Per Raun’s story showcases his experiences with diversity in many different forms. Whether it be in terms of the companies he worked for, the cultures he experienced, or the people he hired, he was always surrounded by varied perspectives. Per is LTSCP Director at Schneider Electric and has been a vital part of the company since April 2000. With nearly 25 years of experience, his career journey reflects resilience, adaptability, and a commitment to continuous learning.
Foundations in the industry
Per began his professional journey after graduating as an industrial engineer from Aalborg University. His initial roles included working at a Danish company called Herning Galvanisering, where he served as a quality and production manager. Here, he gained hands-on experience in a challenging environment, working with mainly blue-collar workers in the hot-dip galvanizing process. This role provided him with valuable insights into logistics and operations, but Per felt a desire for more structure in his career.
Transitioning to new opportunities
This is why he joined the company ABB as a project manager, where his task was to merge manufacturing sites. Although this period was turbulent, it led him to discover a unique opportunity at a company called APC, which later became part of Schneider Electric.
Per described the culture at APC as “talk fast, move fast” which he experienced as a joyful time with many things happening very quickly. During this time, he was program manager, leading product development projects. Due to the projects he was leading, he spent quite some time travelling to countries like the US and Ireland.
A flourishing career at Schneider Electric
When Schneider Electric acquired APC in 2007, Per described it as a bit of a “culture shock” at first, moving from a high paced culture with short distances between white-collar and blue-collar workers, to a much larger, more structured, and in some ways more traditional company. After this initial transitioning phase however, Per continued a very fruitful career and learned a lot from this process.
In 2008 Per’s role expanded even further as he moved from being a project leader to becoming a people manager. As Schneider Electric acquired Uniflair, an Italian company specializing in cooling applications, he took on the challenge of building an industrial team and integrating the industrialization process in Schneider. He was involved in developing and managing teams and aligning processes internationally throughout Europe, Asia, and the US.
His focus on team development was evident as he successfully nurtured talent, ensuring that employees were promoted to positions that matched their skills and aspirations. Several of Per’s team members continued significant careers inside Schneider. From aspiring manufacturing line managers, technical experts or industrial managers in secure power.
The role of diversity
Throughout his career, Per has championed diversity in the workplace. He recognizes the value of varied mindsets coming from different national, cultural, educational backgrounds, and ages which is something he implemented in finding people for his team. Per thinks that “managing diversity is one of the things that makes Schneider Electric strong”. He also reflected on the importance of diversity in leadership and believes that “diversity comes in many dimensions”. Varied experiences bring invaluable insights and skills that can benefit organizations. As he approaches his 25-year milestone at Schneider Electric, Per continues to take on new challenges in a changing environment. He appreciates the company’s commitment to diversity, innovation, and sustainability, which aligns well with his personal values.
A journey of diverse perspectives
Per’s career journey at Schneider Electric exemplifies a journey marked by diversity, open-mindedness, and adaptability. Even though a path is not necessarily always linear and sometimes unexpected things happen, it is about learning how to deal with this. Per’s story can inspire not only those within the company but also anyone looking to navigate their own career path. With a focus on team development and embracing diversity, Per continues to contribute to a bright future at Schneider Electric.
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