Nikolina's Story | ABB

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From academia to industry impact: Nikolina’s journey in R&D at ABB

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When Nikolina Dekanovic joined ABB in September 2023 as an R&D Power Electronics Engineer, she brought with her more than technical expertise – she brought curiosity, ambition, and a long-standing connection to the company.

Nikolina Dekanovic, R&D Power Electronics Engineer, Switzerland

After completing her PhD in power electronics at EPFL in Lausanne, Nikolina faced a choice: remain in academia or step into industry. While academic research focuses on advancing state-of-the-art power conversion, it often remains limited to proof-of-concept implementations and feasibility studies. Nikolina was drawn to something different – developing technologies that must perform reliably in real-world conditions.

“In academia, you search for new solutions; however, everything often stops at the prototype stage,” she explains. “In industry, you develop products that need to run for 30 or 40 years. That’s a huge difference, and I wanted to experience that.”

“In academia, everything often stops at the prototype stage. In industry, you develop products that run for 30-40 years. That’s a huge difference – and I wanted to experience that.”

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Her relationship with the company began more than a decade earlier. During her studies at the Technical University of Vienna, she secured an internship at ABB in Switzerland. That first exposure left a lasting impression. Combined with a research supervisor who had previously worked at ABB, the company remained firmly on her radar. Coming back years later felt like a natural continuation of her journey.

Engineering the heart of transport
Today, Nikolina works in R&D in ABB’s Motion Traction division. Her team develops platform-based power converter solutions that can later be adapted for any customer-tailored projects. Unlike industries with standardized products, traction solutions vary widely depending on power supply and infrastructure, country-specific requirements, vehicle design constraints, and many other factors. “We develop platform building blocks,” she says. “That way, engineering teams don’t have to start from scratch every time. They can adapt a strong base solution to the needs of a specific project.”

Her specialization lies in magnetic component design, a continuation of her PhD research on medium-frequency transformers. She focuses on design qualification and optimization, ensuring performance, reliability, and manufacturability. Recently, some of her work has contributed to electrifying large-scale mining machines – an emerging and complex field with strong sustainability potential. “Electrifying these massive haul trucks could, among other benefits, significantly reduce CO₂ emissions in mining,” she explains. “Knowing that the technology we develop can contribute to that is extremely motivating.”

Collaboration defines her daily work. She works across time zones with colleagues from different ABB locations, supports engineering teams during project execution, and partners closely with category managers in supplier negotiations. “It’s not just about technical excellence,” she says. “You also see the commercial side – negotiations, sourcing strategies, long-term partnerships. It taught me that engineering and business must go hand in hand.”

Growth through mentorship
Beyond technology, mentorship has profoundly shaped her growth. Through ABB’s mentoring programs, she connected with senior leaders from different businesses, gaining insight into leadership and long-term career development. “At first, you might think there’s a big hierarchy,” she reflects. “But once you start talking, you realize they are just human beings with incredible experience who genuinely want to support you.”

Encouraged by one mentor, she even drafted a 10-year career vision. “Writing it down really changed my perspective,” she says. “It doesn’t mean everything has to go exactly as planned, but it helps you understand how you want to grow and define actions that will get you there.”

Today, Nikolina gives back as a mentor herself, supporting trainees in the ABB Discovery Trainee Program. Sharing her experience feels both meaningful and rewarding. “Sometimes it’s just about having someone who understands the context and can listen,” she says. “That kind of support can make a big difference.”

Inspiring the next generation
Nikolina acknowledges the gender gap in her field, which remains strongly male-dominated. She’s committed to finding ways to change this and motivate young women to enter the field. To drive change, she co-created a “Build Your Train” initiative to encourage young women to explore STEM fields, with a particular focus on engineering. Through hands-on workshops, participants build a small functioning train to take home. “Hands-on experience can spark real interest,” she concludes.

For Nikolina, engineering is more than equations and components – it’s about creating solutions that have real impact. By contributing to electrified transport and encouraging the next generation to enter STEM fields, she is helping shape a more sustainable and inclusive future.