Being an Intergalactic Trainee

Although you might have read my colleagues’ blogs and have a fairly good impression what the first months have been like, I will still tell you a little bit about how my impression of Telenor has changed during the recent three months. In a different way, if you don’t mind.

Telenor Headquarters - “an intergalactic orbit”

When I first joined in the beginning of October, the entire company seemed like an ambitious and aggressive, but still jovial giant. Telenor’s headquarter contributed even more to my impression. The 250 yard convex glass-coated complex, sitting on the end of the runway at the former Oslo airport, was just lying alert, waiting to erupt, transform, take off and rocket away before going into intergalactic orbit. Try to Google Earth Telenor Fornebu, you will see what I mean. Going intergalactic is of course the reason why the Telenor headquarters has its own convenience store, electronics store, gift shop, hairdresser, you name it. In several ways the complex reminds me of the Biosphere project.  Moving between galaxies it’s just a question of time before Telenor launches its first teleporting service. -Literally.

Down to earth after all
Stepping off the bus at quarter past eight and making your way through slushy snow that spills over your shoes is not as spectacular. And when you enter the building, it’s just any building. You realize that it cannot really go ballistic; the construction is too heavy. Bummer. And in fact I believe the company has become a little smaller during my stay. You know your way around and you know many more faces. Everything isn’t automatic, and everything isn’t perfect. But in a knowledge business like ours, it’s the people who make the company. Truly, I am impressed with everyone around and unlike the Biosphere scientists who started to fight during their Biosphere stay, my fellow Telenor employees wouldn’t be the last people with whom I’d spend a year in outer space.

Impressions of art
I like the idea of working for a company that invests in art. If movies are an expression of art, and if Star Wars is a movie, then the Telenor headquarter must itself be art. And in case you disagree, it’s still filled with art. It makes my day. I believe that a company that invests in art will also be a company that invests in people. As long as this is the only planet we have, I am glad Telenor covers so much of it. –Literally.