Challenger Champions
We love to celebrate the success of IFS customers. And recognizing that behind every success are people with their own unique stories, the Challenger Champions initiative was born.
The Challenger Champions are an amazing set of individuals within the IFS customer community who are challenging the status quo in the quest to achieve great things.
They are catalysts of change and they think in new and innovative ways, in order to make a difference and have a real impact for the businesses they are part of.
This is their story.
The Challenger Champions Initiative
Oliver Pilgerstorfer – CMO, IFS
IFS’s CMO Oliver explains the reasoning behind the Challenger Champions program and states why it’s important to celebrate the stories of those that are challenging the status quo within business.
William Klotz, ERP Administrator – Omni Speciality Packaging
The human element of technological solutions is just as important as the technology, according to William Klotz, IFS’s newest addition to the Challenger Champion community.
"My main ambition has always been to help people understand how technology can make a real difference in their daily work."
Bal Sangha, Solution Manager – Rolls Royce
As solution manager at Rolls-Royce’s Lifing Insight for civil aerospace, Bal helps ensure the optimal through-life performance of the company’s engines by defining the strategic direction of its digital lifing products.
“I love finding new ways to do more with less. But to formulate an effective solution to a problem, I must first scale it back to first principles. I need to understand the underlying business process and use that understanding as a blank canvas to find a solution.”
Imelda Harsono, Director of Technology and Compliance - Aneka Gas Industri
The IFS Challenger Champion community’s most recent addition is Imelda Harsono, Director of Technology and Compliance at PT Aneka Gas Industri, Indonesia’s first industrial gas company and part of the Samator Group.
“I am always trying to become a better person, better leader, and a better entrepreneur. Given the rapid change in technology and the forces unleashed by decades of globalization, I firmly believe that companies must innovate, or they will die.”
Julian Gram Johansen, Data Manager - Maersk Supply Service
The IFS Challenger Champion Class of 2020 has been joined by Julian Gram Johansen at Maersk Supply Service, a leading provider of global offshore marine services and integrated solutions for the energy sector worldwide.
“I’ve been told that I’m a very outspoken person, which I believe is connected to my background as ship’s officer. Working offshore, clear and timely communication is absolutely vital to ensure the safe and efficient running of the vessel.”
Sheila FitzGibbon, Senior Project Manager - Global Marine Group
Recently joining the ranks of the IFS Challenger Champions, Sheila FitzGibbon, Senior Project Manager, started out in finance and accounting by happenstance through an internship at a local cleaning company at the age of 16, where she then moved onto London to grow her skills and experience.
“To be a true champion for change, you need to be unflappable, conscientious, and tenacious. These are the characteristics that I’ve relied on throughout my career.”
Challenger Champions stories
Charles Nshimiyimana – Inventory Manager – EDCL
Charles' company is responsible for the generation, transmission and distribution of electricity in Rwanda.
"I feel proud when I hear my colleagues telling me how IFS makes their work much easier."
Zainab Abbas – Director, Investment & Projects – Akbar Brothers
Zainab and her colleagues work at the world's leading exporter of Ceylon tea and use IFS solutions extensively in their operations to gain a competitive advantage and improve business processes.
"Being a Challenger is about creating a simple solution to a complex problem."
Jodie Hatch – Chief Technology Officer – Resolute Mining
Jodie's team has implemented IFS solutions to operate in innovative ways using a collaborative approach. As a result, the entire operation with its dispersed geographical locations run on a single platform.
"It is never just about the technology."
Bjarte Haugland – Area Head IM&IT – Apply
Bjarte leads ten developers and four project managers all working with IFS Applications. He likes challenging the norms and feels it’s due to the success the business has had running IFS solutions that he has been nominated as a Challenger Champion.
“Being a challenger means always looking for new ways to improve what you do.”
Marie Sköldenborg – IFS Applications Coordinator – Floatel
Marie feels proud of what she has built up when she sees IFS Lobbies on the computer screens at work and wants her colleagues to feel as though IFS Applications is their friend. She loves change and is always thinking of ways to improve and challenge what Floatel colleagues are working.
“I think anyone can be a Challenger, it’s a mindset.”
Charles Nshimiyimana – Inventory Manager – EDCL
Charles' company is responsible for the generation, transmission and distribution of electricity in Rwanda.
"I feel proud when I hear my colleagues telling me how IFS makes their work much easier."
Zainab Abbas – Director, Investment & Projects – Akbar Brothers
Zainab and her colleagues work at the world's leading exporter of Ceylon tea and use IFS solutions extensively in their operations to gain a competitive advantage and improve business processes.
"Being a Challenger is about creating a simple solution to a complex problem."
Jodie Hatch – Chief Technology Officer – Resolute Mining
Jodie's team has implemented IFS solutions to operate in innovative ways using a collaborative approach. As a result, the entire operation with its dispersed geographical locations run on a single platform.
"It is never just about the technology."
Bjarte Haugland – Area Head IM&IT – Apply
Bjarte leads ten developers and four project managers all working with IFS Applications. He likes challenging the norms and feels it’s due to the success the business has had running IFS solutions that he has been nominated as a Challenger Champion.
“Being a challenger means always looking for new ways to improve what you do.”
Marie Sköldenborg – IFS Applications Coordinator – Floatel
Marie feels proud of what she has built up when she sees IFS Lobbies on the computer screens at work and wants her colleagues to feel as though IFS Applications is their friend. She loves change and is always thinking of ways to improve and challenge what Floatel colleagues are working.
“I think anyone can be a Challenger, it’s a mindset.”
Read more about our Champions
Challenger Champions: celebrating the people within our customers who do things differently and have an impact
In the business-to-business sector, we too often only celebrate these tech traits in the context of the organizations we serve: the value realized, the competitive advantage created, and/or the efficiencies achieved. But what about the people?
Read More
Challenger Champions: celebrating the people within our customers who do things differently and have an impact
In the business-to-business sector, we too often only celebrate these tech traits in the context of the organizations we serve: the value realized, the competitive advantage created, and/or the efficiencies achieved. But what about the people?
Read More
Putting IFS to the test—for the benefit of all customers: Getting to know IFS Challenger Champion Lovisa Tholerus Sondén, Ingram Micro Mobility
Speaking with Lovisa Tholerus Sondén, ERP and Finance Systems Manager at long-standing IFS customer Ingram Micro Mobility, for just a short while, I was immediately struck by the passion she has for her work.
Read More
Always try to fix what isn’t broken: How skepticism helps Pawel Ceglarz bring value to IFS customer Shawcor
When I recently caught up with Pawel over the phone, I had not only learned that Shawcor, the global energy services company, had successfully deployed IFS Applications 10, but that Pawel might also just be the very epitome of a Challenger Champion.
Read More