I like to compare the function of product management to a «spider in the web». Like a spider in a web, product managers in the company are the link between all areas and teams. This also means that we have to represent different positions depending on the side we communicate with. What that means? When I discuss a new product idea with our R&D team, for example, I represent the customer and our sales colleagues. Here I have to clearly communicate the needs of the market and the customer requirements. When I talk to sales or the customer, however, I represent our plant and Baumer as a whole. I illustrate how we differentiate ourselves from the competition and what advantages the customer has when using our product.
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Which aspects of your day-to-day work do you find particularly interesting?
We are responsible for the entire product life cycle from development and market launch to phase-out. You could say that a product manager at Baumer is like an entrepreneur in the enterprise, which makes the task very versatile and exciting. This is also the reason why I have always stayed in product management since my first job as a junior product manager after my electrical engineering studies and never wanted to do anything else. Within product management, you can take on different responsibilities over time or look after different products and regions. It never gets boring and you have new challenges every day.
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What are the 'must haves' in your job?
Technical understanding, orientation towards optimization and innovation, «common sense» and a certain degree of resilience. In addition, good written and spoken English skills, as we are active worldwide in product management, and willingness to present to larger audiences. Of course, this also includes openness and understanding of different cultures, flexibility to travel and the ability to adapt to different personalities.
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If you had to describe Baumer's corporate culture to an acquaintance in just a few sentences – what would you say?
I would describe Baumer with the following keywords: Supportive, innovative and extremely customer-oriented. Always looking for the best solution. Cooperative and reliable. From the very first minute at Baumer, I have had the experience that everyone – regardless of the location – was open to questions and helpful.
