Unlocking the Power of Finance-Business Partnership Through Teamwork and Career Development

As the role of finance evolves within organizations, we have invited two seasoned finance leaders -- Byungro Kim 김병로 and Yunpyo Paul Hong to share with us their thoughts how effective collaboration within the finance functions and with the broader business supported the successful finance-business partnerships at Hilti. They also emphasized the importance of professional development opportunities and leadership skills in developing a caring culture that encourages personal growth:

Can you briefly introduce yourselves?

Byungro: Nice to meet you! This is Byungro, the Head of Finance in Hilti Korea. I joined Hilti in 2022. Prior to that, I had experience in the fields of Accounting and Finance Controlling.

Paul: Hello! This is Paul, the current Regional Head of Offshore for Hilti North Asia, including Hilti Korea. I joined Hilti Korea back in 2020 as the Head of Finance, then I made a career move in 2022 to further learn about our business operations.

Byungro, what do you think are special for Hilti Finance?

Byungro: I think what is special with Hilti and Hilti Finance is about emphasizing individual strengths and leveraging them for career development. We do not only have mobility within the team, but also ample opportunities for job rotations to other departments, allowing us to understand more about the business. Additionally, as there is always a high demand for talents at the regional and global level based on DE&I approach, we always see international career moves, within and beyond Finance. Therefore, I believe the Hilti is special in terms of the open opportunities invested by the company.

Paul, can you share with us your transition from Finance to business?

Paul: Transitioning from Finance to a business function has been both an exciting and challenging experience for me. Yet, with my Finance background I was able to join the new team with a deep understanding of our business dynamics, enabling me to navigate the complexities of the large projects in a new function. Throughout this journey, I have acquired invaluable insights into our customers' challenges, the difficulties of our frontline colleagues, and the importance of collaborating effectively with our enabling functions to foster successful customer partnerships.  I am grateful for Hilti's commitment to people development across all levels, which has supported me throughout the transition!

What excites you both at work?

Byungro: The nicest thing is that more members than you would think are willing to listen, work together, and contribute to solving problems whenever they arise. It truly captures the caring culture at Hilti, and this not only benefits all Hilti members but also motivates me on a daily basis. At Hilti where we focus on supporting each other and achieving great results together, I am always inspired to partner with different business stakeholders and invest in developing our members.

Paul: I find great satisfaction in engaging with diverse challenges, from short-term operational issues to long-term strategic planning. Being able to influence and implement strategies that directly benefit our customers, stakeholders and empowering our teams is incredibly fulfilling. Also, collaborating across functions to develop solutions is particularly rewarding because it fosters a sense of unity among the team as we work towards a shared goal.

What attributes do you look for in future leaders?

Byungro: Firstly, they should have a strong sense of responsibility, as leaders should take the initiative to motivate their team members and the organization and bring positive impacts. Secondly, they should be open to feedback to reflect themselves and lead the team to improve continuously.

Paul: They need to be forerunners to inspire others. While I see proactiveness and being agile the must-haves, they should also be resilient in times of adversity, with a strong sense of teamwork to lead the team during challenging times.

Curious about the incredible career journeys that await you at our company? Follow our Hilti Asia Pacific LinkedIn page to find out more!