Karmlin Naidoo hails from South Africa, with a background in accounting. Before joining the Group, he honed his skills to combine both the software and financial aspects, which became a huge asset in his own work and that of his colleagues. Enter Richemont.
At that time, South African Richemont subsidiary, RLG Africa, was in the midst of several integration and project solutions. Karmlin had just the profile they needed. And so his journey with the Group began as IT Manager, where he acquired additional technical knowledge through the many Group Information Security standardization initiatives. “During the AS400 (NSI/IRIS)/ SAP Easy integration, I sharpened my project management skills while learning from subject matter experts. I learnt a few SAP FICO & BI skills.” The experience readied him to spread his wings – which he did! Karmlin applied and was accepted to join the prominent EAS Team based at the Campus de Haute Horlogerie in Geneva, Switzerland.
The opportunity was life changing…
“I had never been outside of South Africa before working for Richemont. My first international travel was courtesy of the Group, in the form of an IT seminar. Seeing a world outside the borders of South Africa ignited the hunger to immigrate. The international exposure to people, the countries and cultures helped the world become smaller and accessible. The corporate professionals and unique personalities, encompassed with well-structured policies encouraged me to integrate seamlessly into the Richemont way.”
With so much learning and development along the way…
“Time management, multitasking, learning while teaching, are but a few of the skills I’ve acquired thanks to my career with Richemont – skills that cannot be studied but rather obtained through experience. To be honest, I am learning something new everyday, especially now that I am focusing on Business Intelligence (BI), which touches every part of the business, so exposure to a variety of professions is inevitable.”
And a deep appreciation for the multi-cultural vibe!
“The Group’s encyclopaedia of diversity is one of its key strengths. Here, one can find countries hosting multi-lingual employees. Whether you speak French in Hong Kong, German in the US, or Spanish in Geneva, you will most definitely find someone who speaks the same as you. International standards to learn from promote efficiency in a daily structured environment. The fast paced atmosphere driven by the latest technology keeps you abreast so you never fall behind. Harnessing these examples are always impressive to witness in the Group.”
But of course, with every hero’s journey, comes the inevitable challenges…
“Let’s say I almost did not make it to Switzerland! Geneva Immigration issued a letter of invitation for my work permit which subsequently expired. This resulted in the Swiss embassy in South Africa rejecting my travel visa two days prior to my flight. The immediate action taken by Hannah Pace, Marietta Lentz and the European HR teams, seamlessly resolved the situation! The Swiss embassy of South Africa is still confounded by how we managed this almost impossible task. Thank you team for your collaboration, as since this day I believe in miracles!”
Being able to overcome them, though, leads to invaluable personal growth…
“Being eight years within the Group has most definitely matured my way of living and thinking. Personally and professionally speaking, I now take strategical decisions considering long term impacts. I acquired this thanks to planning knowledge I have been exposed to while in the Group. Patience and consideration for other cultures, while learning new languages is part of the Richemont way. Following this etiquette improves one’s long-term personality.”
And when we grow, so does our contribution to the Group…
“During my time in South Africa, I contributed to many local and international projects. Some of which involved connectivity and technological enhancements while standardising with Group initiatives. I helped implement efficient approaches to daily tasks while targeting automation of functional responsibilities. I strive for effective solutions that save time and increase service levels. Overall, my continuous efforts to supply convenient, effective yet innovative solutions is the goal I aim to achieve.”
Ready to set your own goals within the Group? careers.richemont.com