Shareef Hakim’s Post

Goodbye Volkswagen! After more than 8 years with Volkswagen Passenger Cars I left the company in October 2022 to explore new perspectives. Today, I'm reflecting on my journey in one of Germany's largest automotive groups, and it was truly special. From shaping e-mobility through battery production and logistics projects to working abroad at ŠKODA in the Czech Republic and contributing to the digital ecosystem by developing strategies and business models for digital services and customer experience - Volkswagen's variety of topics provided me with the unique opportunity to gain in-depth expertise and well-rounded knowledge in the automotive and digital fields. None of these achievements would have been possible without the trust, support, and encouragement of those around me. I would like to take this moment to extend my heartfelt gratitude to all those who helped me grow professionally and personally, whether through brief interactions or long-standing relationships. What's next? After taking a 7-month sabbatical to pursue personal projects and travel the world, I am now embarking on the next exciting chapter by starting a new professional role tomorrow. More soon! #volkswagen #automotive #strategy #businessdevelopment #emobility #customerexperience

It is amazing how our dreams and aspirations evolve with time yet stay relevant after a long period. I still remember the feeling of joy and anticipation when one of my earliest professional mentors, Mr JK Mistry, at my first job in Avery India Ltd., wrote me a very heartfelt letter while leaving the organisation. He went on to add “I am confident that the next time you visit Avery, Mumbai, you will be driving down in a brand new Mercedes 500 SEL”. Two decades later, in my new role at Mercedes-Benz, as I drove through the gates of Mercedes-Benz India in my new S-Class, I was filled with immense gratitude and fondly remembered Mr Mistry’s letter. All my mentors and colleagues have played their invaluable part in leading up to this moment in my career, which has seen multiple accomplishments and an equal share of challenges. Today, after a 3-month wait, like many of our customers, I got to flip the switch and embark on a sustainable journey with none other than our luxurious electric saloon, the ‘Made in India’ EQS 580. In my opinion, the EQS is not an electric counterpart of the luxurious S-Class. It’s a highly sophisticated interpretation of how the future of automobiles is going to look like. The EQS is an interesting anticipation of a born-electric vehicle of the future – intelligent, intuitive, and highly personalized. The car is electric. However, the feeling, is all Mercedes. I am looking forward to driving this car personally on weekends while getting chauffeured to the office on weekdays. There is no bigger motivation for me than the sheer opportunity and possibility I get to drive the best cars in the world. :) #sustainability #lovemyjob #ev #futuremobility

Since I started GEDON™ I’ve been driving the same old crappy car. A beat up 2012 Toyota Highlander, in the worst colour ever; Burgundy. At the time of starting GEDON™ I had no money. I needed something reliable. So I bought a Toyota. I had the best year of my career last year; I’m still driving the same car. I’ve the 2nd best year of my career this year, I’m still driving the same car. Sometimes I think about changing it. But then I think, Why? - I love flying under the radar - I love that my car starts every time - I love that it’s a bit shit so I don’t care if it gets dinged - I love that my dog sits in the middle with me and sheds as much hair as he wants I quite often see new recruiters in the industry driving brand new Range Rovers. Then 2 months later, they are in property. Then 6 months later, they are in something else. And I’m driving to work, 11 years in, utilizing contacts I made a decade ago, driving the same old trusty Toyota. The photo I've inserted makes it look quite boujee. And that's because I wanted to show the old girl off. For doing me a solid the last few years and bringing an air of dependableness in a world of constant change. Here’s to the next few years of hunkering down. Not getting carried away. Driving a good old trusty Toyota. That starts on time, every time. And maybe in 20 years time, people will think of GEDON™ as a brand that's reliable and gets the job done. #Construction #Recruitment #ConstructionRecruitment #Toyota #Branding #Reliability #Reliable #Trust #Car #Business #BusinessLessons

Ford and its tale of hubris. Not once but twice! Most of you may have heard the infamous story of Ratan Tata considering selling Tata Motors to Ford. If not, I’ll recount it here: In an attempt to offload their faltering car business, Ratan Tata and his team flew to the US to meet then-Ford Chairman Bill Ford. Tata reportedly faced humiliation during the meeting, as Ford stated, "You do not know anything, why did you start the passenger car division at all? We are doing you a big favor by considering buying your car division." Despite this, Ratan Tata and his team chose not to sell their car business to Ford and returned to Mumbai. This was just one aspect of the narrative. Tata persevered in developing their car business, and over time, Tata Motors became a thriving company. Nine years after the incident, Ford approached Ratan Tata to sell their business. Being the gentleman he is, Ratan Tata acquired the Land Rover and Jaguar series from Ford. The value of Jaguar and Land Rover today speaks volumes. If Ford were to purchase Tata Motors, they would have had to pay a sum. However, this was not the case when they were offered Volkswagen. Following World War II, Germany was under the control of the Allied nations, and Volkswagen was among the companies under their jurisdiction. The company was offered to representatives from American, Australian, British, and French motor industries, but they declined. The primary reasons were the production restrictions in Germany and the extensive damage to the factory. Ultimately, in March 1948, the British offered Volkswagen to Ford, free of charge. Henry Ford II, accompanied by Ernest Breech(Chairman of board of Ford), traveled to West Germany for discussions in the presence of Heinz Nordhoff who was Managing director of Ford at that time. When asked for his opinion by Henry Ford, Breech remarked, "Mr. Ford, I don't think what we're being offered here is worth a damn!" Consequently, Ford passed on the offer, allowing Volkswagen to rebuild itself under Nordhoff's leadership. We are all aware that the current market capitalization of Ford stands at $49.43 billion, whereas Volkswagen's market capitalization is $71.49 billion. The stories teach us the importance of humility, foresight, and recognizing the potential value in opportunities, even when they may not seem apparent at first glance. #ford #tata #acquiring #Volkswagen