Meet three dynamic women who help make Victorinox successful
The women within the Victorinox team are an important part of what drives us all. They contribute their spirit, they master the broad dimensions of the company, they have global influence on the popularity of our brand around the world. Here are just three of the women who provide Victorinox with the energy to achieve our goals.
Strength & Power: Apprentice Cutler Karin Ulrich
Karin has always been happiest when she’s doing a job that’s creative and physically demanding, where she can see a result at the end of the day. Growing up on a local farm, hard work comes naturally to her. Which is why she’s perfect as one of our two cutler apprentices – who both happen to be women. When she graduates, Karin will be a master cutler, an expert in the whole process of making knives.
For her final exam, Karin is making a replica of the first Victorinox farmer’s pocket knife from the turn of the 20th century. All by hand, every single multifunctional part, from steel blades and springs to the wooden scales. It will literally be her masterpiece.
Why take so long to learn to make something manually, when it’s much quicker by machine? “Because tradition is important,” says Karin. “We need to remember and understand how things are made by hand. I value the work and craftsmanship that goes into a knife and have a lot of respect for it.”
Since it is International Women’s Day: Does she feel being a woman is an asset in the factory? “That’s not really an issue,” Karin says. “All you need to be is committed to your work, to like the physicality and pull your own weight.”
There are fewer and fewer cutlers in Switzerland. This is why it’s important to us that this apprenticeship remains on offer at Victorinox. It’s the job that started the company, this exceptional expertise where our tradition began, and it has taken us so far in the last 138 years. Thanks to talented apprentices like Karin Ulrich, we can make sure the tradition continues.
For her final exam, Karin is making a replica of the first Victorinox farmer’s pocket knife from the turn of the 20th century. All by hand, every single multifunctional part, from steel blades and springs to the wooden scales. It will literally be her masterpiece.
Why take so long to learn to make something manually, when it’s much quicker by machine? “Because tradition is important,” says Karin. “We need to remember and understand how things are made by hand. I value the work and craftsmanship that goes into a knife and have a lot of respect for it.”
Since it is International Women’s Day: Does she feel being a woman is an asset in the factory? “That’s not really an issue,” Karin says. “All you need to be is committed to your work, to like the physicality and pull your own weight.”
There are fewer and fewer cutlers in Switzerland. This is why it’s important to us that this apprenticeship remains on offer at Victorinox. It’s the job that started the company, this exceptional expertise where our tradition began, and it has taken us so far in the last 138 years. Thanks to talented apprentices like Karin Ulrich, we can make sure the tradition continues.
Dimensions of the Company: Vice President of Corporate
Markets in North America Annette Jensen
Annette has been with Victorinox for over 25 years. She is responsible for a team that is so devoted that they nominated her as one of Promotional Products Association International’s “10 Best Bosses” in the industry – an award that she won. Her reaction? “It was an honor to be recognized. My team has a shared passion for what we do and similarly, we share our successes.”
We asked her position on leadership. “While my role on the team is to set direction, a good leader embraces the unique experience each team member brings to the table. I listen to and trust my people to guide that direction. We all have an opportunity to inspire one another to reach for more – and personal knowledge can be that springboard. Within the corporate gifts workplace, women are in the majority, perhaps because we have a good understanding of what we want, but also what makes everyone happy. Over the years I’ve worked together with the whole team to incorporate that knowledge, to refine our sense for choosing that gift which hits the right spot for all kinds of people.”
While we’ve got her: Does she have a favorite among all the Victorinox products? She laughs. “27 years ago, I wasn’t thinking I would ever need a Swiss Army Knife. Now I can’t imagine being without one. I’ve kept one with me since the day I started at Victorinox and only use its tweezers instead of regular ones.”
“Victorinox is an amazing company to work for,” Annette adds. “It has built its success on integrity.”
We asked her position on leadership. “While my role on the team is to set direction, a good leader embraces the unique experience each team member brings to the table. I listen to and trust my people to guide that direction. We all have an opportunity to inspire one another to reach for more – and personal knowledge can be that springboard. Within the corporate gifts workplace, women are in the majority, perhaps because we have a good understanding of what we want, but also what makes everyone happy. Over the years I’ve worked together with the whole team to incorporate that knowledge, to refine our sense for choosing that gift which hits the right spot for all kinds of people.”
While we’ve got her: Does she have a favorite among all the Victorinox products? She laughs. “27 years ago, I wasn’t thinking I would ever need a Swiss Army Knife. Now I can’t imagine being without one. I’ve kept one with me since the day I started at Victorinox and only use its tweezers instead of regular ones.”
“Victorinox is an amazing company to work for,” Annette adds. “It has built its success on integrity.”
Rayonnement mondial : La directrice générale du marketing, Veronika Elsener
Veronika Elsener a occupé différents postes dans l’entreprise pendant plus de 25 ans. Depuis 2009, date à laquelle la fabrication était encore au centre de toutes les attentions, elle pilote le développement de la gestion de la marque et, en tant que directrice du marketing, elle est responsable de la communication globale de la marque.
Nous avons demandé à Mme Elsener ce que la Journée internationale des droits des femmes signifiait pour elle, en tant que membre de la famille fondatrice de Victorinox. « Une telle journée attire l’attention sur le fait que les femmes peuvent contribuer de façon importante au développement de la société. Grâce à nos atouts et à notre capacité à considérer les choses dans leur ensemble, nous apportons une contribution particulière. » Et quels sont les atouts qui l’ont aidée dans son parcours ? « Mon amour pour la créativité, une saine curiosité, la capacité à trouver du plaisir dans l’apprentissage et la volonté d’essayer de nouvelles choses ont certainement été des atouts dans ce monde en constante évolution. »
Quel avenir Veronika Elsener espère-t-elle pour ses filles ? « Il me paraît important d’enseigner tout ce que je peux à mes enfants. Mais au bout du compte, le choix leur reviendra. Les femmes peuvent emprunter différentes voies. Pas toutes en même temps bien sûr… il faut penser en termes de phases, être flexible et ouverte d’esprit. Mais une chose est sûre : elles ont assurément plus d’options aujourd’hui. » Être courageuse et vivre de nouvelles expériences est important dans la vie. Essayer jusqu’à se sentir bien. Et ce qui convenait hier ne conviendra peut-être pas forcément aujourd’hui. « Il faut voir la vie comme un voyage et s’y jeter à corps perdu. »
Mme Elsener a toujours soutenu les femmes travaillant chez Victorinox. « Je m’efforce de faire en sorte que nous offrions un environnement de travail favorable à la famille, afin que les deux parents puissent s’entraider pour faire vivre leur famille, conformément aux valeurs de l’entreprise Victorinox. »
Nous avons demandé à Mme Elsener ce que la Journée internationale des droits des femmes signifiait pour elle, en tant que membre de la famille fondatrice de Victorinox. « Une telle journée attire l’attention sur le fait que les femmes peuvent contribuer de façon importante au développement de la société. Grâce à nos atouts et à notre capacité à considérer les choses dans leur ensemble, nous apportons une contribution particulière. » Et quels sont les atouts qui l’ont aidée dans son parcours ? « Mon amour pour la créativité, une saine curiosité, la capacité à trouver du plaisir dans l’apprentissage et la volonté d’essayer de nouvelles choses ont certainement été des atouts dans ce monde en constante évolution. »
Quel avenir Veronika Elsener espère-t-elle pour ses filles ? « Il me paraît important d’enseigner tout ce que je peux à mes enfants. Mais au bout du compte, le choix leur reviendra. Les femmes peuvent emprunter différentes voies. Pas toutes en même temps bien sûr… il faut penser en termes de phases, être flexible et ouverte d’esprit. Mais une chose est sûre : elles ont assurément plus d’options aujourd’hui. » Être courageuse et vivre de nouvelles expériences est important dans la vie. Essayer jusqu’à se sentir bien. Et ce qui convenait hier ne conviendra peut-être pas forcément aujourd’hui. « Il faut voir la vie comme un voyage et s’y jeter à corps perdu. »
Mme Elsener a toujours soutenu les femmes travaillant chez Victorinox. « Je m’efforce de faire en sorte que nous offrions un environnement de travail favorable à la famille, afin que les deux parents puissent s’entraider pour faire vivre leur famille, conformément aux valeurs de l’entreprise Victorinox. »