Did you know that the Hilti Foundation also contributes to making a difference in the construction sector? Meet Melinda Sasfi, who has made a remarkable transition from the Corporate Development department to the Hilti Foundation, aiming to find solutions to complex problems. Let’s explore the efforts of the Hilti Foundation to provide answers to challenges such as the worldwide housing crisis together with the Hilti Group. Melinda’s journey through Hilti After completing her master’s degree in international manage- ment, Melinda embarked on her Hilti career through the Global Outperformer Program, starting as an account manager in Hungary. Her early immersion in the construction industry, coupled with Hilti’s ethos of innovation and her eagerness to learn, laid the groundwork for her subsequent endeavors. Transitioning to the Hilti Foundation, Melinda took responsibility for initiatives in the Affordable Housing & Technology field to enhance quality and increase efficiency in the informal construc- tion sector. Tackling the global housing deficit The escalating global housing deficit requires urgent action. With 1.6 billion people facing inadequate housing today, and with a forecast by the World Bank saying the number will be three billion by 2030, the issue demands concerted effort. Unfortunately, engaging in efforts to solve that problem is not an attractive proposition for governments, private sector or non-profit orga- nizations. It’s a complex, investment-heavy and long-term slog. Melinda’s new role demands strong leadership skills, the ability to craft direction and a hands-on mentality. Skills, she eventu- ally refined in the outperformer program. “I recognized the complexity of the housing challenge and believe our foundation is uniquely positioned to drive change through our core compe- tencies,” she adds. By leveraging Hilti’s expertise in process implementation, problem analysis and collaboration, the Foun- dation aims to make substantial contributions in addressing this pressing global issue. Same phenomenon, different setting Armed with the expertise she gained in her corporate roles, she pursues Hilti’s systemic approach to identifying housing gaps and addressing them by connecting the dots, applying pragma- tism and creating networks of key stakeholders. She recognized many phenomena and patterns from her former experiences that are also applicable for driving improvement and productiv- ity in her new field of involvement, such as performing diagnos- tics (services analysis), standardizing production (prefabrication) and implementation of subject-specific training. Yet the most essential thing is to always keep the beneficiaries’ perspectives in the center, as this is pivotal in devising effective solutions ultimately used by the families. “With my strong business back- ground, there is much I can contribute to this field, but it also offers many opportunities to further grow professionally and as a person,” says Melinda. Aligning Foundation goals with the Group’s vision Both the Foundation and the Hilti Group share synergies in their commitment to quality, innovation and serving our customers with solutions that drive efficiency. Melinda emphasizes that beyond financial interests, both entities strive to drive positive impactful change in the construction industry, resonating with the Foundation’s endeavors in affordable housing – fully in line with Hilti’s pursuit of building a better future by making construc- tion better. ABOUT MELINDA Melinda Sasfi holds a CEMS master’s degree in international management. She joined Hilti in 2016 as a global outperformer management trainee and began as an account manager in Hungary. Then she took on various project management roles in Hungary, Russia and Germany. After serving in a regional manager position in Germany, she moved to the Corpo- rate Development unit in 2021, joining the team that led the development of the LEAD 2030 strategy project. Last year, she transitioned to the Hilti Foundation. 21