Yun Xia’s journey at Pepperl+Fuchs began in 2020 with a visit to the job fair “Jobs for Future”, which led to a dual study program in Industrial Engineering with a specialization in Electrical Engineering (B.Eng.). Today, Yun Xia works as an environmental management officer in the Environment, Health and Safety department. However, she plays an important role not only at Pepperl+Fuchs but also as a member of the German national team in traditional Taekwondo. She has been able to apply many relevant skills from sports to her job.
in Mannheim.
But first: What does an environmental management officer actually do?
Yun Xia is responsible for the environmental management system in accordance with DIN EN ISO 14001 at our German locations. This also includes general environmental management, including tasks in waste management and water protection. Additionally, she supports international Pepperl+Fuchs locations on environmentally relevant topics and issues. Her role as an environmental management officer contributes to the promotion of environmental protection at Pepperl+Fuchs by developing innovative strategies, implementing sustainable processes, and raising awareness of ecological responsibility among employees and managers. For example, she supports the sustainability team in operational issues and works on improving internal processes. Her goal is to maintain certification according to DIN EN ISO 14001 and to standardize environmental management across all Pepperl+Fuchs locations internationally.
Why Yun Xia works in environmental management?
Quite simply: she appreciates the opportunity to work on environmental issues, to make a long-term and sustainable impact, and to foster international cooperation with colleagues. She also enjoys occasionally traveling to our national and international locations.
And in her free time?
Outside of her professional work, Yun Xia has been dedicated to traditional Taekwon-Do for 19 years, in which she holds the 2nd Dan black belt and has been part of the German national team since September 2023. Of course, this is not possible by the way, as it involves training, competitions, demonstrations and quite a bit of effort six days a week. At the same time, she has taken many valuable skills from sport for her professional life, such as stamina, self-confidence and a confident appearance, together with the knowledge of how important it is to prepare for appointments in a structured way. And last but not least, that mutual respect – especially in mixed-age teams – makes cooperation much easier and more productive.
Pepperl+Fuchs offers her the flexibility she needs, and her colleagues in her department not only support Yun Xia in her job, but also have her back. A true win-win!
Challenge accepted!
As in sports, there are of course challenges to overcome in everyday work life. A major task for Yun Xia at Pepperl+Fuchs, for example, is to inspire employees at Pepperl+Fuchs to make necessary changes in terms of environmental protection in the long term. Her colleagues support her not only with advice and action but also with their perseverance – because regular communication about relevant topics and initiatives is the key to success.
Since Yun Xia is currently also studying part-time and is working on her master’s degree in industrial engineering (M.Sc.) at the University of Applied Sciences for Economics and Management, she is particularly grateful for the great colleagues and their support in her current job.
And last but not least: Yun Xia’s tips for a successful career start
It pays to ask questions: If you have enough interest and curiosity and are confident to ask a lot of questions, you will get to know the company more quickly. And Yun Xia can confirm that the colleagues are very helpful and happy to pass on their knowledge.
Self-motivation: If you dare to get involved and share new ideas in the process, you can make your work much more dynamic and motivating for yourself and others. Not every idea is sure to end up on the winning side, but at the same time, a team often becomes more creative and successful through different perspectives and opinions.
Network as a success factor: This is especially true for (dual) students and trainees, but at the same time also for all newcomers: If you try to get to know as many colleagues and departments as possible through networking, you will gain valuable insights that will also help you in your own role. It was precisely through her dual study program that Yun Xia was able to get to know different departments and employees – even internationally during her 5-month bachelor’s phase in Singapore – which now accelerates one or the other process and gives her a head start in knowledge.
Photo Credit: @mayo.fotografie
