Welcome to our second NAVBLUE Employee Spotlight Feature! We’ve created these stories with the goal of shining a spotlight on the pivotal role our employees play in the tech and aviation field, their journeys so far, and how NAVBLUE aims to create an innovative and inclusive workforce with their help.
Today we are sharing the story of Devashu Sharma, Product Application Specialist of N-Tracking and GNSS Systems.
Fun Facts
- Devashu loves dancing and is a competitive hip-hop dancer on the side
- He grew up in the Congo in Central Africa
- A massive Harry Potter fan, Devashu even has a corgi named Neville (Longbottom!)
Q&A
Thanks for joining us, Devashu! Can you tell us a bit about your background?
I have a Bachelor of Aerospace Engineering with a specialization in Aircraft Performance, Propulsion, and Aerodynamics. I graduated from Carleton University in 2017 and NAVBLUE was my first industry job outside of school!
I joined NAVBLUE in 2018 as an Aircraft Performance Support Specialist. Within the first year of working here I moved to the UK where I worked the same job for two years. Then, 9 months ago, I started a new position as Product Application Specialist, N-Tracking and GNSS Systems!
What was it like for you to move from Waterloo, Canada to the UK?
It was a big change moving from Waterloo (Canada), a relatively small city, to a bustling metropolitan like London. The culture between the two countries are similar but also different.
But the people at NAVBLUE were an incredible support. I made tons of friends at the UK office who helped me successfully transition. I joined the Social Committee as soon as I started at the UK office, which helped me meet people organically at the company and grow from there. So all in all, the move was challenging but a good kind of challenge – and a life-changing experience!
What made you want to move to the UK?
The idea of living in a new country and the access to Europe that came with it excited me. It was a chance for me to get out of my comfort zone and embark on a new adventure, and I’ve been able to add so many experiences to my life that I wouldn’t have been able to otherwise!
It was also the opportunity to get to know different parts of NAVBLUE as a company, get closer to AIRBUS, and learn from global aviation professionals that pushed me toward making the move.
How has the start of your new role been?
The start of my new role has been challenging but extremely rewarding. It’s been fascinating to learn about the tremendous amount of work that goes into ensuring aircrafts safely and efficiently get to their destination every day.
What are some of the biggest changes that come with moving to a new country that you’re still getting used to?
I’m still getting used to a lot of the changes! Like adapting to sports culture in the UK. In Canada, we love hockey and basketball – but in the UK it’s all about soccer, cricket, and rugby.
The biggest challenge I found when moving was that I didn’t have the luxury to switch off at first. There are a lot of things to figure out when you’re done with the workday. Finding a bank, getting a phone plan, budgeting, life admin stuff! But a big thing I focused on was making sure I had a group of friends outside of work. I forced myself to go to mixers, events, whatever fun things were happening around the city. This drove me to interact with people and build my own network which was by far one of my biggest challenges at first, but now I feel fully integrated and my conversational skills have become really good!
What made you realize that this was a move worth making for you?
It was the week-long trip I took to London to meet my new team prior to the move. I had so much fun. I loved the city. I felt like a lot of my passions outside of work aligned with the UK and I was excited by the work the UK teams were doing. When I went back to Waterloo, I created a business case to convince NAVBLUE to send me to the UK, and they were up for it because having a person with my job experience at the UK office to work with our APAC and EU clients would be really beneficial!
The opportunity to come here, experience a new culture, and travel around Europe has been amazing. And with hybrid work it’s even better. It felt like the right move for me.
What led you to pursue a career in aviation and tech?
Growing up, I would always get more excited for the plane rides when traveling with my family vs. getting to wherever we were actually going. The destination didn’t matter as much as the fact that I’d get to sit on a window seat in a plane!
Since then, I’ve always known that I wanted a career in commercial aviation. I’ve been very passionate about airplanes and the ability to work in an industry that connects people from far away places. To be a part of that, I think, is very fulfilling.
What advice would you give to other people interested in career mobility and travel for work?
For anyone thinking of making use of career mobility options, the biggest advice I have is to be kind and patient with yourself as you transition to a new environment. It can be overwhelming and stressful at first, but it’s extremely fulfilling and the payoff is worth it.
If you get an opportunity to travel with work, take it even if it’s for a short amount of time. The experiences you’ll make, the things you’ll learn about yourself, and the exposure you’ll gain in your industry is irreplaceable.
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Interested in joining the NAVBLUE Team? We are hiring!
