Development Made Real through Cross-Functional Growth

Written in collaboration with Chaiyatorn Kositsornwanee, and the employer brand team

Often times, you see careers grow along a linear, predictable trajectory, but at Hilti, our employees are encouraged to be curious, courageous, and willing to stretch beyond what they already know.

We give our people the training, mentorship, and opportunities to pursue cross-functional growth because we know development can happen more than just vertically.

Chaiyatorn Kositsornwanee is the embodiment of cross-functional development, starting with the company as a Field Engineer and eventually becoming the Head of Marketing for Hilti Thailand.

His journey exemplifies how Hilti empowers people to explore new paths and extend themselves beyond what they thought was possible.

Discovering a New Side of Engineering

Prior to his time at Hilti, Chaiyatorn's background was firmly rooted in civil engineering. He earned his master's degree in structural design and began his career in the construction and oil and gas industries. He found the work sufficiently challenging, but something was missing.

I realized I was spending most of my time behind a computer,” he recalled.

I wanted to be out in the field, talking to people, understanding how things actually work.

So, he made a change.

He applied for a sales role at Hilti, but during the interview process, the recruitment team saw something different in him. He had a technical mind and strong communication skills, so they suggested he start as a Field Engineer.

As a Field Engineer, I learned that engineering isn’t only about calculations. It’s really about people, understanding their challenges and helping them solve problems.

Working directly with customers and consultants gave him new energy and a new sense of purpose.

That experience made him realize that technical expertise alone wasn't enough. He wanted to understand the bigger picture of how Hilti’s solutions reach and impact customers.

A Leap into Marketing: Guided by Curiosity

After 9 months in field engineering, Chaiyatorn was ready for another challenge. He wanted to understand how products were positioned and how technical expertise could help shape the customer experience.

That curiosity led him to a new role as Product Manager, his first step into marketing.

 

"I wanted to go beyond the blueprint to learn how products reach customers and how we can help them do their jobs better," he said.

The company's development planning process encourages employees to talk openly with their leaders about long-term growth and to explore different functions.

Hilti doesn’t look only at what you studied or what experience you already have. They see your potential and help you develop toward it.

The move required him to learn fast, diving into new disciplines like market analysis, strategy, and product lifecycle management, but with support from his manager and mentors, Chaiyatorn was able to find quick success.

Expanding Horizons: Regional Experience in Singapore

After several years in product management in Thailand, Chaiyatorn took a leap and accepted an international role as Regional Product Manager in Singapore.

The position expanded his scope to cover nine markets across Southeast Asia, India, Australia, and New Zealand.

Working in that diverse atmosphere made me more open-minded and dynamic. I learned to listen more closely and see things from different perspectives.

In Singapore, where he worked with colleagues from more than 20 nationalities, cross-cultural collaboration and adaptability were essential.

He navigated challenges ranging from differences in communication styles to variable market maturity. The experience strengthened his leadership skills and emphasized the value of flexibility and empathy in a global organization.

He learned to balance global strategies with local realities, tailoring approaches for each market while staying aligned with Hilti's core values.

Bringing it Home: Leading with Both Head and Heart

When the opportunity arose to return to Thailand, it felt like the perfect next chapter: a chance to bring everything he'd learned abroad back to where his journey began.

Today, as Head of Marketing, he leads with both technical insight and strategic vision, drawing on his learnings from the developmental opportunities he’s been presented.

My cross-functional journey taught me to value every perspective, from the engineer in the field to the marketer shaping the message.

That balance allows him to lead teams that think broadly and act collaboratively. He encourages engineers to learn about business and marketers to understand the technical details behind the products they promote.

"It's all connected," he added. "When people understand each other's roles, they can create more value together."

Paying it Forward: Developing the Next Generation

Having benefited from Hilti's development culture himself, Chaiyatorn has committed himself to helping others experience the same.

He spends much of his time mentoring new employees, encouraging them to explore opportunities beyond their current roles (or even fields!).

Now that I’m in a leadership role, I want people here in Thailand to have the same chance I had to go beyond what they studied and discover what they can become.

That means giving people the freedom and guidance to try new things, take risks, and learn through experience, the same principles that drove his own development.

A Culture that Makes Growth Real

Chaiyatorn's story reflects the broader culture at Hilti, where growth is not only possible but actively supported.

 

From training programs and mentoring to structured development plans, Hilti provides the foundation. But it's the people, their desire to stretch themselves and to learn from others who have done it before them that make development real.

Hilti has it all. From training programs, supportive leaders, and a culture that truly believes in developing people, but at the end of the day, it’s up to each of us to take that first step.

From civil engineer to Head of Marketing, from fieldwork to strategy, Chaiyatorn's path is a testament to the power of cross-functional development.

As he sums up his experience with a grin, Chaiyatorn says, "It's been 'dee mak'. It means 'awesome'”.