From Rotation to Real Impact: Tora's Learning Journey at Hilti
Written by Tora, Financial Planning & Analysis X, and the North Asia employer brand team
“I believe Hilti offers an environment that not only sharpens your professional skills but also cultivates a strong field sense and a broad, strategic perspective—an experience that’s truly rare to find elsewhere.”
I joined Hilti Japan as a Management Associate in 2022. Over the past two and a half years, I’ve rotated across multiple departments as part of this development program—starting in Finance, then moving into Sales for a year, followed by a year in Marketing.
What makes the Management Associate Program—and Hilti as a whole—so unique is the emphasis on continuous, long-term development. The company provides a wide range of learning opportunities to help us strengthen soft skills, build an international mindset, and understand the business from multiple perspectives.
Development Programs That Shaped My Growth
Since joining Hilti, I’ve had the chance to participate in several impactful talent development programs. Three in particular stand out: Sales Competency Program (also known as WIN), Early Talent Forum, and Team Camp.
Sales Competency Program: Building Confidence for Sales Experience
When I first joined, I had no background in sales and limited product knowledge. Through the WIN sales program, I not only learned the fundamentals of our products and services but also how to engage in consultative selling.
The program encouraged active interaction and hands-on practices. One of the most valuable lessons came from a piece of advice shared by experienced colleagues: “Dare to ask.” That mindset helped me avoid misunderstandings and encouraged me to ask questions openly. As a result, I learned a great deal from different people and gradually built confidence in the field.
Early Talent Forum: Gaining International Perspective and Communication Skills
The program brought together young talents from across North Asia at our Hilti Shanghai Plant and Hilti China office. It was designed to deepen our understanding of Hilti’s value chain, foster cross-border connections, enhance communication skills, and inspire us through career stories from senior leaders. It was also my first overseas business trip.
Over four days, I immersed myself in a new cultural environment. Through non-verbal communication training, team-building activities, and mini-projects, I experienced the power of cross-cultural collaboration.
What left the biggest impression on me was the time spent with colleagues from other countries—not just in formal sessions, but in everyday conversations where we built genuine trust and lasting relationships.
Team Camp: Understanding Myself and Others
I participated in Team Camp—a training focused on Hilti’s core values, personal growth, and team collaboration—from both Sales and Marketing perspectives. Interestingly, although we explored the same theme, the approaches and time management styles differed significantly between the two teams.
This experience helped me understand how different functions think and operate. It also shaped how I communicate today: when speaking with Sales, I focus on practical business impact; with Marketing, I emphasize data-driven insights. This ability to shift perspectives has been invaluable when managing diverse stakeholders.
Under the theme “Change to Grow,” I also reflected deeply on what might be holding me back from taking the next career step. It helped me clarify both my strengths and areas for growth.
Development Made Real: How Learning Shaped My Career at Hilti
Today, I have landed as part of the Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A) team—a role I proactively pursued. It turned out to be a perfect fit, allowing me to leverage my data-driven mindset while drawing on the sales experience, business exposure, and communication skills I gained through the development programs. In this role, I support strategic business development by providing financial insights—such as how certain initiatives may impact profitability or employee retention.
Even now, in a back-office role, I constantly consider how the field would perceive our decisions and how best to communicate with them. These instincts were shaped by the learning journey I experienced through the Management Associate Program and Hilti’s broader development opportunities.
This isn’t just theoretical knowledge—it’s something I’ve lived. That’s why I can now make more grounded, field-oriented proposals. Hilti doesn’t just sharpen your professional skills—it nurtures a deep understanding of the field and a broad, strategic perspective. And that’s an experience that’s truly hard to find elsewhere.
Interested in growing with us? Find out more about the Management Associate program here.
