1. what have been the most important cornerstones of your professional career and what is your current field of work?
My career began in the 1990s with a commercial apprenticeship and a brief detour to study teaching and business administration. However, my career really took off at Mannesmann Mobilfunk, where I started as a call center agent and soon took on management responsibility. From then on, customer service was a recurring theme throughout my career - development, management, transformation. Over the years, I have designed and rethought many customer interfaces.
In 2008, I started my own business, one of the most important decisions of my life. Today, I am the managing director of two GmbHs and, with my company CXecutives, I advise companies on improving their customer experience, digitizing processes and using new technologies, such as artificial intelligence, in a meaningful way. And because I always enjoy turning ideas into real services, I also recently founded ShiningShoes - a digital shoe care experience.
Originally, the whole thing was only intended as a showcase for CXecutives. The idea was to create a shoe care service that could be booked anytime, anywhere: convenient, digital, reliable. The further my business partner and I developed the showcase, the clearer it became: This is more than just a concept, it can become a real business. Customers select the desired quality level via our platform, we collect the shoes and, depending on the service level, return them freshly cared for the next day or the day after.
2. what would a typical day in your job look like?
The day starts at seven with a good coffee and a check of the most important e-mails. I prefer to do creative work in the morning, because that's when my head is freshest. Analytical topics usually come around midday, and I push routine tasks such as documentation or reporting and evaluation into the late afternoon or evening hours.
In between, there is often sales work to be done, such as targeted outbound phone calls or LinkedIn outreach. The mix of strategy, creativity and entrepreneurial implementation makes the day exciting for me. I usually finish work at around 7 or 8 p.m., although of course it can sometimes be later if a project requires a lot of energy.
I work six days a week, which is completely normal for me. For me, Saturday is a working day away from the classic day-to-day business, ideal for creative work, new ideas or conceptual topics. Why all this? Because I really enjoy my work!
3. what was your most courageous career decision and did it pay off?
The step into self-employment in 2008 was without question the most courageous decision. At the time, I was in a phase of professional reorientation, between two jobs. I had previously been employed and was more of a job hopper: always on the lookout for new tasks, variety, other sectors and companies. During this time, I was approached by a recruitment consultant asking if I could imagine taking on a telecommunications project as a freelancer. That was the start of my self-employment and, looking back, a real turning point: no double bottom line, no guarantees - just the firm belief that my know-how and my intuition for customers could really make a difference. And that is exactly what proved to be the case. Over the years, I have built up a portfolio that works - both professionally and economically.
The fact that I am now in a position not only to develop new ideas like ShiningShoes, but also to implement them successfully, is a direct effect of this decision. It has not only given me entrepreneurial freedom, but also the opportunity to constantly reinvent myself.
4. what made you decide to become a member of the Office Club?
I was looking for a professional business address with a serious appearance and flexible usage options. Office Club Berlin offered exactly that: in a perfect location and with an environment that simply fits. I was able to receive clients there, organize meetings and set up my company in a structured way.
The Office Club is now the company headquarters of my two GmbHs - a solution that has worked perfectly for me for years.
5. which Office Club services do you use and how do you benefit from them?
I use the virtual office including the business address and the reliable mail service - including forwarding, which takes a lot of the organizational burden off my shoulders. For meetings or workshops, I regularly use the on-site meeting rooms, which are technically well-equipped and professionally set up. These rooms are ideal if you need catering, a whiteboard or simply an environment where nothing is missing. I mainly work from home myself and this overall package allows me to work flexibly without compromising on structure or quality. Especially with a growing variety of projects - and with an additional side business like ShiningShoes - this is worth its weight in gold.
6. which encounter or "aha" moment has had the biggest impact on you in your professional career?
After my first freelance project in 2008, I had one of those clear moments: I can really make a difference with my knowledge - and use it to carry myself independently. This experience strengthened my resolve to go my own way and to trust that I will always find new opportunities with curiosity, a willingness to learn and perseverance.
My advice: If someone is thinking about starting their own business, they should ask themselves a few honest questions: Is my overall package really sufficient - do I have the human and sales qualities required for self-employment in addition to my professional skills? In addition, one of the most important questions is: What do I expect from self-employment? Why do I want it at all? Is it about more money? Is it about the freedom of no longer having a boss? Or for variety? You should answer these questions for yourself as clearly and as early as possible. Because they help you to set the right course.
7. how do you wind down after a long day at work?
Time with my family is the best balance for me. In the evening, I like to relax with a good series, such as Dexter, or, even better, with music. I prefer to listen to funk, R&B or jazz, such as Earth, Wind & Fire, Al Jarreau or Michael Jackson.
Music helps me to let go of the day, it creates distance and brings me back into balance. Sometimes a good song is enough to clear my head again.
8. which of your qualities do you think are decisive for your professional success?
I think it's the mixture of creativity, solution-oriented thinking and the ability to really listen to customers. Quincy Jones once said: "God gave us two ears and one mouth - so that we listen twice as much as we speak."
For my work, this means that I have to find out exactly where my customers' pain points are. What are the pain points? What is the real issue? This requires not only a sympathetic ear, but also genuine interest, a personal approach and the ability to build trust quickly. If there are problems, it doesn't help to use empty words, but clarity.
Accordingly, I have a good sense of what is needed and develop practical, implementable solutions. I follow trends closely and integrate new technologies where they offer real added value.
But the most important thing is probably my commitment to quality and customer satisfaction. I don't give up until a solution really fits - and my customers feel that. This is exactly what has earned me trust, recommendations and lasting success.
Do you also want to take the plunge into self-employment? Then Office Club's office services might be just right for you! Whether you want to rent a business address or a virtual office with reliable mail handling - discover the service that suits your needs. Find an Office Club near you!
