From Denmark to China: two colleagues take on a six-month exchange

When curiosity meets opportunity, new adventures begin. For Felix and Runi, this meant packing their bags in Aalborg, Denmark, and embarking on a new chapter in Shanghai, China – an experience that would shape both their professional lives and personal growth.

For Felix Prieto Viejo and Runi Samuelsson, Product Managers in Ocean Division, the six-month exchange to Shanghai offered new perspectives on both their work and the world around them. Travelling and working together also allowed them to support each other while experiencing a new culture and building relationships with colleagues and customers in China.   

Their time in China was more than a change of location. It was an opportunity to explore and strengthen team play across Alfa Laval.   

As we are part of accelerating the global transition, the ability to share knowledge across borders has never been more important. International assignments and exchange opportunities help us connect expertise, strengthen customer relationships and build a culture in which people can grow while creating positive impact. 

“You learn to see things from different perspectives, collaborate across cultures, and adapt quickly,” says Felix. “It has helped me grow both professionally and personally.”  

Felix and Runi, together with five other colleagues from Business Unit Marine Solutions, worked closely with colleagues and customers across functions and regions during their time in Shanghai. The experience gave them deeper insight into local customer needs and strengthened collaboration between teams in China and Denmark.    

Face-to-face collaboration builds trust and gives us a deeper understanding of local needs. It also challenges us to try new things, take responsibility and learn from colleagues with different perspectives and expertise,” says Runi.   

“When colleagues like Felix and Runi visit Shanghai, they share valuable insights from BU product management,” says James Le, Manager, Ocean Division China. “Together, we can identify gaps between our current offerings and Chinese customer requirements. Closing these gaps ensures our value proposition remains highly relevant locally, enabling us to sell based on actual value and thereby improve our market share and profitability.”