Meet our People: Andres Escobar – a 38-year journey

My journey with the company began in 1988. At that time, I could not have imagined that this path would span nearly four decades. Life has taught me to move with change, and through that I am proud to witness the formation and continuous evolution of what we know today as Hitachi Energy.

If I were to describe myself beyond any role I have held, I would begin not with titles or skills, but with values strengthened over time: a deep sense of belonging, responsibility, and honesty; respect for people, for our planet, and for the societies in which we operate; and a pioneering spirit that never rests, about technology, about innovation, about how things really work beneath the surface.

I have always believed that change is not something to resist, but something to understand, shape, and live through consciously. That belief has guided both my professional and personal life.

I still remember my first day of work, and like anybody, I was anxious. The future was uncertain. Then my first boss and mentor, Germán Jiménez, spoke to us not as an authority giving instructions, but as a leader inviting engagement.

Those words stayed with me. They have guided my decisions for 38 years, professionally and personally.

Today, in my role as a Senior Specialist for Hitachi Energy’s Business Unit Transformers, I am globally responsible for the core manufacturing process, implementing the platform requested for power transformers and distribution transformers. The scope covers manufacturing technology, production process description, methods, assets, metrics, innovations, and state-of-the-art evolution for the production of the cores requested in our transformers.

University teaches individual performance. Work taught me teamwork. It taught me to read between the lines, to communicate in all directions, and to understand context before taking action.

I often say that your first job is about listening to instructions. The second job is also about listening - and so are all those that follow. What changes is not the listening, but the depth of vision, judgment, and responsibility behind it.

Looking back, my work in operations has been a journey of shaping more than just processes. My contribution has been shaped by one question: how can we do this better? Better through experience gained over time, through hard dedication, and through continuous study but also through a willingness to challenge conventions and explore new ways of working. This mindset led to the creation and evolution of global production standards, the development of training platforms for different learning levels, and hands‑on support for asset‑renewal strategies across factories worldwide. The aim was never change for its own sake, but meaningful improvement - raising performance, strengthening quality, and creating factories where people take pride in the excellence they help deliver.

I have had moments of pride and moments of humility. I have made mistakes. Overtime, that experience taught me that collaboration is often what carries us through.

My career has given me the opportunity to contribute to several major projects within the business unit. Among the most meaningful are the recent investment in Vietnam with the new factory in Bac Ninh; the investment in Turkey, including the relocation of the factory from Kartal to Dilovasi; the ongoing factory enlargement in Ludvika, Sweden; and the setup of new component manufacturing capabilities for shunt reactors at our Dilovasi site in Turkey, home to our Core Cutting Center, a key solutions hub supplying electrical steel laminations to multiple factories across Europe and Asia.

While these projects involved significant technological advancements, what I value most are the people behind them - the interaction, the shared learning, and the collaboration with extraordinary local teams. Smart, proactive individuals connected by a common passion to turn investment plans into tangible reality and, ultimately, to improve life in their factories.

Outside of work, my foundation has always been my family. Their growth, transformation, and shared experiences are my greatest personal achievement.

I continue to learn through books, science, and quantum physics, artificial intelligence, and emerging technologies. I travel when I can, walk in nature, and hike. As for sports, I tried. Let’s just say the world lost a great champion and gained an excellent observer.

If I had to distill everything into one lesson, it would be this:
The only constant is change.

As I approach the next phase of my life, I feel gratitude more than nostalgia. Gratitude for the people, the cultures, the challenges, and the trust I was given. I am proud to have contributed to building better teams, stronger communities, and meaningful work across decades of transformation.

If I could pass one principle to the next generation, it would be this: 
What truly shapes your legacy is not what you say, but how you live.

My journey reflects what One Hitachi truly means: diversity of thought, unity of purpose, and respect across cultures and disciplines. I have seen how shared values transcend structures and generations.

If my story inspires anything, I hope it encourages others to act with integrity and build the future consciously together.

Because inspiring the next generation does not start tomorrow.
It starts with how we choose to live and work today.