How do you see Vorwerk as an employer?
I see Vorwerk as a fair life changer and I am the living example of it: from advisor to Team Leader to Senior Vice President Sales is an opportunity you do not see often. Besides, on today’s discussions on politically correct shares about gender, nationality, race, ability… I am once again the living example of the meritocratic attitude at Vorwerk: women, non-German, from a peripheric European country and the opportunity was equally offered – “chapeaux” to Vorwerk.

That is indeed a very individual career path…
… but I am not the only example. We have a woman in Austria as a General Manager, a former Branch Manager, also starting from advisor leading the destinies of a high potential market. In Portugal, the General Manager has also taken the full path to the top as another great example of meritocracy, which I personally love. In Switzerland, the GM is also a woman who started as a trainee at Vorwerk. She had a long way to go to make it to the top, but she made it there. It would be very sad if we would fill a position based on demanded shares. I prefer this meritocracy policy and I could tell hundreds of stories.

It seems that Vorwerk plays a huge role in women’s careers in their home countries.
Yes! After being moms, at an age that no other company is interested in employing them, that is when Vorwerk opens the doors to any dream hard work can offer. Regional Managers, Area Managers, Branch Managers, Team Leaders… It’s so awesome!

And I know that when a woman enters a meeting at 9 o’clock, very well dressed, her day has started much earlier than that, preparing breakfast for kids, lunch boxes, driving them to school and sometimes you can even notice some “cereal chocapic” fingerprints somewhere in the blouse due to a last-minute hug in front of the school gate. They play ten roles in a single day. As a woman, I am very proud to work for a company that gives such great opportunities to women.

What do you expect from new hires?
As a career changer myself, I have a lot of understanding for the gaps that are left. No big deal, we train you on the job at Vorwerk. But an open mind is an important asset. The motto I use with my teams is: one problem, two solutions. They have to come up with plan A and plan B, and together we find the best option. It is okay to make mistakes, as long as you use them as an opportunity to learn.

The focus topic of the annual report is “Ideas space.” What helps you to come up with new ideas?
Working on my creativity area. Reading. Watching relevant TED talks. Listening to people. And staying away from the 8 o’clock news, they are hope killers. I prefer to concentrate on the good things humankind is still doing. Call me naive!

What role do creativity and inspiration play in your day-to-day work and how do you manage to inspire your employees?
Creativity is the foundation of any successful business. I encourage my teams a lot to think outside the box. To be crazy. To not worry about looking ridiculous and to never forget the child they once were. We are so lucky to work with people. With people you can create, believe, inspire, plan, laugh, support, and achieve the unimaginable. And when they succeed, you celebrate and strive for more.

You have worked with people from all walks of life and different nationalities. How has that experience changed you personally? And how has it helped you professionally?
The big lesson is that the world is very small, and people are more alike than they think. I learned that motivated people are unstoppable and can perform miracles. At Vorwerk, we go to great lengths to create an atmosphere that people are proud to be a part of. And by “people” I mean the sales force as well as the customers. If we do our job well, our products change our customers’ lives for the better – their routines, the way they cook or clean. This is so incredible!