Woman of the Month – Darja Fischer – Mercedes-Benz (Thailand) Limited

Dear DBWT community – I am General Manager of Customer Services Sales & Marketing at Mercedes Benz Thailand Ltd.

I spent my early childhood in Ukraine. Being German and growing up in Eastern Europe was my first intercultural experience that has characterized and shaped me. Over the years, I realized that other cultures offer you diverse and fresh perspectives, represent different approaches, and allow you to be more open. You learn, encounter, and grow at all levels every day. It is an adventure and nothing can substitute experience.

In my 11 years career path with Mercedes, I was very fortunate to have the possibility of working in an international environment spending most of the time as Market Manager in Sales and Marketing for Eastern/Central Europe and South East Asia. My first contact with the Kingdom of Thailand was in 2012 as a tourist. This trip evoked certain curiosity and love for this country. In 2014, I took over the position as a Market Manager for South East Asia and in 2019, I got the possibility to take over my current position here in Thailand – being responsible for Thailand and Vietnam. Today, I am still excited about Asian culture and I love Thai food.

Dual studies are a very famous concept in Germany that combines academic learning with practical work experience in the company. The dual studies programs are often guarded as one of the main reasons for the success of German companies, and the strong development of the German economy overall.

Joining Daimler AG with the dual studies enabled me to get to know the company from very different perspectives through various traineeships in different business areas. I obtained business and leadership skills and grew my network throughout the company. The valuable professional experience with global character combined with a fascinating brand and products – I wanted to be a part of it!

My personal highlight was the two placements abroad at Mercedes-Benz South Africa, Pretoria, and at Mercedes-Benz Russia, Moscow.

At Mercedes-Benz Thailand, we integrated this dual concept in the local Vocational Training. Thanks to a strong collaboration with partners like the German Chamber of Commerce, our Mercedes Benz Dealer Network, and of course, the Partner Colleges. We can enable local apprentices with this dual training and the so-called “on the job” experience. It is a very good baseline for starting a career with Mercedes-Benz Thailand Authorized Network with an international certificate issued by DIHK Berlin, Germany.

As a teenager, I was interested in science and arts. Working for an automotive company was at that time not on my agenda. Actually, my High School teacher was the one who influenced me strongly.

He was a big fan of Mercedes bringing the company as an example in all our Business Cases. So practically, I did company analyses, calculations, and macro economical decisions long before I have joined the company.

At the same time, he encouraged me as a female to pursue a business career. He was always pointing out that with me as a single girl in his Macroeconomics class in High School, the future ratio has to change.

He was a very visionary person at that time, with high business experience. He fascinated me the most and made economics to be my favorite subject.

I never analyzed my career from the gender-specific point of view.

Actually, over the past ten years, I had the opportunity to expand my horizons geographically and culturally: South Africa, Russia, Eastern & Central Europe, and South East Asia. I have had amazing experiences and exciting projects such as developing markets, launching and implementing new business models, or defining strategies.

In Thailand, I had the opportunity to lift the digital customer experience, implement solutions such as the Online Appointment Booking, the 5 Star Rater – an online survey on customer experience after Service, the Mercedes me Adapter – a retrofit solution for connected cars or the automated digital Service reminders.

Since 2018, I have been a working mum and have received a lot of support and understanding from both management and colleagues. Fortunately, Mercedes-Benz offers many social programs to help women’s career advancement. Crucial for me was the re-entry program after maternity leave, the support for childcare, the possibility to work from home when necessary, and the overall flexibility. As a working mum, you have constantly to focus, defocus and refocus.

However, the most inspiring and motivating thing to work for a global organization is a chance to meet and work with people from all over the world! It is great to be part of this inspiring DBWT community, meet all the successful female Mercedes-Benz Dealer principles here in Thailand. Many great and inspiring people worldwide have crossed my professional journey so far – some of them became very good friends!

Of course, being a woman in the environment where men vastly outnumber women, you have to push the pedal to the metal a little bit harder with your high heels – especially if you have a kid in the backseat of your Mercedes.

Luckily, autonomous driving is coming soon!

My career recommendation for women, in general, is that you need determination, strong willingness, and passion. You need to know what your true goal is, then you will automatically focus all your energy on the things that really matter to you and set your mind on conditions to realize it. My methodology for many years is a mind-map with goals – professionally and privately – for the upcoming year. First, I was always surprised how many things come true, now I believe in the described energy principle.

I am also convinced that people you meet and work with are very crucial. I have been very fortunate to meet amazing role models of both genders, who not only helped me to master and handle challenging moments but also pushed me to the next level. So, try to surround yourself with people who will lift you up, and distance yourself from those who disrespect you.

Additionally, important is the fact that you have to take risks, if you want to get to where you have never been before – to me this is the only way. I love the quote from Nelson Mandela “There is no passion to be found playing small – in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living.”

It is important to know your sources where you can recharge and efficiently boost your energy levels. For me, nature plays a big role combined with sports, especially yoga. Yoga is a brilliant tool to get clarity, reenergize, teaches resilience, willpower but also connects me to my true self.

In addition, my soul food is qualitative time with my family and friends. Often the small things like “the humor of my partner, the singing of my son, a dinner with a good friend” make life worth living and joyful.

You have to build in time for these things that feed your energy and are essential. I am convinced that stepping away and taking a breath makes one more productive, efficient and visionary. It is crucial for self-care but also for your success.

There is not that one person. I was lucky to have met many people who inspired me with their ideas and qualities. The fundament, however is the support of my family – especially from my dad – was important to me. He encouraged me to take risks and supported all my ideas. He was very instrumental in allowing me to do something new and exciting.

In work life, I am incredibly happy to have met two strong women at work who inspired me and showed me in the early development of my career that you can achieve great success and having a family by staying authentic, being transparent, and honest.

My message is always that everything starts with the customer. In “Customer Services,” we stand for the “Mercedes of Service” and strive for 5 Stars in customer satisfaction. To achieve this, it requires the potential of the whole team and every single voice is crucial. Statistics prove that diverse teams outperform individual decision-makers. According to Forbes, decisions made and executed by diverse teams deliver 60% of better results.

It is a DIVERSE and ONE team that keeps customers engaged to buy our products – together we fight, together we win!