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The Novozymes World Tour

Lars Hansen trotted the globe in internal functions before becoming president of Novozymes North America. He’s done stints in production, sales & marketing, R&D, and took a chance every time he stepped into a new slot.

I've been on the Novozymes World Tour and wouldn't have it any other way.

I suppose I've been a bit adventurous, to take advantage of an opportunity without thinking long-term for a career. My thinking is, if I get things done well, something good will come of it--and it's worked every time.

So I haven't plotted a career path, but I do make sure I jump on an opportunity. Some people are careful about what turns their careers would take when they returned home. But when you're outside HQ, the experience you gain can make the next job easier--when you are abroad you have to answer all  the questions even if they are not in your specific area of expertise. This has broadened my scope immensely.

 

Sometimes I ask myself how I got here. I don't think I've had a position for more than two or three years. I'm lucky to have a science and business background, the versatility of the combination. There has always been an opportunity, either geographic or functional, and I have always made a point of moving on to the next thing. I have made myself a candidate for different types of jobs.

I have been fortunate to get challenges and opportunities to jump between functions. But you need to prepare yourself, educate yourself and not just in a core area. If you make the effort, you can get there.

Lars Hansen
Cand. Polyt, Engineering 
Regional President, Europe
Bagsværd, Denmark 

 
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