Pentair Internships Work

In Pisa, Pentair nurtures, coaches and enables its interns, to create future leaders. Four of them recall their pathway through the business.

Teamwork is the secret of success

In 2009, Marco Calatroni was up a ladder painting a balcony when he received a phone call that would change his life. “Pentair had an internship opportunity,” Marco explained, “the rest, as they say, is history”.

Today Marco is Value Stream Manager at Pentair’s Pisa Plant and just one of many remarkable success stories that have emerged from the homegrown talent that has been fostered under the Pentair internship programme.

As a graduate in mechanical engineering, with an interest in Lean Production, Marco’s internship task was to look at streamlining the Brescia warehouse operation.

“If my time at Pentair has taught me anything, it is the importance of the teamwork here.”

“Back then I was like a ‘Whitepaper’ – all theory and no experience,” laughs Marco. “But the ‘Pentair way’ is to give interns the room to try fresh ideas and not be afraid to make mistakes. Even today I am still learning. The Pentair ‘Win-Right’ commitment taught me a lot. But if my time here has taught me anything, it is the importance of the teamwork at Pentair. The support of colleagues is the key to success for everyone.”

No-one is just a number

Sara Amiraslani, Accounts Payable Team Leader, started her career as an intern with Pentair Finance in 2017. She also discovered she had won a bursary for a Master’s Degree the very same day she interviewed for her internship. “Pentair were very accommodating,” she recalls. “Monday to Friday I worked in Pentair Finance in Pisa, while Saturday meant an early start to drive across Tuscany for my Master’s course in Florence. My colleagues were massively supportive and helped me through at a busy time. I was offered a full-time contract after my six-month internship and have not looked back.”

“Pentair is really one big family where everyone is treated with respect, everyone is important and no-one is just a number”

“Today, my department looks after accounts in five Pentair subsidiaries and, while we each have our own roles and responsibilities, our Tuesday team meeting is a focus point of the week”, says Sara. “Such is the culture at Pentair, I have had no wish to look elsewhere,” she reflects. “It really is one big family where everyone is treated with respect, everyone is important and no-one is just a number.” For someone who spends her days working with numbers, that’s an important distinction.

Exploring a career path

An internship not only provides valuable work experience and an advantage in the job market, it can also help to resolve difficult career decisions. Gabriel Pieri, now European Product Manager, was at just such a crossroad.

“I had completed a Degree in Mechanical Engineering and embarked on a Master’s Degree, when I was approached by an agency looking to fill an internship role at Pentair,” Gabriel explained. “The internship offered more ‘hands-on’ than further education, so my mind was set. I accepted the role and in hindsight it was the best thing that could have happened to me.”

“If you really want something enough, anything is possible.”

“I was just 23 then and it immediately felt right. Bear in mind, I came from a provincial Italian town and was dropped into a successful global enterprise with outstanding people and world-class products. I got stuck in, made my mark and started to map out my goals. I set my sights on being a Product Manager and got there in 2018. That speaks a lot about development and progression at Pentair – if you really want something enough, anything is possible.”

Bringing your energy and enthusiasm to work

Lean Manager, Paulo Faeta, chose an internship at Pentair after a false career start. “Like many graduates, after five years at University I was keen to start my working career. I took a technical support role for another company, but after a year I realised it was not for me. I took a step back to reconsider my future. I had really enjoyed the three months I spent studying Lean Principles during my Degree, so when I spotted the internship at Pentair working in Lean, the decision was made.”

“Interns bring fresh ideas and new thinking to the business.”

I started my internship late, when I was 26 years old, but it was the best move and I have never regretted it, it has led to a role that plays to my strengths.”

Paolo likens his personal development at Pentair to the experience felt by an actor. “The script may be written, but the difference is what you can bring to the performance – your own interpretation,” he says. “Whether you are a machine operator or a board director, you can bring your own energy, spirit and enthusiasm to your work. That is not only recognised at Pentair but positively encouraged. As Lean Manager I am always looking at how people, process and technology make a difference to our business, but it is people first and foremost – it their unique input that makes Pentair what it is. That is especially true of interns who can bring fresh ideas and new thinking to the business. Yes, they are here to learn but I always ask, ‘what can we learn from our interns too?’”

Investing in future leaders

It is estimated that 80% of the critical leadership roles at Pisa are held by employees who started their working life as interns in the business. By giving them the opportunities and enabling them to make their own mark, they flourish, grow and are keen to stay within the company. Everyone in the Pentair family benefits from the approach.

Internships are a great programme for any business keen to invest in its own future and discover new talent. In Pisa, Pentair has embraced that model and found a winning formula for developing its future leaders. Long may it continue.