Vault Q&A: Business Intelligece Analyst, Motorola

How did you first decide to enter your industry? What first attracted you?
It was the company that I chose rather than the communications industry itself. As a student, I had a half year internship within Motorola's strategy team in Berlin. During that period I learnt a lot and met many interesting people within the organisation. In addition, I became familiar with Motorola's values and culture, for example the importance of quality and customer delight, and it was based on this experience that I chose to apply for permanent position after I graduated from university.

What are the typical education requirements? What skills and/or experience are important for success?
At Motorola, my colleagues have various education backgrounds and qualifications. I think that critical factors for success, for a graduate, are the ability to embrace diversity, being open to new ideas and the ability to learn quickly in a very dynamic environment.

What is the typical career path in your industry?
The communications industry is one of the most dynamic, with convergence of the wired and wireless worlds and rapid technological advances, which means that career paths can go in many directions -- there is no typical path.

What is the best part of your job?
I enjoy attending communications industry exhibitions and shows where I learn a lot about the industry, our customers and competitors, in addition to using the opportunity to gather crucial information for my role. In addition I enjoy working on daily basis with project teams and key account managers from all across Europe, the Middle East and Africa to provide them with information that can make a significant impact on their customer bids.

What is your least favourite part of your job?
I spend a lot of time at my desk, but prefer it when I can be out meeting new people both within and outside of the organisation.

How relevant is your education to what you are doing today?
It's very relevant, especially in relation to working with people across different cultures and motivating them to cooperate, particularly in an environment of constant deadline pressure. Marketing and strategic thinking helps me when creating analysis and then developing presentations to deliver to the sales teams. Of course fluent English is crucial and German language skills are beneficial as well.

Can you offer any advice to graduates seeking a career in your industry?
Having an interest and passion about the industry you are going to work in, as it has a big impact on your work and working environment.

What is something unusual that people might not know?
Motorola has been a leader in the communications industry for over 75 years -- we made the first ever mobile phone and also provided communications for the first ever moon landing, enabling those famous words to be heard back on earth!

What is your best perk?
I have the flexibility of working from home, which reflects Motorola's vision of Seamless Mobility, with the ability to get information whenever and wherever I need. This allows me the flexibility to ensure I can spend enough time with my family -- a good work-life