Christian Bertrand likes feeling at home in his Dubai office, which explains why he's surrounded by vivid paintings, quaint artefacts and flags from every country he's ever visited. Peer a little closer and you'll spot the doodles from his children, family photographs and hand-made pictures nestled in a corner that define Christian as a family man even though he's constantly striving for a work-life balance.
In his role as vice-president of APC by Schneider Electric for Middle East and Africa, Christian oversees operations in 43 countries. Running one of the world's leading manufacturer of uninterrupted power supplies, electronics peripherals and data centre products, requires him to be alert around the clock. "Work is already 80 per cent of my life," he tells Friday. "I often tell visitors that we have 11 days a week - seven working days and four weekend days - as well as 30 hours a day in this region, taking time difference into account."
Born in Marseille in the south of France, Christian is well travelled and says that's reflected in his personality, love of sports and business life. "I attribute my talkative nature and a passion for football to Marseille," he explains. "From Grenoble, a city in southeastern France, where I grew up, I took away a love for the mountains and skiing and from Montpellier, another city in the South of France, where I was granted my first management role, I understood bullfighting."
Work
Apart from a two-year hiatus at an electrical wholesale company, Dismo Sud-Est Rexel, from 1996 to 1998 as a general manager, I've worked with Schneider Electric and its subsidiaries since 1990. As the managing director of MGE UPS Systems, I headed operations in the Philippines, Australia and Italy. In my current role in Dubai with APC by Schneider Electric - which has a direct presence in more than ten countries - I head a team of hundreds of professionals. I'm still as excited and motivated about working here as I was on my first day.
I have learnt a lot from people. I cherish the kindness of the people of the Philippines. I appreciate their way of life and their constant smiles. Hierarchy is very important in the Asian culture and I've learnt about how to make people feel comfortable enough to express themselves, without necessarily adhering to hierarchy all the time.
Australians are good at keeping up a work-life balance, something that I've rarely been able to follow myself. Their open nature is also admirable. You talk to anyone and instantly feel like their friend. In Australia, from a professional standpoint, I learnt a lot about operations and remote management, with the team located in different offices.
I love Italy as well for the open extroverted nature of the people, the culture, and obviously, the food.
In 2006, following an acquisition and merger, Schneider Electric became a world leader in the power sector and I was offered a position in Dubai.
I took over as head of the merged operations in the Middle East and Africa region a year later. The experience has been incredible so far. There are around 20 nationalities at the regional headquarters. Such diversity in an office is wonderful and unique.
My years of travel and living in various parts of the world have taught me that life is the way you make it, not the way it is. You cannot control everything. The motivational book Who Moved My Cheese? by Spencer Johnson taught me to cope with change and about how to go back to basics in difficult situations. So I move on in a new playground with new challenges and new teams.
Play
I signed up for national service in France when I was 24 after completing my business studies from the Grenoble Management School in France in 1989. Many of my friends considered it a year-long wait before starting work. I felt differently. It was important to me that I did something for my country.
During my tenure at the Air Force headquarters in Paris as part of the national service, I discovered a love for flying and earned a pilot's licence for four-seater planes. I feel comfortable in the air.
I've also discovered the beauty of the desert. After I learnt how to drive in the sand, we bought a 4x4 vehicle and spend weekends in the desert. The sunset and sunrises here are awe-inspiring.
I go swimming and enjoy sailing and fishing. I switch off from everything else when I'm fishing and thrive on the excitement of trawling and catching a big one.
I'm typically French when it comes to enjoying food. Through my travels, I have discovered some wonderful cuisine. When I feel a little homesick, which doesn't happen often, I need to go back to the comfort food I enjoyed as a kid such as duck magret and pasta. My favourite cuisine is my wife Emilie's!
Books are the only thing I like owning and I have yet to make peace with the digital readers. Having said that, I'm totally dependent on my computer and the first thing I do when I reach home after greeting my wife, kids and the dog and cats is switch on my desktop.
Dream
I hope to continue focusing on the positives. At the time that I was offered the Dubai position, my initial reaction was mixed. I didn't know the region but the merged entity was a new business model that excited me. Besides, I am used to being surrounded by greenery and being outdoors with the sea and mountains so I was not sure if I could adapt to Dubai and seeing sand around me the entire day.
I eventually realised that you can either make a situation positive or a nightmare. When the answer is obvious, it's crucial to engage positively. So I decided to look at the bright side - Dubai gave me an opportunity to continue developing my international experience. I could continue discovering new cultures and I had my family with me. Today, the approach has worked and I aim to share that with all the people I interact with.
I enjoy mentoring and transmitting knowledge. I would rather be on the stage addressing a group of 100-200 people than writing. I get this opportunity within the company when we train young talent.
I don't think I can ever call it a day when it comes to work. I am too high-energy to settle into a laid-back existence. If anything, I see myself contributing to the less privileged with my experience and abilities. I already contribute a few hours every month within the French community to social activities.
I'd enjoy driving a Ferrari for a few weeks or months but just to say I've done it once and not for the sake of having it in the garage.
Personally, I have set myself two goals. While I'm proud I'm no longer a compulsive smoker, I would like to quit the habit totally.
My other goal is to do more than having supper with my family during the weekdays and driving the kids to school every morning when I am in town. I'll keep on striving to achieve both.
