Never
stop
exploring

Tuğçe, please tell us a bit about your career. What is your professional background?
I am a mechanical engineer with a Master’s degree. I create technical documentation for boilers, ventilation systems and many other things. I have international work experience, as I have also worked in Germany and the Netherlands.

In the campaign, you are a role model for digital enthusiasts. Why?
For me, digitalisation is change. You must gain new experience and get out of your comfort zone if you want to handle such a change. Personally, I like discovering new things, getting to know new places and different cultures. My urge to discover can also be seen in how I work. During my daily routine, I always try to find new customer-oriented solutions. Also, I am known as a driving force – not just in my personal life, but in my professional life as well.

If digitalisation were a journey, what would you pack into your suitcase to master it?
Actually, digitalisation is a journey for me. In order to master this digital change, I would involve customers more fully in the transformation processes. For me, it seems important to put customers at the centre of any activity so that their particular needs are addressed optimally. This is why I would pack customer-oriented thinking and inventive talent into my suitcase. Another very important asset in this regard is creativity, which is difficult to acquire since it requires suitable frameworks supporting its implementation.

Could you provide an example of a digital customer-oriented solution?
Of course. For example, as part of the Push Digital! strategy, I created an information centre for the Vaillant brand that appears on the Vaillant website. It is designed for installers in order to facilitate their work. They use it to find solutions to their problems.

While on a journey, it often happens that previous plans need to be changed drastically – or even discarded. How do you manage such situations?
If unexpected things happen, it is very important for me to think carefully what the process is to contine on a path that allows a successful completion. In doing so, I use my engineering background and my analytical way of thinking to find an optimal solution.

What do you expect for your future at the Vaillant Group?
Opportunities here are endless as long as you seek them out. I feel like I am growing with the organisation. For me, the Vaillant Group is so attractive because of the multinationality of the company, the job opportunities and training programs it offers in many countries, as well as the opportunity to work in a great team. There are 13 people in my team, and I am the only woman. My colleagues and supervisors have always been highly supportive. I would be very glad if they continued to be supportive in the future. During my ten years of studying mechanical engineering and my career since then, I have become used to being surrounded by men. Over time, I have adapted to this atmosphere, and now I even see it as an advantage. I want to be a role model for other women, and I want to encourage them to pursue a career in technical fields.

What do you think is Vaillant’s role in digitalisation?
I think Vaillant is a pioneer when it comes to digital transformation. It tries to supply its customers with digital solutions that make their lives much easier than before. We are all working very hard on expanding our core business towards a more digital and sustainable business model. Climate services, energy management, installer enablements and HVAC management are crucial for our business.

“Thinking outside the box” – what does that mean for you?
For me, “thinking outside the box” means finding solutions that others haven't even thought of. If we think outside the box, we can find new strategies and create plans to implement new solutions. For instance, when the team is focussing on one topic, if there is a different idea, we should listen to it carefully in order to understand new perspectives.