06/23/2008 11:08
I have checked today my calendar and realized that already 5 months have passed since some of us joined TeliaSonera. Time simply flies when you are trying to find your own place in constantly changing environment and this kept us busy for most of the time, I guess. It seems we have become a part of this great TS family for good and there are less and less surprising things on a daily basis. Sounds like a routine.
Do not worry; these 5 months (and the following I hope) are not the only challenge which TSITP 2008 brought to us. When everybody around is busy with planning his/her holidays and arranging trips, summer insurance and good weather, all trainees are absorbed with arranging something else: three-month job rotation which constitutes another step in our TS education. During this autumn, each of 32 trainees will change his/her home unit and spend 3 months in hosting unit, building up networking, learning and supporting with own knowledge in turn. This rotation will evoke profitable transfer of knowledge for all, trainees and hosting units. The temporary unit is of our choice, it was left to our own decision which direction we would like to take and how we would like to use this time to our own and company’s benefit. There were no limits; however hosting team should be preferably focused on relatively different area. This freedom resulted in great diversity of choices which had been made by us and highlights two things. Once again, one may see how diverse group we are and how different areas we feel strongly about. This possibility of moving for some time to another area opens up a great chance to learn some more about new areas of TS presence that have not been explored in depth yet and to should allow us to broaden our view about the company, products and services we offer as well as our customers. Some people decided to check completely different area than the one explored so far. Some will not move too far away from the area of their interest, however will get a new perspective towards tasks and projects realized so far. Despite all difficult choices still to be made, these three months will definitely allow us to gain new fresh knowledge and bring our own input in TS projects.
05/27/2008 16:12
Welcome back again. It is nice to see You again reading our blogs.
This time I would like to share my reflections on the added value of external events which are organized by TeliaSonera. Last week I had this great opportunity to participate in the opening of a new Point of Presence in Sofia, Bulgaria. I have never been to such an event before, all the more I appreciate the opportunity that I could have been there and witnessed every moment of this occasion. It is not my intention to take away the importance of this new investment TeliaSonera has made, however I will not reveal any details regarding the PoP itself. What I would like to raise today is significance of well organized and launched external event and its value for the whole company and its customers.
The event in Sofia was arranged during the afternoon, on May, 15th. As it was settled, it comprised of some speeches and presentations in order to introduce the company, services we are delivering and of course, our new investment. Some time was also devoted to the questions from the audience. Al this schedule seems to be quite simple now; however, that in fact is only the final result of many weeks of preparations and work of various people. The whole arrangement of this single evening had started many weeks before this scheduled date. It involved cooperation with representatives of some local add agency that helped to arrange press release and reach all the important potential customers as well as inform and invite some local media. Moreover, it also embraced preparation of some informative leaflets both in English and Bulgarian about the company and available services, booking the proper place for the event to take place, etc. The result was great, the meeting turned out to be very successful since the event gathered many people interested in starting cooperation with TeliaSonera. Actually, one may say it had been a very good way of signalizing our presence in the market.
Coming back to what I have just stated above, only one evening, however well organized and supported with common effort of many people, has contributed to the success of the company bringing in various profits: new customers, new market within reach, and what is more, a positive feedback from the market. Such event has been also profitable due to the fact that the potential customers were able to meet us, TeliaSonera representatives in person and to see who we are, what our values are, how reliable we are, and therefore, picture somehow the whole company.
When I think of the external events, one thing comes to my mind. Any event of this kind is characterized by huge potential and on the other hand burdened with relatively quite big market risks. It constitutes a great occasion for introducing the company to the market or if it is already there – to remind other market participants of our presence. It is also the best moment for meeting current customers and tempting some new ones. On the other hand, it is a relatively powerful marketing tool and when utilized improperly, it may turn out to be a really harmful for both the company and customers. Therefore, any external event should be organized with care for every little detail.
Bearing this in mind, I can ensure you that people responsible for Sofia event were absolutely aware of the potential and risks of this opening. And actually, one could have seen that a lot of effort had been made to avoid the risks so that the potential it brought could be successfully explored in the future.
04/10/2008 17:28
It’s always difficult to start, and find the most suitable words for the best introduction. I will stick to TeliaSonera idea of simplicity and say simply: Hi. My name is Roksana and I am going to share with you some of TS experience and thoughts from a trainee perspective. I am not going to make a personal diary out of this blog though. I hope to use it as a tool for communicating with those of you who decide to visit this trainee’s blog.
I have already spent with you a couple of months now. It is not that long, one may say. Indeed, it is not. I still remember my friends saying: “Don’t do this. Unless you want to become another anonymous employee of this big TS crowd. You will see, you will meet your new boss, get your desk, drink first coffee in the office and this will be the end of fascinating things. Business will be more important than you. See, your decision may bring this risk.” I said to myself: “well, maybe it is true? Maybe I shouldn’t go for it?” All this “maybe” doubts stopped bothering me when I applied. After that I simply did not have time for further consideration of my alleged mistake as some of my friends had stated at that time.
Hours of interviews, tests, traveling and thousands of people involved just to make sure who I am. And suddenly I receive this phone call and I hear this voice saying: “We are waiting for you. Welcome on board.” As simple as it can get. “Great”- that was my first thought. With time, however, my uncertainty has been becoming bigger and bigger. “Am I really a part of this big TS crowd now?” I kept on coming back to these words.
My first day in TS came, I met my new boss, get my new desk, drank first coffee from the coffee machine in the office. It wasn’t that bad as I thought and I didn’t even notice when I went on my first business trip. And again, I met someone else’s boss, I got new desk and I drank some coffee. And again, it wasn’t that bad as I could have expected. With time I have been meeting more new people, got more involved in different projects, more coffee has been drunk. I kept on waiting for these words of my friends to come true.
And suddenly I realized that it would never happen. “What a naïve idea she got”, some of you might say right now. It is definitely not naïve and actually it is you who made me to believe so. These almost three months helped me to realize that TS is in fact a group of people. But these people are not simply “the big TS crowd.” This is Peter, Jessica or Suzana. Different people, with individualistic approach, sharing however common values of TS. Business naturally goes first but it can go because of Peter, Jessica or Suzana. I am getting more and more convinced that we will never experience “this big crowd” feeling because thank to this great combination of so many different and passionate people who actually made TS to appear among the big ones in the market. So as they allow us, trainees, to find our own individual way to exist in TS and spread the wings. The trainee programme brings many opportunities and it is constructed in a way that each of us can rotate within various areas of the business and can face all challenges springing from diverse projects we may support. We can get to the business and people who do it as close as it gets. We get this great chance to observe you all, your enthusiastic approach and participate in everyday life of the company as an equal partner. Moreover, we can count on your patience and eagerness to help us in finding our place in the company.
I think it is more obvious now that this company is nothing else than a colorful mosaic of various personalities, values and tempers what makes TS is so exceptional.
Today, after these months I can say that my friends were right only in one thing. My decision indeed brought some risk…like lack of coffee in the office. But this can be easily dealt; you have to admit it yourself.
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Roksana Rauk
Age: 26
Place of residence: Warsaw, Poland
Interests: theater, volleyball, Mexican food (eating not cooking though)
Working with today: Business strategy
Working with in the future: haven’t decided yet
Best with TeliaSonera: becoming a member of communication royalty family which TS definitely is.
Secret talent: hmmm, I guess most of them are also secret for me. However, if I had to choose one, I would go for singing ;)
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