Veronica Rahneberg is the Sales Director at Fujitsu Ireland, the local arm of the Japanese ICT company. Her role involves delivering business growth for Fujitsu’s Ireland operation and representing sales on the Ireland management team. She also works on sales strategy for Fujitsu Europe.
What was your first job?
My first job was working in a local shop in Rathfarnham. It was a great first step into gaining work skills and I enjoyed the sense of independence which came from earning money for myself.
What pushed you to pursue a career in this field?
A major influence on my early life was a teacher called Mrs O’Neill, who taught me physics in secondary school. She instilled in me a sense of curiosity about science and the practicalities of how things work.
Curiosity also led me to self-finance a session with a guidance counsellor from the money I earned working in the shop. After the assessment, she recommended that I consider a degree in computer science. I investigated it, found it interesting and ended up studying it for my undergraduate degree at DCU.
Between my love of science, and my degree, entering the tech industry was a no brainer. I’ve been lucky to wear many hats and gain true insights into how global organisations function both in my role in a start up and then in the Global multinational which is Fujitsu. Without such varied experience I wouldn’t have gained an appreciation for how vital sales and marketing is to the strategic success of a business.
What would you regard as your greatest achievement to date?
When I look back at my career, one of the biggest leaps I took was taking on a global account director role about ten years ago. I had never managed a global team before that point, it was exciting but at the same time daunting. Thankfully it worked out for the best and I learnt an immeasurable amount.
More recently, my biggest achievement was completing an MBA at Trinity College and becoming a part time adjunct teaching fellow. I believe in the power of life-long learning and feel it’s been central to my success over the years.
Career wise, would you do anything differently?
I love my job and can’t say I have any career regrets. If I were to have pursued a different path altogether it would have been sports psychology. I’m lucky to have participated in many marathons over the years. I imagine coaching and supporting others in a competitive environment would have many similarities to what I do now with my team at Fujitsu Ireland.
In one sentence, how would you define success?
Empowering my colleagues by striving to create a culture that is supportive.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
I’ve been lucky to have received tons of good advice from family, colleagues and friends over the years. The most important piece of advice I ever received, however, is to trust yourself.
How do you motivate yourself and your staff?
By aspiring to embody the Fujitsu Ireland cultural values of supportiveness, fairness, and empowerment and celebrating wins. I want my team to know that these are the values I stand by each day and that I hold myself accountable to them.
It is also useful to have a common purpose. By setting a common goal, it creates a culture where each member knows that their contribution is valued. The trick is to remain positive and ensure that goals are achievable and measurable.
How do you handle adversity?
Managing stress is very important. As a director, I think things become much less stressful when you strive to resolve persistent issues quickly, so they don’t linger and become an obstacle to your team reaching their potential.
How do you relax?
I love being active and try to participate in marathons where I can. I’ve just returned from completing the Boston Marathon on 17th April Patriots Day where I achieved my 6 World Majors Medal (completing the 6 biggest World Marathons). When I’m not busy on my feet, there’s nothing I love more than reading a great book. Currently I’m reading The Six Types of Working Genius by Lencioni (an easy read!).
What are your aspirations for the future of the business?
I’d like to see Fujitsu continue to grow based on our values and delighting our customers. Helping our customers achieve their business goals by building trust in society through innovation is the ultimate litmus test.
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