Case studies: Transmission demand and development manager: Gabriel Yepes

Combining an MSc in mobile and satellite communications from the University of Surrey with his language skills has given a boost to Gabriel's career. He has found that being able to converse easily with international colleagues and customers contributes to meeting business targets

I'm originally from Colombia so my native language is Spanish, but I also speak English fluently. I get to use my language skills all the time, even though it wasn't a requirement for getting the job.

My role is part of the data transport team and I'm responsible for ensuring that cell sites across the UK are all linked to main switch sites, which is where the exchanges actually connect mobile calls. I work for O2, which is a household name in the UK, but the company is owned by the Spanish firm Telefonica.

The UK teams need to communicate often with colleagues in Spain. In the past, people managed by all speaking English, but being able to talk to people in their own language makes a real difference. I've been able to build up a positive and productive working relationship with the Global Transport Group in Spain that my team reports into, all because we can talk more comfortably and make a connection.

My previous job was with Ericsson, in a customer support role that involved delivering many projects in Latin America. I found there also that a common language facilitates business because everyone can be confident they're expressing themselves clearly and their needs will be met.

When customers or suppliers from overseas have to speak English in business conversations, where a lot is at stake, misunderstandings can easily arise and that puts people under pressure. Speaking their language makes things less stressful and more efficient, which creates a nicer feeling and a warmer relationship, but it's also a clear commercial advantage. Knowing the positive impact languages can have was the reason I made a point of mentioning my language skills in my interview with O2.

Of course my technical knowledge and skills have been essential for getting selected and doing the job. Telecoms is a challenging, fast-paced environment and I do like that side of my work, but I also enjoy interacting with people to get things done and wouldn't want to lose that. It's really satisfying when I see how the equipment we've placed increases the capacity of the network.

Language skills have made an important contribution to my career. Managing the interface with the Global Transport Group in Spain has made me more visible to senior colleagues. It has also made it easier to gain approval for projects we want to work on, as I am able to put a strong case forward clearly and convincingly.

I'd recommend building up language skills to anyone, especially if you're aiming to work for multinational companies.