In a nutshell, cultural
relativism represents one of
the most important aspects
of Xavier’s leadership. While he
acknowledges the complexity
of such a mission, it’s also
one of the most rewarding
elements of his job –
maintaining a cohesive team
of diverse individuals, united
by the guiding principles of
the global organisation.
“We’re inspired by the values of the company
coming from Norway,” says Xavier. “We have a strict
code of conduct, and sense of responsibility. Our
company’s values are the base of our business in
this region. We don’t compromise on those,” he says.
“At the same time, when it comes to business, you
have to adapt to the local region, whether that’s thebehaviour of people, or the
way you form a contract or
partnership. It’s case by case,
country by country, creating
these personal relationships.”
Within Xavier’s team,
diversity refers to more than
just the cultures that have
come together within the
global aluminium and
renewables company. Hydro
also encourages diversity
of thought, and one of the ways it manifests this
is through small working groups, drawn from
Hydro’s many divisions. Incorporating employees
from technical, customer service, finance and
marketing teams, these workshops produce surprising
ideas, says Xavier, driving creativity and innovation
across the company.
The central theme to endeavours like these
is another of Hydro’s core values – collaboration.
“When you bring an idea, make sure you’re hitting
on an idea that’s good for everyone,” Xavier advises.
“If you want to grow, you have to be curious,“If you challenge
yourself, you build
your capacity to
learn. It helps you
keep in touch.”
“We are proud to have an esteemed company like Norsk Hydro as our
business partner. We believe that with our combined experience and
skills in the aluminium industry, we can provide the market with the
highest quality services to remain competitive.” – PT Koon, Executive
Director, Press MetalINVEST | Interview