Priscilla Hu – Marketing Manager, Porsche Centre Guangzhou Tianhe, Jebsen Motors
One common trait in the successful people I most admire is a love of challenges. It is a trait that I believe I have, and that I have been developing throughout my career. As a Jebsen employee, I am very lucky that my tendency to seek out challenges has been given the opportunity to shine.
My journey with Jebsen began seven years ago in the Group Corporate Communications Department. I managed the Group’s public relationship and reputation through running communication programmes for external parties like the media and community, or internally with employees around the region. As you can imagine, a role like that gave me an invaluable opportunity to connect with colleagues from all areas within Jebsen. Working day-to-day to devise both Group and business unit-level communication strategies, I was able to enrich my relationships with team members across functions and learn about the different parts of the business. I was in a uniquely advantageous position which both piqued my interest in, and prepared me for later transferring to, the Motors business unit.
Since I have always loved new challenges and enjoyed experiencing life in different places, I jumped at the chance one year ago to transfer to Jebsen Motors, where a vacancy had opened up for a Marketing Manager for the two Porsche Centres in Futian and Longgang in Shenzhen. I relocated to Shenzhen, where I was tasked with developing and executing marketing plans with a team to enhance Jebsen-Porsche’s market share and reputation in the local market.
As I settled into the new role, I realised that while my courage in the face of challenges got me where I was, I needed to sharpen my skills more if I wanted to survive the transition. There was a lot on my plate that needed doing, and fast. I had to adapt to a brand new scope of work and a new environment; I needed to learn about the local market situation; I had to develop marketing strategies to meet the needs of the manufacturer and the new car sales and aftersales teams. On top of that, I had a new team to lead. In that situation, a love for challenges was not enough. I needed to embrace them.
I resolved to take on a learning attitude, keep an open mind, and embolden myself to welcome change. I learned all I can about the brand and the local market from my wonderfully supportive colleagues. Hands-on practice helped, too: In late 2016, my team and I led the first-ever official Porsche sponsorship of the Shenzhen Longgang Half Marathon 2016. Over the 6-month project, we successfully delivered a full series of Porsche cars to the race as event working cars, engaged clients and employees, and drove quality media coverage that gave the Porsche brand reputation a boost, in particularly for the Porsche Centre Shenzhen Longgang of only one year into its operation at that time. This sponsorship project also won the best practice in the Marketing Excellence Award in Q4 2016, for the Region South of Porsche China. It was challenging, but this type of stimulating work was exactly what I was looking for.
One year into the new role, I am happy to say that not only did I survive, I thrived, and continue to do so.
The decision to transfer has been a win for my career, as it has given me a wider perspective, the opportunity for continuous learning, the push to keep my work performance on par with my excellent colleagues, and the confidence to continue developing my career journey. I have full faith that my role will continue to challenge me and offer opportunities to polish my existing strengths, or even acquire new ones!