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I joined Siemens, Munich, at the age of 17 on a commercial management sandwich course. I moved up in this area for eight years, with the dream of working abroad. It just happened when my final job at Siemens was to do with Asia. I spent two months at a factory in Singapore optimising semi-conductor inventory management. Nit-picking work!

When I joined Thales in Langen in 2000, it was to continue my career in international business. For two years I held a wide-ranging job in the commercial management of international programmes. When the chance arose to work in France, I jumped at it. I didn't speak much French, but it was an opportunity to discover another country. So I changed jobs and became a contract manager. Moving abroad, learning a new job and a new language is hard, but a real challenge.

The first few months were difficult, but then I found my place in the team, which made it easier to integrate. I have gradually learnt to work independently. Not least, I have discovered France, a country almost as exotic as Singapore!