Julien Azzi

Julien Azzi from Konica Minolta France has been assigned as an A4 Product Manager (B&W) to Langenhagen in Germany. Julien describes himself as a curious and open person, interested in different places and cultures.

Already at the initial job interview for his position at Konica Minolta France, he had asked for an opportunity to work abroad. The answer he received then – in September 2010 – was “(…) be patient, there will be an opportunity – trust me.” Four years later, after acquiring valuable experience as an A4 Product Manager in France, and having already worked in an international context within Cluster South, he applied for an open assignment vacancy in BEU's International Marketing Division. Julien wanted to take his international collaboration to the next level; he wanted to experience working within the European headquarters.

When he started in his new job in Langenhagen, he was really excited. “In the first weeks I felt like a visitor, everything was new. I finally met my new colleagues in person and I was confronted with a new language, which was actually the only concern I had before the assignment.” But this disappeared: “Step by step, I’m learning the German language, but fact is everybody is able to communicate in English, which makes it much easier for me to feel welcome in the company.”

Regarding the personal benefits he gained through the assignment, he emphasizes the move into a new context, a new life and working style, and the challenge of settling into a completely new environment which deeply widened his horizon. And at a professional level? In Julien´s case it was “the opportunity to work in a different context, to experience different work practices, and to be more flexible. Being transferred from NOC to BEU is particularly enlightening as I can see the whole workflow from the global headquarters, through to the European headquarters, and down to the subsidiaries. I can now better understand the processes and also the issues and difficulties involved.”

Next to his, and ultimately Konica Minolta’s benefits, Julien was the initiator of the “International Community” at Konica Minolta Langenhagen, bringing together expatriates and locals to share experiences and to create a platform to meet each other – also at a personal level.

Following his MOVE FORWARD assignment to BEU, Julien spent 1,5 years in KMI Japan. Meanwhile, he is back in France, utilizing all the newly gained skills and experiences in his role as Digital Workplace Go-to-Market Leader for Cluster South.