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.

This is how Agata Fischer, business director for detection and services at Leica Geosystems, describes her success and the consistent forward trajectory of her career. Rising up through organisational structures, she was recently recognized as one ofxyHt’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

Fischer受过商业管理和市场营销的教育，首先接触了产品管理，因为实习生开始了她的职业生涯。她首先将头扔进了未经宪章的水域，她发现自己只提供几天学习材料的产品培训。她很好地管理任务，并以强大的导师的角色管理，她渴望自己成为产品经理。

“With a great mentor who was a product manager, I always had a clear idea where I wanted to be,”菲舍尔说。“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.”

With this experience, Fischer also wanted to better understand the marketing side of business, so her first role after her internship was as a marketing manager. Here she learned the process of features, benefits and values, and conducting market research.

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.”

While transitioning from a marketing to product manager, Fischer took on the complex work of turning a services line into a profitable part of the business. First, using skills built in her marketing role, she conducted market research to better understand the customers she was now working with on a closer level. She then created a network of stakeholders who she turned into supporters.

“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,”菲舍尔说。“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，”解释说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.

I’m also always open to learning, which is what I believe keeps driving me to the next level.”

今天,菲舍尔领导一个团队的产品经理d 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.

“Working in my role and within this company and with the leaders I’ve had plus always learning willing to grow while being uncomfortable, I’ve built a sense of strong confidence and pride in myself. I want to give that back now to those I have the privilege of leading,”菲舍尔说。“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.”

Building 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,”解释说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.”

这种感觉是相互的，因为布罗德解释了两者之间的指导关系实际上是双向的。

“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,”解释说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。

What does she recommend to women and others looking to prove themselves?

“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.”