#HeraeusPeople Story
Respect knows no age
Luis Steven Guido Méndez, Senior Manufacturing Engineer, Heraeus Medevio
"People often ask me: “Why have you stayed with the same company for so long?” Especially among younger generations, changing jobs frequently has become the norm. That makes it seem unusual to many people that I am still with Heraeus Medevio after all these years.
A listening ear for everyone
My answer is always the same: because of respect. When I joined Heraeus, I had not yet completed my education. During the day, I worked as an operator in Production. At night, I studied. With the support of a Heraeus scholarship, I was able to complete my bachelor's degree in Electromechanics. Today, I work as an electromechanical engineer. That opportunity changed my life. But just as important as education itself was something else: the way people treat one another.
What I value most about Heraeus is that everyone is heard – the younger employees, the more experienced employees, and the leaders. I see a great example of this in my father. He brings decades of professional and life experience and also works at Heraeus Medevio. We often hear about older workers facing discrimination in the workplace. My father has never experienced that here. “People listen to me here. They treat me with respect.” He still says that today – and he knows the difference, because he has worked for other companies where that was not the case. This respect is especially visible in the way our leaders behave. Of course, there are hierarchies. We address our supervisors respectfully. But no one acts as though they are above everyone else. Instead, they support their teams. They help. They listen. They treat people as equals. The same respect is shown to young interns who may only spend a few weeks with us. My siblings, David and Tatiana, completed internships at Heraeus Medevio during their studies. Both were impressed by the atmosphere and often spoke at university about how respectfully they had been treated.
What will the future bring?
When I think about the future, I honestly do not know what position I will hold or what responsibilities I may have in a few years. But there is one thing I am certain of: the respect will remain. That is why I believe both younger and older generations can find a place here. Heraeus offers people the opportunity to grow, learn, and build their own path. And that is exactly why I would recommend this company to anyone. There is one more thing that reminds me why my work matters. Sometimes I meet people who know our products – or who have actually used them. They tell me how our guidewires helped them during treatment for heart conditions. These conversations often happen by chance. And then I hear something like: “Thank you for what you do. Your products helped me.” In moments like that, I realize our work is about much more than manufacturing medical devices. And because of that, I see my future here – in a company that has given me opportunities and where respect is part of everyday life."