Remarkable stories

We wanted to share the experiences of our remarkable people. Their stories have helped shape our Employer Brand and we wanted to share their life at work with the world. In this story, we caught up Besmir Marku who has found a place in the world, and at work, that gives him the confidence to plan for growth and focus on change.

The first big step to the big city

"I grew up in a small town in North Albania. It’s a beautiful area in the mountains and it was a huge culture shock to move from a town of 2,000 people to Rome, with a population of 2.5 million. I was awarded a scholarship for a degree in Rome. My parents didn’t have the funding to send me, so the scholarship was such a huge moment in my life. You have to remember that migration was difficult in those days. The early 2000’s were like a different world. And to be given the chance in the Western world was a huge opportunity.

The challenge came in the form of adapting to the big city. I missed my family and a big city can be a lonely place when you don’t know anyone. It’s also a challenge to support yourself in an expensive city, but I always found a way. It was tough, but my Degree and Master’s degree kept me focused and busy over the next five years!"

Moving up in the world

"My first job after graduation was in information security. I worked for successful, large consultancy firms and it was here that I met Feliks the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) at AS Watson. I was working on a web application security project with him and the team. After 18 months working on the framework, Feliks noticed my hard work and dedication and approached me to work in his team full-time. And from Manager, to Senior Manager, my career grew and accelerated to match the growth and speed of technology need and change. I’m now Head of Technology and Application Security with a growing team."

The importance of leadership

"I am happy with my career and grateful for the opportunities I have been given . Feliks is one of the best leaders I’ve ever met and has taught me a lot. This is important as it gives me and the team the freedom to try new things and explore new ideas. And I’ve taken the lessons into my own style of leadership. I’ve always been focused on ‘what’s next?’, but I’m now in a position where I can enjoy the ‘now’."

Growing in confidence, growing the team

"When I look back at my student times, I see the hunger that I have today, but I also see the journey I have taken in terms of my own confidence. And I see this as a huge help bringing new people into the team. We shouldn’t forget how daunting it can be for new people to join. And with the team growing faster than ever, I know how important it is to get this right."

Different backgrounds, shared futures

"Wherever I’ve been in the world, I’m always fascinated by the different cultures that exist. I followed my wife to Madrid and worked there for a short time, I know people in the UK, two of my team are Asia based and I’ve lived in Rome and Milan. And I still have a connection to Albania of course. My family are so important to me.

This cultural understanding is something I see in so many people across the AS Watson world. Yes, we are all from different places and cultures, but we can all share a similar future. One that is about ideas and growth, problem-solving and technology transformation. But this can only be done with people who are happy at work. Who know that they are respected for who they are and what they can do. People who can truly be themselves."