Our People are the Heartbeat of Excellence
What does it take to transform a successful company into an excellent one? Rukmini Glanard, CBO, and Regina Betram-Pfister, CHRO, on values, growth and why people are the driving force of GETEC’s success.
Can you describe the status quo in few words?
Rukmini Glanard: We are a 30-year old company with strong roots and we are leveraging this solid base to accelerate our growth. This will be achieved at various stages in the value chain: focusing on the customer, promoting talent, digitalizing processes and optimizing communication, to name just a few. Some of these projects are part of our “Transformation for More” program. We are an agile organization that is always striving to improve and grow. The people at GETEC – both our new hires and our long-standing employees – are deeply involved in this process. This is crucial because change is driven by everyone.
Regina Bertram-Pfister: I agree. At GETEC, people matter because they are the heartbeat of the company and the drivers of our success. We promote diversity – to attract more excellent people with all kinds of perspectives. Once they join us, we are committed to their development, ensuring that they become even better. One example of this is our women’s leadership program “GLOW”, which brought together women from all our operating regions (see pages 64 and 65). It has been a great success. Now we are launching a new program aimed at younger female employees. These new networks create a culture that empowers employees to thrive. However, we don’t focus just on female talent but foster all talent.
“People are at the core of GETEC’s success. That is why we invest in their growth, creating a culture where diversity thrives and talent is fostered.”
Regina Bertram-Pfister, Chief Human Resources Officer
What is it about the culture at GETEC that makes it special and competitive?
Regina Bertram-Pfister: The company’s strengths are anchored in its strong values, which guide our behavior:
- Pioneering spirit, becoming a trailblazer in shaping the energy transition
- Impact, making each of our actions count toward building a sustainable future
- Reliability, delivering on our promises and building the trust our customers can rely on
- Unity, working with all stakeholders to achieve our common goals
These values are rooted in GETEC’s tradition and are also intended to build a brighter sustainable future.
Rukmini Glanard: A major achievement this year has been embedding these values in a strategic system. We refreshed our vision, mission and corporate value proposition so that they now form a solid basis for our long-term strategy.
Regina Bertram-Pfister: We worked on both the social and business aspects of our company because I believe that culture and profit go hand in hand. Our culture is one of winning and success. However, we want to work together in an inclusive way. We believe that you will be more successful if you are really good in the social aspects.
Regina Bertram-Pfister
Chief Human Resources Officer
Regina Bertram-Pfister is an experienced HR executive with a degree in law. Before joining GETEC, she held senior HR positions at global firms such as Gardner Denver and Ingersoll Rand. From 2002 to 2009, she held various executive roles in Human Resources at McDonald’s Germany Inc., before serving as Head of HR at Basic AG from 2010 to 2013. Most recently, she was Head of HR for the DACH region at Ingersoll Rand, where she was also responsible for global HR strategy in the Life Sciences division. In May 2023, Regina became a member of the GETEC Executive Committee, assuming the role of CHRO.
“Our customer-first mindset is the key to our long-term success. Every employee understands that the customer is at the center of everything we do.”
Rukmini Glanard, Chief Business Officer
There has been a lot of change in a short period. How have the company’s shareholders responded?
Rukmini Glanard: We are working with our stakeholders at every stage of our transformation. Our customers come first and each of our employees understands that our mission is to guide and support them in their energy transition so that they can serve local communities more successfully and create a better tomorrow. As Regina mentioned, we care for and look after our people because it is they who will make this transition a success. We are fortunate to have strong shareholders who share our long-term vision. By doing the groundwork right, we can satisfy the high expectations of all our stakeholders.
Regina Bertram-Pfister: Absolutely and we’re approaching it in our own way. We believe in bringing people together and moving forward inclusively rather than enforcing a top-down strategy. Of course, including people in this way takes more time. However, the acceptance of change is much higher, which speeds up the subsequent transition process. GETEC is exceptional in this respect. There is a lot of energy and a great willingness to include everyone. We may have a lot of challenges but we have a very strong and welcoming culture for new people, great expertise and an entrepreneurial spirit. This combination makes us very unique – and competitive.
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Rukmini Glanard
Chief Business Officer
Rukmini Glanard has more than 30 years of experience in the chemical, IT and telecommunications industries. Prior to joining GETEC, she was Chief Business Officer at Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise, where she led the global sales, services and marketing organizations. Her previous leadership roles at SITA, an IT provider for the air transport industry, and telecommunications firm Orange Business gave her a strong foundation in business and go-to-market strategies. An accomplished public speaker and advocate for diversity and inclusion, she became Chief Business Officer and a member of the GETEC Executive Committee in April 2024.
Let it Glow
Empowering women in leadership at GETEC: A visionary initiative is set to transform the working culture at GETEC, focusing on women in management positions. This 15-month program promises substantial change.
People culture programs often fall short, filled with words but lacking follow-through. At GETEC, the approach is notably different, as demonstrated by the new initiative named GLOW. Standing for GETEC Leadership Circle of Outstanding Women, GLOW is more evocative of a charming British film title (“The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen”) or a Netflix series (“GLOW – Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling”) than of a corporate agenda. The distinctive branding is intentional because the group of exceptional women involved in this initiative is set on redefining business norms. Introducing GLOW: leading the way for women Regina Bertram-Pfister, Chief HR Officer and initiator of GLOW, sums up the essence of the initiative: “Our commitment to gender parity is not just about recognition – it is about taking action. We are dedicated to creating an environment where every talent can succeed. This initiative sends a clear signal to all of us across the GETEC Group.”
On International Women’s Day, GETEC officially launched the GETEC Leadership Circle of Outstanding Women and announced its ambitious goals. GLOW aims to empower top female leaders at GETEC, encouraging them to become vocal role models and agents of change. The initiative is based on a 15-month plan featuring concrete actions. By 2025, the participating female leaders will deliver keynote speeches and undergo training designed to enhance their leadership profiles. Workshop topics will include media training and brand messaging exercises. In addition, GLOW addresses broader objectives that include achieving 60% gender parity by 2030, ensuring equal pay and promoting part-time and hybrid work options.