Agata Fischer - 在舒适区域外舒适

We all know the danger (and draw) of comfort zones. There are plenty of quotes from brilliant people all over the world encouraging us to “step outside your comfort zone” or “growth only happens when you’re uncomfortable.” When you learn to like being outside of your comfort zone, that’s when you have proven to yourself you’re growing.

这就是Leica Geosystems的检测和服务业务总监Agata Fischer描述了她的成功和职业生涯的一致前进轨迹。通过组织结构升起，她最近被公认为xyHt’s 40 Under 40 for 2020。

The commendation reads:“While her academic background was in business process and marketing, Agata has gained an exemplary understanding of geomatics and geospatial theory, practice, and especially emerging technologies. Her steady rise, first within Hilti and since within Leica Geosystems, is impressive, but what brought Agata to our attention was her presentations and writings. Being both tech- and business-savvy and an excellent presenter is a potent combination; the multi-lingual Ms. Fischer is all of the above.”

Impressive indeed, but it took a strong work ethic and that ever-burning desire to prove to herself she could rise beyond even her own expectations to realise she actually enjoys challenges and consistently being outside of her comfort zone.

Making a change

Educated in business management and marketing, Fischer was first exposed to product management as an intern starting her career. Thrown head first into unchartered waters, she found herself providing product trainings with only a few days to learn the material. Managing the task well and with a strong mentor in the role, she aspired to become a product manager herself.

“With a great mentor who was a product manager, I always had a clear idea where I wanted to be,”said Fischer.“As a product manager, I could be very much like an entrepreneur being in the driver’s seat. I could be close to the customers, understand the workflows and their needs, and deliver solutions that bring value.”

有了这一经验，菲舍尔还希望更好地了解业务的营销方面，因此她在实习后担任市场经理后的第一职位。在这里，她学会了功能，收益和价值观以及进行市场研究的过程。

不过，她的目光仍然是她成为产品经理的目标。菲舍尔（Fischer）将自己的网络技巧进行了考验，能够在其他部门的项目中工作。她再次走出自己的舒适区，独自前往英国与客户见面并亲身了解他们的需求。由于她渴望学习和愿意全面展示工作的意愿，她推动自己证明自己有成功的成就。

“Though I prepared myself to fully succeed in this role, I was also willing to take a risk, really push myself into new territory,”recounts Fischer.“I was given opportunities to really think and act like an entrepreneur, being held responsible for the success of a complicated project.”

在从营销到产品经理过渡时，菲舍尔（Fischer）进行了复杂的工作，将服务线转变为业务中有利可图的一部分。首先，使用她的营销角色内置的技能，她进行了市场研究，以更好地了解她现在与之合作的客户。然后，她建立了一个利益相关者网络，她变成了支持者。

“There was a learning curve to overcome here, and I identified the people who I knew were key to making this line successful and gathering their input,”said Fischer.“My transition pivoted on before relying on others to now becoming responsible and having complete ownership of the project.”

When the services line turned into a successful part of the business, Fischer knew she had finally proven herself. Along with her determination to reach her goals, she also attributes her success to a strong sense of curiosity.

“我是一个非常好奇的人，尤其是在客户方面。我想知道他们在做什么，驱动他们的事情，痛苦的是什么，”explains Fischer.“This genuine curiosity helps me to build trust with the customer and enables them to open up to me so I can help build better solutions for their problems.

我也总是愿意学习，这就是我认为将我推向新的水平。”

Today, Fischer leads a team of product managers and trainers in the Construction Tools Division of Leica Geosystems, being again promoted from product manager to business director. She’s now responsible for developing and guiding the product roadmap, go-to-market and sales strategy for Leica Geosystems detection solutions. Pulling from what she has learned in her own career journey, she aims to empower her team through a strong belief in them and trusting their abilities.

“在我的角色和这家公司内部工作，以及我所拥有的领导者以及一直学习愿意成长的同时学习的领导者，我对自己建立了强烈的信心和自豪感。我现在想把它还给我有领导特权的人，”said Fischer.“I focus on developing my team by showing them I believe in them, enabling them to grow in their positions with new responsibilities; essentially also pushing them outside of their own comfort zones to try new things even if they think they can’t do something. When they prove they can, it’s not only a celebration for them but the whole team.”

建筑confident women in the workplace

菲舍尔组织中的某人说，授权她获得具有挑战性的机会是建筑工具总裁凯瑟琳·布罗德（Katherine Broder）。菲舍尔说，布罗德的领导能力激发了她追求目标并为自己的领导风格建模。

“Katy encouraged me from the beginning to pursue becoming a product manager,”explains Fischer.“She was and still is open to all of my questions, and she empowered me to design my own work programmes and style, implicitly believing in me.”

感觉是相互的门特布罗德解释道ring relationship between the two actually goes both ways.

“Drive, dedication and the willingness to go beyond, that’s what makes Agata successful and a strong leader. It’s inspiring to me to see her grow and continue to unfold her talents,” said Broder. “Agata has truly become an asset to our business and organization. Meanwhile she has become my sounding board and mentor – a perfect development not only for me personally but also for the company.”

菲舍尔（Fischer）倡导少数女性领导人在工作场所，为女性提供更多机会在董事会中证明自己。她指出，妇女拥有独特的解决问题和社交技能，以建立强大的成果和更多样化的工作环境。

“Women, unfortunately, are not as initially confident in business as men even though they possess skill sets that are sorely needed to make business thrive,”explains Fischer. “When we make space, though, to build that confidence, as was done with me in the company, they surprise not only themselves but those around them in how much they can actually accomplish.”

Fischer目前正在与公司的人力资源部合作，主持一个工作组，以进一步审查该公司如何更好地支持工作场所的女性，例如由于育儿问题而降低阻碍。作为公司中有前途的女性领导者，她现在也是其他女性的导师，还偿还了她在职业生涯早期获得的指导。

她向妇女和希望证明自己的其他人推荐什么？

“Try. That’s the key. Always be willing to try and open to learning new things. Pick roles where you can continue to learn and be challenged,”Fischer encourages.“Growth doesn’t happen unless you leave your comfort zone. Get comfortable with being uncomfortable because that’s where we truly prove what we’re capable of and succeed.”