Behind the Scenes: Project Management @ Siemens

In this episode, we are thrilled to welcome Perihan Abouzahra, the Chief Financial Officer of SMO UAE. With an impressive background that includes serving as the Commercial Project Manager for the Egypt High-Speed Project, Perihan brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the table. We’ll explore her journey in the financial sector, the challenges and triumphs she faced while managing large-scale projects, and the strategic insights she gained from navigating complex deals. Join us as we gain valuable perspectives from Perihan on what it takes to succeed in high-stakes environments. Stay tuned for an engaging conversation filled with insights, lessons learned, and a glimpse into the future of project management in the region!

In this episode, our guest is Gernot Taucher; an IT Project Manager from Siemens Advanta. He loves to work with different people and cultures to form a team that can get over the challenges during an IT project. During his 25 years career at Siemens he experienced a journey from starting as a developer and business consultant to work as Sales and Project Manager.Gernot still enjoys working in the IT sphere with various Siemens division helping Siemens customers to overcome their digital transformation challenges.

In this new episode, we have the pleasure of hosting Eelko Wapenaar, an experienced Senior Commercial Project Manager specializing in the dynamic field of Smart Infrastructure Electrification & Automation within the datacenter industry. Eelko emphasizes the critical role of teamwork in ensuring the success of project executions, a perspective particularly crucial for Commercial Project Managers (CPMs). With an impressive 15-year track record in project management, Eelko's wealth of experience has recently propelled him into the role of 'Team Lead CPM,' where his focus lies on coaching and training colleagues. Join us as we delve into Eelko's insights and valuable lessons from his journey in project execution and leadership.

In this exciting episode, we are joined by Frank Grunert, an experienced professional who has not only excelled as the General Manager and the Global Head of Grid Control at Siemens but has also been serving as a key member of the Project Business Excellence Board. Frank's impressive Siemens journey began back in 2006 when he embarked on a career in project management. With a rich history of managing complex solution businesses and delivering vital infrastructure projects on a global scale, Frank's transformation from entrepreneur, consultant, and freelancer to his current role as a General Manager and Board Member is a remarkable and inspiring tale that promises valuable insights.

In this episode, our guest is Adrián Barcia; a Senior Project Manager within the Automotive segment at Digital Industries in Spain. His passion for problem-solving, thirst for knowledge, and multicultural perspective have propelled him to a fast track development.After over 8 years in project management, Adrian’s enthusiasm, optimism, and appetite for tackling more complex projects are what keep him moving.

In this episode, our guest is Dincer Gecer; a Senior Project Manager from Siemens Mobility. He started working for Siemens Turkey as a Site Engineer about 15 years ago and took a further step in his career with every new project he has been assigned to. After his career in Turkey, he had been delegated to Thailand and India for different adventures and now acting as an Offshore Project Manager for the projects all around the world for Siemens Mobility Germany. Beside his Project Management certifications by well-known organizations, he is also interested in the development of soft skills, especially intercultural aspects for the success in managing international teams. After several projects, he calls what he does not a job, but a daily “hobby” which he is paid to do.

In this episode, our guest is Vanesa Alvarez Perez; this time, a Commercial Project Manager from Siemens Smart Infrastructure, based in Frankfurt. Since joining the company 20 years ago, Vanesa has experienced several projects in different locations within Germany as well as in the United Arab Emirates and Oman. An eye for detail and a knack for Stakeholder Management, Vanesa leverages these skills to help guide her projects towards a success for both the Customer and for Siemens.

In this episode, our guest is Erin Perry; a Senior Project Manager from Advanta Siemens with a Project Management Professional (PMP) certification. Erin is an experienced Project Manager, a strong program and project management professional with a demonstrated history of working in the energy services industry and experienced with Federal, Municipal, School District, as well as Private clients.

In this episode, our guest is Shobhit Rajput. He is a combination of cool, polite & passionate about new challenges. Certified Senior Project Manager from Siemens with 23 years of Project Management experience in different sectors & technologies and executed projects in different geographical locations having different cultures. He is passionate about traveling and has traveled from one continent to another. He is currently executing various FACTS Projects within India.

In this episode, our guest is Lena Thiel; a young and passionate Bid Project Manager within the Rolling Stock Metro segment at Siemens Mobility.Her passion for Project Management started as a working student, where she had the chance to get deep insights into the project business. Since then she is pursuing to gain more experience in Project Management by taking over different roles i.e. Project Procurement Manager, Sub PM, Bid PM. Right now she is looking into Project Management from another perspective and make her first steps into an agile environment.

In this episode, our guest is Guillaume Derre; a versatile, very enthusiastic and successful Senior Project Manager with a wealth of technical, commercial and soft skills acquired across a range of demanding roles in various countries.With over 15 years’ experience in Project Management within challenging sectors, he is currently supporting Network Rail to transform and digitalize the railways in the United Kingdom.

In this episode, our guest is Yonggang Ying; a combination of calm and passionate, a combination of experience in various industries and multi-culture. He is a certified Project Director in Siemens, equivalent external certificate IPMA® Level A – Certified Project Director.