a smaller city, had so much to offer, and within 30 minutes I could reach beautiful beaches or other scenic locations. I also used some weekends to study for my master's degree – the solitude was perfect for undisturbed study sessions.
Lessons for the future
My global assignment in Australia taught me more than I ever expected. Here are some of my key takeaways:
- Intercultural cooperation promotes openness and trust.
- Family and career are not mutually exclusive, but can strengthen each other.
- There are always different ways to overcome challenges.
- Travel broadens the mind and strengthens personal development.
Experiencing globalisation at Jungheinrich
Globalisation means more than just international offices; it is about experiencing a different culture and learning from different perspectives. This assignment was a fantastic opportunity to work with people from another country, exchange knowledge and bring new insights back to India. Working with people who are pursuing similar goals in different ways has made me appreciate the diversity of intercultural cooperation.
For anyone considering a global opportunity, I would highly recommend it. It is a chance to grow both professionally and personally and become a more flexible, open-minded and resourceful team member.
