Emilie Stumpf, Government Affairs Manager at Panasonic Heating and Cooling Solutions, gives us a synopsis of how she continues to learn while in the HVAC industry and advice for women who intend on joining the industry.
How do you continue to learn and expand your knowledge?
Learning and expanding knowledge are key in our sector, not only because it is a fast-moving sector, but also because it is important to keep up with innovations, market and legislative developments. For me, it is important to learn and expand knowledge to be challenged and remain engaged every day.
When I joined this industry, more than six years ago, my knowledge of products, the sector, and the market was rather limited. I had the chance to work with patient colleagues who taught me a lot about products, the industry and the market itself.
Learning is a key component of the job; I always approach it with an open mind. I can learn of course from reading studies, reports, and events, but also and above all, when meeting colleagues in my company, or in trade associations for instance. Every day is an opportunity to learn something new. It does not always require specific training or a specific book. Sometimes advice, challenging feedback or explanations from peers or other representatives from the sector are the best ways to learn and think differently.
What advice would you give to women thinking of joining the HVACR industry?
Join the HVACR Industry! Our sector is very stimulating and there are a lot of opportunities. It is one of the growing sectors at the EU and global levels, where we can directly contribute to the improvement of everyday lives, providing better comfort to people improving sustainability and supporting the deployment and integration of renewables and reducing CO2 emissions. It is a forward-looking industry, and it could benefit from having more women contributing to its growth and making it even more sustainable.
