BI-Fudan MBA program hosts a series of discussions with top CXOs to learn from their experience climbing to the top management position. Through this kind of direct communication, we hope to create as many opportunities as possible for students and alumni to get inspired and learn. For the first time, on July 25th, we invited Torgeir Sterri, the Maritime Regional Manager for Great China of DNV GL, one of the world’s largest quality assurance and risk management companies, with the main business in China pertaining to oil & gas, renewable energies, business assurance and ship and offshore classification. To gain real insight on achieving success as well as what MBA students should keep in mind as they develop into the business leadership of tomorrow.
Be yourself
Beginning our discussion, Torgeir led with what he believes as one of the most important elements for personal success: be yourself. This common phrase has stood as a social basic most commonly guiding our social interactions and personal lives, but Torgeir believes even more so in its ability to stand as a principal standard to guide our professional lives as well. Once it is applied to our professional lives, we will finally be able to enjoy our work. “If you’re trying to be something other than who you are, your life will be difficult,” he explains.
The importance of a cultural understanding
With a sense of self understanding and applying it at work, the next logical fundamental would be to fully understand who you’re working with. Torgeir stresses the importance of cultural understanding and how this especially applies when doing business on a global scale. A multinational environment naturally creates a powerful need to understand the culture and history of the country you’re working with. MBA students should be genuinely aware of this prerequisite for global business and management success, and it’s critical in adjusting how to work among different cultures and maintaining efficiency. As an example, Torgeir pointed out the subtle structural differences between typical German and Norwegian styles of work. He explained how Norwegian methods of problem solving may only involve addressing one’s peers for a solution. Whereas a German hierarchical system would rely more on a superior for the decision. In such a case where an employee seeks to address a problem with a superior who expects subordinates to solve challenges amongst their peers could understandably create frustration or miscommunications. Torgeir went on to explain that culturally there are no better methods of going about life. There are simply different ways. As long as you have an understanding of the difference you’ll be able to react effectively.
Developing a leader
“Throughout my professional development, my professional goal to ‘enjoy what I do’ has had the most profound effect on the shaping of my career”. “Opportunities begin to arise, when you truly enjoy what you do,” Torgeir elaborated. Enjoyment in your work is a genuine catalyst for productivity and high quality work that can undoubtedly make an employee stand out. However, success is not all about making yourself look good. Torgeir’s experience led him to another piece of advice he invites us to ask ourselves: “If you can imagine that the company you’re working for is your family’s company, even though you are just an employee, how would you look at your peers when they succeed?” More importantly, “What would you do to help your colleagues succeed?” Looking back, he expels upon the significance of helping your colleagues and contributing to the team without the need for credit. Such a selfless mindset creates a workplace culture with rich integrity and productivity and your contribution will shine through. “You can achieve anything, as long as you don’t care who gets the credit,” he boldly asserted.
Integrity is the key
Winding down with some final thoughts, Torgeir exuded some key qualities he looks for when searching candidates for hire. He reminds us that we can train and educate employees on processes and technical knowhow, but we can’t control someone’s attitude. When a potential hire is sitting in front of him he likes to ask himself: “Would I send this person to my best friend to do a job?” Listing all the usual buzz words candidates strive to convey in their resumes: team player, responsibility, one that embraces change and delivers results, he then more notably emphasised “integrity”. It’s on a plaque on his desk in fact. It reads: “Integrity is choosing the right thing when nobody is watching you.” Torgeir concluded that when leading a business, your responsibilities are far more than simply increasing profits, and integrity is a value that can lead you to success and undoubtedly will play a large role in the next generation of our future business leaders.
Dinner Afterwards
Torgeir together with our MBA students had a lovely dinner after the live-streaming session, where more casual conversations had occurred. During the dinner, students threw a lot of questions about cultures, politics and industry to Mr Sterri, which he also openly discussed about.
The students were given a true reflection of Torgier’s passion and admiration for ‘Chinese speed’. When he was asked about the economic advantage of it, he wanted to persuade his listeners to overlook and break up the old fashioned stigma surrounding cheap Chinese goods, he conversed further by explaining how Chinese supply chain have an excellent efficiency in comparison to competitors Japan and Korea because China can provide a much better ship building capacity.
As previously mentioned, Torgier has experience of living across several European countries, and the students were keen to understand how he, as an European, has adapted to living in China , he laughed and said it is superior to Norway in the freedom, enjoyment and weather! Torgier also shared how his family are settled into Chinese lifestyle with both his sons at an international university.
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