If careers were landscapes, Claus Lindorff Christensen’s would be a winding river—steady, adaptive, and always moving forward. For over 25 years, Claus has been part of Schneider Electric, shaping Schneider Electric’s safety culture through a deep-rooted belief in doing things the right way, even if it means jumping into the ocean in full safety gear.
A Spark Ignites
Claus’s career journey began as a trained electrician in the 90s. In 2000 he joined a company called Lauritz Knudsen (which later became part of Schneider Electric), bringing with him the kind of hands-on expertise that can’t be taught in textbooks. His first role was as technical product support in the development department for switches and outlets. The team needed someone from “the real world” to test products and provide feedback. Claus was that bridge between theory and practice, and this early role was the first flicker of a theme that would run through his whole career: connecting people, processes, and purpose.
From Products to People
As Schneider evolved, Claus’s responsibilities did too. He transitioned from technical product support to quality management without formal training, but with a strong commitment to learning. “I didn’t have the education for it,” Claus admits, “but I had the experience, and Schneider gave me the opportunity to grow.”
He became the quality manager for product development across the Nordics, later expanding his scope to Northern Europe. Claus was the one who stepped in when things went wrong, facilitating recalls, working with front offices, and ensuring customer safety. It was high-stakes work, often involving difficult conversations and urgent decisions. But Claus thrived in the challenge, learning to speak the language of every stakeholder, from electricians to executives.
Claus then moved into a Global Supply Chain role, shifting his focus from development issues to production-related quality challenges. He led product recalls when safety was at stake. “It was a shift from angry customers to systemic improvement, and it taught me how deeply quality, and safety are intertwined.”
Safety as a Philosophy
Eventually, Claus found his true calling: safety. It began as a role in facility management where he oversaw everything from ventilation systems to employee wellbeing and it soon became a career in health and safety. “Safety is just quality focusing on the human part,” Claus says. “The tools and methods to solve a safety issue or a quality claim are more or less the same.” But because it’s about people, he sees safety as even more important: “it’s about ensuring our colleagues come home in an even better state than when they left in the morning”.
This philosophy guided Claus in shaping Schneider Electric’s safety culture. He built Schneider’s health and safety organization across the Nordic region, ensuring that each country employed a person responsible for health and safety. He created a culture where curiosity is encouraged, mistakes are acknowledged, and people are empowered to speak up. “If there’s something you don’t understand, it’s not a weakness, it’s an opportunity to evolve and gain more knowledge.”
Leading by Example
Claus’s leadership style is anything but conventional. When faced with resistance to new protective workwear, he ran a 5K relay race in full safety gear and jumped into the ocean wearing protective clothing. Why? To prove that if he can run and swim in it, our service technicians can also wear long sleeve shirts for a short period of time to protect them against arc flash and electrical shock.
These moments show Claus’s belief that change happens through empathy, humour, and shared experience. “You can’t convince everyone, but you can make it fun while you try.”
The River Keeps Flowing
Looking back, Claus sees his career as a journey of continuous growth and meaningful impact. He feels that Schneider Electric didn’t just give him a job but a space to evolve. Claus has found ways to align his personal values with the company’s mission. He’s especially proud of Schneider’s evolution toward a more human-centric culture that values work-life balance, inclusion, and psychological safety. After 25 years, Claus isn’t slowing down. He’s now mapping safety practices across the zone, bringing his hands-on knowledge to a broader scale. His journey is proof that careers don’t have to be linear to be impactful. We’re proud to have people like Claus who embody our values so deeply. Their stories light the way for others, reminding us that sometimes, the most meaningful paths are the ones we carve ourselves—step by step.
If you’re passionate about safety, innovation, and making an impact, explore our open roles or join our talent community to stay connected with opportunities and insights.
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