In his role as Digital Transformation Lead, Tristan deals with IT in the area of Human Resources. Whenever new software is scheduled for rollout in the company, he negotiates and collaborates with the works council to ensure a smooth implementation. Tristan also supports colleagues outside of HR on Microsoft 365, helping them to use digital technologies even more efficiently and effectively to generate added value. In 2020, he took part in Konica Minolta's Transformation Innovation Programme (TIP) to expand his experience. Each year, the TIP sees colleagues from around the world come together in cross-functional teams to embark on a six-month journey to address future business challenges, collaborate with customers, and explore innovative techniques to bring new offerings to the market.
"As a trainee in HR, I started my career in the logistics industry, which included working on a number of projects in Asia. My career path then took me via the medical technology industry, through Europe-wide IT-related projects, to Konica Minolta, where I now work as Digital Transformation Lead. After almost two years with the company, I applied for the TIP. I liked the idea of working with colleagues from other countries again. Seeing people with different cultural and linguistic backgrounds come together on a project really appealed to me, as in previous jobs I'd enjoyed supporting projects across Europe and working beyond national borders. With the company motto 'be bold' in mind, I took the plunge and applied, with the support of my manager. We discussed beforehand how much of my time the project would take, and she agreed that I could invest working hours in the project as needed. And then it all started: the proposed projects were presented at an event, and we were invited to apply for the one we were most interested in. I chose a project involving AI-supported video solutions because, at the time (as now), I saw this as a future market. Colleagues from various locations in Germany, the UK, Denmark and Japan were also interested in the project, and we were thrown together as a team. There were regular check-ins with all the project teams, where other nationalities were also represented. There we discussed whether there were any showstoppers or topics where we were stuck. Otherwise, we organised ourselves, divided up the team and decided who would be responsible for what. For example, I took on data protection and gathered lots of information to make sure that we took legal aspects into account in our planning, and that our project was realistic. We then met as a team every fortnight and discussed our progress – sometimes virtually, sometimes in person."
Seeing people with different cultural and linguistic backgrounds come together on a project really appealed to me.
Tristan Ross
Digital Transformation Lead
"One thing I've learned is that developing a good idea into a real product can be more difficult than you might think. There were many good ideas in the various project teams, but only a few made it to the realisation stage. Even though our project didn't make it to that stage, it was still very exciting to be involved. It was great to meet colleagues in person, at the closing event, for example, which was attended by European management team members who had supported the project teams. It made me realise once again just how important the Transformation Innovation Programme is within the company and how much visibility you get. The experience encouraged me to adopt the motto "be bold – just do it!" If you have a good idea, you should pursue it and try to realise it, even if it seems unrealistic at first. The project team that won back then, for example, developed a chatbot – an idea that sounded unrealistic in 2020, but was successfully delivered."
"I don't think it matters who you are, the only quality you need is an open mind: for topics, for people, for projects; and, most importantly, for healthy debate and different opinions. Otherwise, simply come as you are: whether you're shy or talk a lot, or how good your English is – it's not important. You just have to be keen to take on a new project and invest the necessary time in it. You should coordinate well with your manager in advance, prioritise accordingly and show commitment."
I don't think it matters who you are, the only quality you need is an open mind.
"Just do it! The TIP offers huge added value – you get to know different people, make contacts and expand your network. In particular, colleagues who aren't close to the business in their actual role can try their hand at a business project, developing a real product, and learn a lot in the process. Try to find as many takeaways from the programme as you can, as this will also help you later in your actual job."