With more than a decade of experience within Porsche Holding, Tina Friesenegger has taken the next step in her career by joining Volkswagen Group Sweden as Transformation Manager. With a strong background in finance, strategy, and group wide collaboration, she now plays a key role in supporting VGS through an important transformation phase. In this interview, Tina shares her career journey, reflections from working closely with group leadership, and her perspective on change, collaboration, and starting a new chapter in Sweden.

Tell us about your career journey so far!
– I have been at Porsche Holding for over 10 years now. I started at Porsche Bank as Controller, then became a team lead in the accounting department. For the last 3.5 years I have been the executive assistant to the Group CFO. Now it was time for the next step, and I am very happy to support my Swedish colleagues during this big transformation phase.

You most recently came from the role as Executive Assistant to PHS CFO Johan Lechner. What did that role teach you and how has it shaped you professionally?
– During my time as an assistant, I got to know the entire PHS Group and the Volkswagen Group from a strategic perspective. You learn how decisions are made and how brands, importers, retailers, and financial services are connected, and you have the fantastic opportunity to build a strong network throughout the entire group. Typically, alongside the assistant role, one starts with a project in the desired business area. For me, it was clear that my next career step should definitely be in the wholesale/importer sector.

What does the role of Transformation Manager mean to you, and which topics are you most passionate about right now?
– VGS is facing a challenging time due to the integration into the Porsche Holding world. The coming years will be filled with new processes, projects, and systems. I see my position as a bridge between PHS and VGS. I hope to use my experience to support my Swedish colleagues in the best possible way and make the transformation easier.

What do you see as the biggest opportunities and challenges in your role as Transformation Manager?
– Transformation is primarily about change management, which is very challenging. Convincing people that these changes are beneficial, especially when it does not seem that way at first or when there are recurring problems with the new systems, is not easy. I try to gather concerns and suggestions from my Swedish colleagues and discuss them with my Austrian counterparts. A successful transformation only works if both sides truly listen to each other and work towards a common goal.

Describe your first time at VGS
– One of my biggest dreams has always been to live and work abroad and I am so happy to be able to experience this in such a wonderful country as Sweden. I have to be honest, I was very nervous during the first few weeks. I often wondered if it was the right decision and how I could best settle in. Now, after the first four months, I can say that I absolutely made the right decision and I am really looking forward to growing and learning from this new challenge.