Out into the world

Through school and university, most students meet countless offers to go abroad. Exchange programs, international internships or perhaps a work-away stay over the summer. There is no limit to the opportunities, and organisations line up to help students gain international experience. Once you cross the threshold and join the workforce, things change. However, our international projects provide us with cross-cultural encounters and global perspectives

Gaining new perspectives
I grew up in France, trained to be an engineer in France, and worked as a sustainability engineer for four years in France. Eventually, I felt I needed to gain new perspectives. When you are working with sustainability, an area that is constantly evolving as new technologies are developed, it is not only important but necessary to stay alert and aware of the newest tendencies on the market. You need to know what is happening not just on the national market, but in a global context. I felt, I needed international experience and what better place to gain that than in the Nordic countries that are considered sustainability frontrunners, Perrine explains.

In Denmark, sustainability is definitely on the agenda, and it has been so for several years now. Innovative solutions along with various certification schemes and an increasing demand for sustainability are the kinds of initiatives that keep Danish companies on their feet and remind us all to suit the action to the word.

Eya who started her Artelia career in Vietnam before moving to Artelia UK and then to Artelia in Denmark adds :

When helping Artelia out into the world, it is clear to us that our sustainability experts are in especially high demand. These, along with our fire safety engineers and other specialists, offer skills that many countries hunger for.

The power of untapped potential
Artelia joined Artelia in 2019, and there is still a lot of untapped potential in terms of international collaborations. Artelia is represented in 40 countries, and this opens many doors for us as a company.

Eya explains : Establishing contact is step number one, and one of the main purposes of our GBP department is to be that much-needed point of reference. A hub for international collaborations as we call it.

Perrine joins in and adds : Fostering a global mindset in the workplace, working towards more international hires, and taking on international projects is a way for us to evolve as a company. We can exchange knowledge and learn from other countries which is particularly important for the green transition and innovation in general.

To access the potential of collaborations with Artelia’s international partners, it has been valuable to have two internationally experienced and French-speaking people lead the conversation. Understanding cultural differences and navigating local customs is necessary when building bridges. That is why international experience is an asset both professionally and personally, and why it is not just an item to check off the list as a student.