Pioneering with Giordana: fail fast, learn faster
From flying around the world as a stewardess to becoming a technological innovation project manager at KLM; in 17 years Giordana Mendola has seen many places both in the world and within KLM. According to Giordana, this is a matter of luck, seizing opportunities and knowing the right people. The numerous opportunities for growth within KLM certainly help, but you have to do the work yourself!
Pioneering with Giordana: fail fast, learn faster
From flying around the world as a stewardess to becoming a technological innovation project manager at KLM; in 17 years Giordana Mendola has seen many places both in the world and within KLM. According to Giordana, this is a matter of luck, seizing opportunities and knowing the right people. The numerous opportunities for growth within KLM certainly help, but you have to do the work yourself!
Above all, her ambition and curiosity have been the powerful driving force behind her career at KLM. After studying European Studies with a strong marketing component, I chose to become a stewardess, it was a great time! My then unit manager had completed the same study, and there was a good click. The question "what else would you like to do?" came up regularly. A secondary function in Marketing/Communication within Inflight Services fitted in perfectly with the studies I had completed. My unit manager and the hiring manager in question thought the same. This is how started at the 'ground organization' of KLM and quickly built up a professional network. In such a large organization where you both work on projects as well as working in a multidisciplinary team, you get to know lots of people very quickly.
Above all, her ambition and curiosity have been the powerful driving force behind her career at KLM. After studying European Studies with a strong marketing component, I chose to become a stewardess, it was a great time! My then unit manager had completed the same study, and there was a good click. The question "what else would you like to do?" came up regularly. A secondary function in Marketing/Communication within Inflight Services fitted in perfectly with the studies I had completed. My unit manager and the hiring manager in question thought the same. This is how started at the 'ground organization' of KLM and quickly built up a professional network. In such a large organization where you both work on projects as well as working in a multidisciplinary team, you get to know lots of people very quickly.
Out of the comfort zone
Giordana's background, the combination of her studies and the flying experience came in handy for her next career steps. As the Marketing Communications Manager at Global Corporate Sales Air France, KLM & Martinair Cargo, the customer was central. The first digital experiences at Cargo aroused Giordana's curiosity. Through previous roles, I had built up my backpack of experience. I felt the need to step out of my comfort zone and learn new things; daring to make that known and networking, provided new opportunities.
New world
Nowadays, we don’t know any differently, but nine years ago 'digital' was a whole new world in which so much still had to be discovered. For Giordana, it was great to be involved in a technology that was still in its infancy. The roles of UX manager, product owner, and product manager at Digital/Commercial were my digital learning experience. Building bridges, managing teams, working according to the design-thinking methods, product development, digital strategy, Agile, SAFe, optimizing customer experience, making processes more intelligent... So much potential: wonderful!
New world
Nowadays, we don’t know any differently, but nine years ago 'digital' was a whole new world in which so much still had to be discovered. For Giordana, it was great to be involved in a technology that was still in its infancy. The roles of UX manager, product owner, and product manager at Digital/Commercial were my digital learning experience. Building bridges, managing teams, working according to the design-thinking methods, product development, digital strategy, Agile, SAFe, optimizing customer experience, making processes more intelligent... So much potential: wonderful!
Adding value
I like a result and data driven approach, and there is plenty of that in the digital domain. Working towards concrete goals and creating value for KLM. How do we see our KLM in the future? Everything I love comes together in BlueLabs, the department I have been part of for four months now. It is the next step after years of focusing on digitalization. I'm now going the extra mile and out of my comfort zone to take on the next challenge: how can we use existing technologies from outside KLM to add value within KLM? I am talking about themes such as "working more efficiently", "empowering our colleagues", "optimizing customer satisfaction" and "making your processes more intelligent".
Adding value
I like a result and data driven approach, and there is plenty of that in the digital domain. Working towards concrete goals and creating value for KLM. How do we see our KLM in the future? Everything I love comes together in BlueLabs, the department I have been part of for four months now. It is the next step after years of focusing on digitalization. I'm now going the extra mile and out of my comfort zone to take on the next challenge: how can we use existing technologies from outside KLM to add value within KLM? I am talking about themes such as "working more efficiently", "empowering our colleagues", "optimizing customer satisfaction" and "making your processes more intelligent"
Experiment
Building this from scratch, together with the business and in line with existing initiatives is truly a fantastic challenge! BlueLabs tries to bring technologies from the outside in. Through trend watching, partnerships and by setting up so-called 'labs'. We continuously test these labs for investment and focus on joint experimentation. The ultimate goal is to implement the technology together with and in the business. Look at the COVID pandemic for example, it has accelerated hybrid working and this will continue. How can we at KLM continue to offer a pleasant working environment in this context? How can we simulate certain processes in advance? Collect data, learn, and only then launch; and which advanced technologies can help us to work more efficiently?
Experiment
Building this from scratch, together with the business and in line with existing initiatives is truly a fantastic challenge! BlueLabs tries to bring technologies from the outside in. Through trend watching, partnerships and by setting up so-called 'labs'. We continuously test these labs for investment and focus on joint experimentation. The ultimate goal is to implement the technology together with and in the business. Look at the COVID pandemic for example, it has accelerated hybrid working and this will continue. How can we at KLM continue to offer a pleasant working environment in this context? How can we simulate certain processes in advance? Collect data, learn, and only then launch; and which advanced technologies can help us to work more efficiently?
Fail fast, learn faster
And there is so much more. The metaverse, IoT, VR, augmented reality, robotics... All kinds of things are happening around us, and KLM has to make choices as well as maintain our position as an attractive employer. We are an airline company and cannot be experts in everything; and so the success of innovation and growth lies in cooperating with universities, partners in the field of technology, and exchanging knowledge with other corporate companies. There are plenty of opportunities within the company. I feel proud, proud that from now on I can focus on these opportunities. If you asked me 17 years ago, I would never have thought that I would end up here. Experimenting does not always mean that you will succeed; failure and making choices is part of it. So I just think: fail fast, learn faster!
Fail fast, learn faster
And there is so much more. The metaverse, IoT, VR, augmented reality, robotics... All kinds of things are happening around us, and KLM has to make choices as well as maintain our position as an attractive employer. We are an airline company and cannot be experts in everything; and so the success of innovation and growth lies in cooperating with universities, partners in the field of technology, and exchanging knowledge with other corporate companies. There are plenty of opportunities within the company. I feel proud, proud that from now on I can focus on these opportunities. If you asked me 17 years ago, I would never have thought that I would end up here. Experimenting does not always mean that you will succeed; failure and making choices is part of it. So I just think: fail fast, learn faster!