Welcome to the next edition of Leadership Matters where we ask leaders around the Pacific Zone for their insights and advice about leadership matters to support our continuing journey of personal and professional development.
In this edition, we hear from Transportation Infrastructure Segment Director, Pacific, Sam Yfantis. Sam’s team is responsible for business growth and executive relationships in our major infrastructure accounts; including roads, rail, ports, and airports.
Sam has held various general management and director roles within Schneider Electric over the past 8 years, leading teams in stakeholder engagement, acquisition, and thought leadership for high profile major complex infrastructure projects including Sydney Metro, WestConnex, and Western Sydney Airport.
Sam has more than 30 years of sales, marketing, and operations experience in infrastructure, transportation, telecommunications, process industries, and the built environment. He is passionate about technology and sustainability.
What motivates and excites you about your role at Schneider Electric?
Transportation is constantly changing from pressure in the mix of modalities, usage, energy transition, sustainability yet still needs to serve a growing population. Solving these problems and obtaining a balance between social, environmental, and economic factors provides an exciting ecosystem to work in. I am excited about combining my broad experience with my commercial and technical strengths to make a difference in engagement of our internal teams and external stakeholders. Leading a segment means that you have an opportunity to transverse all the business units to focus our lens on the customer. This allows me to extract the very best of the organisation to benefit our customers and our organisation. It allows us to put our best foot forward.
Being able to be broad, and also deep when necessary, is also an exciting part of the role. For example, from setting the segment strategy, being hands on to assist the team with pursuit strategy and closing mega deals, to engaging with our most important customer and stakeholders to ensure our focus is maintained.
Of course, being part of Schneider Electric and working in such a diverse team across the globe is certainly one of the things that make this role exciting.
We’re one of the leading companies in the world when it comes to sustainability. How are you and your team contributing to this?
The contribution comes from our actions in providing solutions and thought leadership to our customers and segment ecosystem to have a positive sustainability impact on their business. Leading with connected, digital solutions that have a clear benefit in minimising embedded carbon and long-term efficiencies in operation, we can make a significant impact in our markets.
Taking the discussion to the customer about how we can help them improve their Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions on a path to net zero carbon emissions is an integral part of our contribution. We amplify this through embracing a mindset of improving their sustainability outcomes.
Of the customers you’re working with currently, what are they doing to be an #ImpactMaker in the market in which they’re operating?
Our customers include government transportation entities, as well as engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contractors, and other services providers.
An example of an #ImpactMaker is one state government and its commitment to decarbonise the metropolitan bus fleet by 2030. This means transitioning 8,000 buses from fossil fuels to zero emission technologies, allowing metropolitan areas to be served with clean zero emission buses and reducing pollution. The commitment to make this impact involves a significant change in the bus network’s structure and operation and transitioning from refuelling to recharging infrastructure and management of new power assets. The outcomes that they are striving for are “net zero by 2050, more comfortable journeys and liveable places for our customers and communities”.
In the supply chain for new green field transportation infrastructure there are select EPCs involved. One of those is a global account for Schneider. It is an Impact Maker by striving to use technology in its project delivery to deliver a more sustainable outcome for government customers. For example, it has implemented RIB and ETAP software in a current road tunnel project that will allow them to track the embedded carbon in their raw materials and all goods supplied. ETAP optimises its power networks to provide long term reliability and reduce the total cost of ownership. Embracing more digital engineering in its processes is also making an impact on its business.
What was a moment in your career that was pivotal or changed you in some way?
There are many moments that have been pivotal or changed me in some way. I like to try and learn every day and embrace the experiences of interacting with the people around me.
One pivotal moment was the first opportunity I accepted to lead a business unit. This was a career aspiration for me and was also a step into the next level of leadership and inspiring a fantastic group of people. To create the best work environment for them and get the most out of their experiences with the organisation, with a clear vision, direction, and support that they required was a privilege. Personally, this change helped mould me into a better leader. Connecting with your team on many levels, providing support, inspiration, and listening are all a part of a continuous leadership journey.
What is the best advice you’ve ever received?
Some of the best advice I have been given from a business perspective, was to listen before speaking, be agile, make decisions, and take ownership. This I combine with another snippet of advice being – “What legacy are you going to leave behind?”
Which of our company values resonates with you most and why?
All our IMPACT Values resonate with me, but the one that resonates most is Purpose. Shaping our segment and providing exceptional customer value and experiences is a core value of mine. Purpose, closely aligned with Curiosity and Action are key for me.