Elia’s journey: from temp to vice president
Back in 1996, you spent your weekends at Leadec. Today, you’re responsible for HR in North America. Eli, is this what you expected back then?
I would summarize my Leadec journey as a combination of hard work, a lot of good people and a little luck. In fact, I had no idea that the temp job would lead to so many personal and professional opportunities. For a long time, I worked in operations at the sites before moving into HR in 2013. My first reaction to it was “What a horrible idea!” I didn’t think I knew anything about HR but decided it was a great chance for a different type of challenge and interest grew the more I thought through the reality of it.
A jump into the deep end ...?
Certainly. When I started in HR, I hoped in the early days that no one would call because I was sure I did not have answers for them. Eventually the confidence grew through knowledge building and practice, and I had invaluable mentors to advise and support me along the way. Today, my real passion can be found in trying to provide a great place to work for each of our employees for as long as they need Leadec to be a part of their journey.
And if you were to give some advice to new employees at Leadec?
Don’t obsessively chase money because it alone won’t make you happy. Focus on your big rocks (critical goals) and try to spend as much of your time at work and home doing things you enjoy.
You may also be interested in the following articles:
All
Interview06/03/2026Leadec Industrial Cloud: Digital Power for the Production of Tomorrow
The Leadec Industrial Cloud is our central platform for digital solutions in manufacturing. In this interview, Astrid Lichtl-Dengel, Manager of the AI Competence Center at Leadec, talks about the idea behind the platform, the collaboration of international teams, and why the cloud is much more than just a technical infrastructure.
Article05/28/2026Learning Together, Shaping the Future: The Leadec Learning Week 2026
How can learning succeed in a constantly changing working world? At Leadec, the answer is: together, hands-on, and internationally connected. The Leadec Learning Week 2026 once again demonstrated the importance of continuing education and knowledge sharing within the company.
Interview12/09/2025"Safety Is Not a Game”
In 2025 Fernanda Martinez, HSE specialist at Leadec Tijuana, Mexico, received the HSE Champion award for her outstanding commitment to safety excellence. In this interview, she shares what drives her passion for safety, the actions that truly make a difference, and why building a strong safety culture is always a team effort.
Article11/20/2025The man who is keeping the auto industry’s plants running
In its November 4, 2025 edition, the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ), one of the most important national daily and business newspapers in Germany, reports on Leadec's CEO Markus Glaser-Gallion, his career, and his work at the top of an industrial service provider, that keeps factories around the world running - in the automotive industry and beyond.
Interview10/16/2025“Recruiting Is Much More Than Just Reviewing Résumés”
The job market is undergoing major changes, application processes are evolving, and AI is playing an increasingly significant role. Tatjana Bieker, Head of Talent Acquisition & Employer Branding Europe at Leadec, talks in this interview about current developments in recruiting, specific challenges, and why traditional approaches are no longer enough.