Name: Thomas L. Baron       
Title: Project Manager          
Company: SimCorp USA, Inc.     
Abroad home town: Los Angeles, CA
Denmark home town: Kokkedal, Nordsjælland
Years abroad: 1 year

Description of background, education and how you ended up abroad:
I began my career 11 years ago as a trainee in Jyske Bank. After finalizing the training and two years of served duty in the Jyske Bank branch of Kgs. Lyngby, I changed the career path to the IT business.

I began as an IT Supporter in the IT Department of Unibank (Today Nordea) in Høje Taastrup in 1999. While being in Unibank/Nordea I had various roles during the period 1999-2005 from IT Supporter, Developer, Senior Developer to Junior Project Manager - and worked with various business areas such as HR, Finance and Investment Management.

In 2005 I started as a Business Consultant in the Danish Software Company SimCorp A/S, where I shortly after my start became a project manager for the implementation at one of SimCorps clients. During my time at SimCorp Nordic, travelling became daily work, primary within the Nordic countries.

In January 2008 I expatriated to Los Angeles working for SimCorp’s business Unit in New York. Here my job was to take over an existing client and to build up the LA office together with a few other colleagues.

Description of job role, responsibility and challenges:
As a Project Manager my role is to implement SimCorp’s system in accordance to the contractual agreements with the client. This covers deliveries within the agreed deadlines, quality, scope and resources. Further there is a managing part in the work as well - to manage the highly skilled and professional team of consultants who also work in the project team. The challenges are as always to solve the puzzle using the dedicated resources in the most optimal way in accordance to the deadlines and quality.

An example of your professional success:
The fact I am working in USA - which I consider as a professional success. I know, that a lot of people in different companies, even at SimCorp, have big dreams about working and living in another country. But not all make it due to various reasons. I was so privileged to get this opportunity, which is why I took the chance/risk. I also write ‘risk’, since it is a big step to move away from friends and family and start on your own in a new culture. So, I would say - still being happy to work and live here after a year - that I consider as a personal success.

People I would like to network with?
Everyone. I love helping others - or learning from others, so I am not picky. Even if no knowledge transaction is made, it is always interesting to hear about others experiences. This is why, I also find the DABGO Stambord interesting to attend.

What can other DABGO members do to support my business?
Learn more about SimCorp! Our product, SimCorp Dimension, is a very professional portfolio management system and trading platform, and we will gladly demonstrate it for potential new clients, which belong to the segment of Banks, Insurance companies,
Pension funds and other Investment Companies with Fund and Mutual Funds.

What can I help other DABGO members with?
I can help people find each other. Already knowing a lot of DABGO members, can help me pair them with other members within the same interests area. Also I can help new expatriates how to handle a lot of settle in questions.

Any good advice for DABGO?
Yes, keep it simple. Don’t make it to a ‘club’ with memberships and stuff. I am sure that the optional way of networking will work better than a mandatory membership.

Linkedin profile: http://www.linkedin.com/in/thomasbaron

This entry was posted on Wednesday, November 5th, 2008 at 2:23 am and is filed under Member Profiles. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.