With a continuous mission to deliver professional and personal growth opportunities in the company, .msg Excellence Program, has its special place. Each year, a limited number of employees from around the world are selected to participate in intense training that will help them reach a new level in their careers. Dana Crișan, Unit Manager in the Automotive department, is the only employee from .msg Romania selected for one of this year’s editions. The results are very satisfying after 10 months of study with 12 other colleagues from 7 different countries. Let’s dive into them!
Besides investing time in courses and 1:1 coaching, Dana Crișan had the opportunity to work on a strategic project called “Promoting women constantly in the system”. This project, part of .msg group’s actions toward diversity, advocates gender equality and equal work opportunities. Dana and her colleagues have created a methodology for promoting women and their careers used as the basis for future team development efforts.
After reflecting upon this experience, Dana says that the .msg Excellence Program was very intense and full of satisfaction, a journey that motivated her personal & professional growth. The program offered her the perfect environment to refine her communication skills. She learned how to leverage her strengths and worked closely with a group of women who were all active in different areas. Dana emphasized that the program’s focus on diversity, especially in a group only with women, created a supportive and safe atmosphere where all participants could freely express their ideas and learn from each other’s perspectives.
Lessons learned from .msg Excellence Program
To dedicate almost one year to such an experience is definitely not an easy road. Challenges were part of the journey. Most came when Dana had to balance her day-to-day tasks with those she had to deliver for the program. There were times when the .msg Excellence Program’s deadlines met the busy season, and she had to do overtime and sometimes work during the weekends. Despite this, Dana sees the effort as an investment in her growth and says that „the sacrifice” was worth it as she developed skills and valuable perspectives.
One of the most important lessons learned was the value and power of self-confidence and the importance of knowing your strengths. She learned to be aware of her abilities and use them strategically to reach her goals, an accomplishment that reinforced her professional resilience. Moreover, the experience strengthened her belief in how important it is to work with a diverse team and that networking opens the door to new opportunities and perspectives. Working next to 12 colleagues from Germany offered Dana a unique view and understanding of international leadership and broadened her perspective on the role of women in management and leadership.
Among other achievements, Dana is proud of her improved communication skills. She remembers one moment when she had to present the team’s project in front of a council – no easy task, which brought more stress every day approaching the deadline. Due to the intensive communication practice over the program, Dana learned to structure her ideas, deliver impactful messages, and regulate her emotions. Now, she is ready and confident to present to an audience, even in more demanding conditions.
A future investment
In the long run, Dana intends to apply her lessons to become more efficient and help her colleagues discover their strong points to maximize their potential. Her professional ambitions stay centered on gaining more experience and experitise in management and leadership roles at .msg Romania.
Good luck, Dana!