As Head of Human Resources for the Business Group Electronics at HELLA, David Schajer and his team are committed to making HELLA Electronics a top-choice employer. In the series FORVIA Faces, he talks about what he expects from FORVIA and what surprised him most about HELLA.

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How would you explain your job to your child?

[Laughs]. Good question. I have five kids and, in fact, they do often ask me that question... Well, I usually tell them: I work for a big company producing everything needed to make great cars, and we need a lot of people to do what. My team is here to make sure that we have all the people we need joining the company, and that they feel proud and happy in their jobs.

Why HR?

That is an easy question for me. So, what is a company? It is a group of people collaborating to achieve something together. What drives me is making this collaboration as good as possible, for the company to outperform competition in a sustainable way. I see great collaboration and great teamwork as the result of a very subtle recipe: it requires many ingredients like great leadership, a clear organization, strong values, a workplace where employees feel good, etc. As HR, our aim is to constantly improve this recipe, and I love doing that.

If you could swap your job with another HELLA or Faurecia employee for a day, which job would you choose, and why?

I was lucky to spend the first half of my career outside HR, in Finance or General Management roles. I liked that a lot, because you can get to know all the dimensions of a company. For me, it is also fascinating to experience different cultures and see how they influence the way we work and interact. I will always be up to a new challenge in a new cultural environment.

You have been working for HELLA for 5 months now. What has surprised you most about this company?

It was not really a surprise, but I can say the depth of the talent pool at HELLA is really amazing. During my onboarding here, I have met so many people from different levels and locations and I always saw very strong people with strong experiences, great team spirit and the highest level of commitment. At HELLA, you deliver what you promise. This is an amazing asset.

What three attributes would you use to describe FORVIA?

A first key attribute is our global set-up. Many companies in the automotive industry are deeply rooted in their geography, but real big players need to be authentically global, and FORVIA is exactly that: We have two headquarters – one in France and one in Germany – and several locations in every key region of the world to be close to our customers.

Second: FORVIA is fast. This is part of our automotive DNA and reinforced by our involvement in tech & digital topics. As a key player within the transformation towards electrified and connected cars, being fast is our most critical asset.

Third: Our joint portfolio is focusing more and more on sustainable, innovative, and digital mobility. Together, we can really “inspire mobility” more than ever.

How do you convince someone to come to FORVIA?

At FORVIA, we can really make a difference: We work on challenges that matter, like enabling a sustainable and affordable mobility for all. We experience the power of teamwork and make direct and visible impact. When you join FORVIA, you can grow as a leader or you can grow as a technology expert in your domain: whatever the way you choose for yourself, the company will support you in achieving your goals.

Permit us to ask a more personal question: What information about you is not listed on your resume?

I have a deep interest in the history of different cultures, and I read a lot about it. This develops my understanding of why people react or behave a certain way. When you are privileged to live in another country, you have a unique opportunity to take a deep dive into its history through books, museum visits or sightseeing. Then you can put all the ”little differences” you experience in daily life into perspective. It’s a great way to challenge your own perspective and learn new ways.

About David Schajer:

David Schajer has been Head of Human Resources Electronics since April 1, 2022. In this role he is a member of the Management Board of the Business Group Electronics. Previously, he accompanied the integration process of Project ONE as Chief Integration Officer on the Faurecia side and headed the HR department at Faurecia Clarion.

About FORVIA Faces:

150,000 employees work on FORVIA's success worldwide. In the portrait series "FORVIA Faces" they, among other things, speak about their role at FORVIA, what FORVIA means for them and what they expect from FORVIA.