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IT as a driving force for joint success
An essential part of Ulrike's duties at OTTO is to drive the "demystification" of IT so that it can realize its full potential. Because that's the only way IT can serve as a driving force for success and drive change. But what excites Ulrike most about her job and when was her passion for IT first awakened? We got to the bottom of it!
Ulrike - your topic in 3 sentences!
"My passion is for progress and change, and I consider IT to be the biggest driver. Nevertheless, I recognize that not everything that is technically possible is always useful or beneficial. I find it fascinating to understand the world of IT and to be excited about new possibilities for development. At the same time, I'm very mindful of carefully deciding how best to take advantage of those opportunities, both on a small and large scale."
Why is your topic important for OTTO?
"Demystifying" IT is crucial so that it can arrive at the heart of the company and serve as a driving force for success. This approach also applies to OTTO, because only through a comprehensive understanding and accessible use of IT resources can we exploit their full potential and achieve our goals."
What excites you most about your job?
"My areas of responsibility always affect all employees. Therefore, we immediately recognize whether and how we are becoming effective. At the same time, there are always an insane number of perspectives and views that need to be considered, sorted and reflected upon. In the process, something new always emerges, I learn more professionally, I get to know new people."
Describe a typical working day as Head of Corporate Function & Controlling at OTTO.
"As Head of Corporate Function & Controlling, my typical working day consists of a variety of different tasks and responsibilities. I am guided by the concept of 'servant leadership', where I comprehensively care for the well-being and support of my employees, be it on a personal, professional or technical level. This includes regular 1:1 meetings, workshops on various topics, joint decision-making processes and in-depth analyses on various topics.
In addition to looking at the individual, I also keep an eye on the team. Even though I strongly focus on the self-organisation of the teams, an essential part of my work is also to support and strengthen the team in its development. And of course the circles go even further. With a very active stakeholder management, I maintain close relations with both top management and the various interfaces within the company. This involves both operational and strategic perspectives.
Not to forget the controlling part of my job description. Here, I mainly look at budget control in a comprehensive and strategic way. All of this is a lot of fun and I am happy when I can be effective for the company. The best moments are those when I can analyse, disassemble, reassemble and design things, and thus have a direct formative effect."
Where was your enthusiasm for IT first awakened?
"Even as a schoolgirl, I had a computer at home, which was also my first point of contact with IT. I thought it was great to write software faster than my father. Since then, my passion for IT has steadily developed and I love implementing innovative projects."
What do you wish you had known before you started your job?
"It probably would have been the realization that computer science is much more than the stereotypical image of the lonely programmer sitting in front of his computer for hours. In my profession, I have the privilege of experiencing the full spectrum of human behavior and seeing how software solutions impact and help people. As my professional experience has grown, I have become a firm believer that the true benefits of software are only achieved when people are deeply engaged with their needs and requirements. Interacting and collaborating with other people is key to developing truly effective and user-friendly solutions."
That's whywomen in the tech sector are so important for us!
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