Today, we're introducing you to colleagues for whom cross-functional collaboration, networking and knowledge sharing play an important role in their daily jobs. Our questions: Why collaboration is so central to them and how exactly they live it in their everyday work.
Where do you work at thyssenkrupp and what do you do there?
I'm a product owner at thyssenkrupp Materials Services in GPI (IT), specifically in the area of pricing with a focus on IT. With two product teams, we take care of dynamic real-time pricing with the support of artificial intelligence.
What role do collaboration and networking play in your job?
Collaboration and networking play an essential role for us. On the one hand, within the project team, since we operate internationally and not everyone is always in one place. Of course, tools like MS Teams, Jira and Confluence help here. On the other hand, networking and constant exchange with the business are crucial. Both on an operational level to understand pain points in daily doing, but also with top management to understand strategic goals and realize initiatives like AI-based pricing, for example.
What does thyssenkrupp & the #GENERATIONTK mean to you?
For me, two worlds collide here in a positive sense. On the one hand, we see a company that can look back with a certain pride on an extremely long tradition and also draws on it; on the other hand, we have the new generation here that wants to lead thyssenkrupp into the future. Artificial intelligence is a groundbreaking opportunity to optimize existing business models and even open up new ones. However, I also notice that the topic of networking and internal collaboration is being approached quite differently. Initiatives like NWOW and Lean & Agile show this path. Our initiative to bring AI experts from across the thyssenkrupp Group together in the thyssenkrupp AI Expert Exchange Group to learn from each other is just another building block. Elements such as we.match also show that it is possible to collaborate across organizational boundaries. Such ways of working ultimately bridge the gap to the history, because they make it clear again and again how large and diverse thyssenkrupp actually is.
Where do you work at thyssenkrupp and what do you do there?
I work in Corporate Finance, in the Risk & Insurance department. We take care of risk management and the central placement of insurance programs for thyssenkrupp worldwide. I'm responsible for motor fleet insurance and global benefit management. In addition, I am involved as NWOW Volunteer, which runs under the patronage of Oliver Burkhard. This also gave me the opportunity to be trained as a Scrum Master and to accompany L&A projects as an agile coach.
What role do collaboration and networking play in your job?
Both in my "daily business" at Risk & Insurance, collaboration is a constant part, be it with group companies, the broker, insurers or colleagues. But also in my role as agile coach & scrum master, collaboration is essential. Not only in my own project, but also with the other coaches. We exchange ideas, share best practices and give input and feedback. Likewise in the NWoW community.
My first Lean & Agile project was about Swarm Learning, sharing not only AI models across segments, but also knowledge. And it was nice to see that not only the AI systems at the different locations (Essen/Kiel/Duisburg/Heilbronn) are networking, but also us. In addition, an expert group for AI has emerged from this project, in which the relevant colleagues can network, share knowledge and collaborate across thyssenkrupp. After several projects, I can say that every project is different, but always exciting! And I am always impressed by how much can be achieved in a short time when motivated colleagues - everyone with their own specific input - work together in an agile manner.
What does thyssenkrupp & the #GENERATIONTK mean to you?
To me, thyssenkrupp stands for diversity: diversity of businesses, of divisions, of people, of locations, etc. I've been working at thyssenkrupp for about 20 years now, but in different positions and locations, be it in Bochum, Düsseldorf, Essen or Duisburg at Steel in Key Account for Ford, Volvo, and Jaguar. I like the fact that thyssenkrupp is so diverse and offers so many opportunities. Last year, for example, I wouldn't have thought that my work as an agile coach and NWoW volunteer would give me insights into exciting topics such as AI/Swarm Learning but also Leader's role in Recruiting & Retention. Other highlights were the project work with colleagues from India and Singapore, a visit including a guided tour through the submarine yard at thyssenkruppMS in Kiel, my collaboration on the video for 'Call a Colleague' and now the organization of the after work parties, which are also used for collaboration and networking. In short: It never gets boring at thyssenkrupp!
Where do you work at thyssenkrupp and what do you do there?
I am currently part of the Microsoft 365 team at thyssenkrupp Information Management. There, as a Senior Application Manager, I am not only responsible for various areas of cloud computing in Azure and Microsoft Dynamics. I also take care of topics like Teams, Viva or Power Platform, which many of us use every day. So my work is about making technical possibilities for collaboration available to my colleagues at thyssenkrupp. This can be in daily interaction in video conferences with joint work on documents, joint work on sales opportunities with customers, or simply providing computing power or data storage in the cloud.
What role do collaboration and networking play in your job? (please feel free to give a concrete example of where collaboration was particularly important)
Collaboration is important for me and my daily work in two ways. On the one hand, I regularly work together with colleagues from other companies at thyssenkrupp to fulfil my own tasks. The exchange of experience is particularly important in order to keep finding innovative solutions to challenges, e.g. for hybrid meetings. The colleagues at AT and thyssenkrupp Digital Projects gave me a lot of impulses for tricks that I could elaborate and pass on. On the other hand, I give training in Teams and digital collaboration in general for thyssenkrupp IM, thyssenkrupp AG, thyssenkrupp MX or thyssenkrupp MS or organise community meetings on specific cloud topics and support projects as agile coach. Even with international cooperation (e.g. with China), challenges and solutions are always found that help us as thyssenkrupp as a whole elsewhere.
What does thyssenkrupp and the #GENERATIONTK mean to you?
Since my first days at thyssenkrupp more than eleven years ago, the group has permanently changed. The general changes in the working world have also altered and in many cases improved the cooperation with the people at thyssenkrupp. Without the team spirit, support and exchange among each other and across departmental and company boundaries, this change would not have been feasible. This solidarity and the joint search for ways to improve is "#GENERATIONTK" for me.
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