Aged 35, living in Düsseldorf and keeping active in her spare time on her road bike or on the badminton court: that’s Maxi Hof, Head of Product Management. But what brought her to Schulz & Sohn?
“I’m motivated by the chance to help shape products that contribute to providing people around the world with good coffee every day,” reveals Maxi. Find out why Maxi was particularly excited to join us at the start of our transformation and growth phase in our interview!
Maxi, what motivated you to join our company?
I was looking for a new professional challenge and saw an opportunity at Schulz & Sohn to join the company at a particularly exciting time. The company is undergoing a phase of transformation and growth, which opens up many opportunities to play an active role in shaping its future.
I also found it particularly appealing that Schulz & Sohn is a real hidden champion. This gives me insights into exciting markets and business models that many people aren’t even aware of. It motivates me to share responsibility for products that help provide people worldwide with good coffee every day.
What does a typical working day in product management look like?
Since I’m still new here and the Product Management department just started, there isn’t really a typical working day yet. What I enjoy most is that each day brings something different. I keep finding new connections, learning more about the company, and getting to know my colleagues better.
Product management is mainly about connecting different teams. Most of our daily work is about working with other departments, whether we’re developing new products, making changes to existing ones, or handling customer questions.
What are your day-to-day tasks, and what do you appreciate most about your job?
Because of the cross-functional nature of product management, I work with many different departments and people. It is precisely this diversity that makes my work particularly varied and exciting.
What I enjoy most about product management is seeing real results. Watching ideas become actual products motivates me.
What skills or qualities are particularly important for your role?
One of the most important skills in product management is communication. This involves both the exchange of information between different areas of the company and communication with customers.
In addition, stakeholder management and managing expectations play a major role. Equally important is the ability to think creatively, even when faced with last-minute challenges, and to develop pragmatic solutions to product-related issues.
Did you face any challenges during your first few weeks with us? How did you deal with them?
Fortunately, there haven’t been any major challenges so far. I was given a very warm welcome right from the start and have received a lot of support from my colleagues. This made the orientation process easy for me and allowed me to quickly find my feet within the company.
How did you find your induction? How did your team support you?
My induction was very structured and comprehensive. Thanks to a detailed induction plan, I had the opportunity to get to know the various departments in depth and gain a holistic insight into the company.
The support from my team and colleagues was particularly positive. They take the time to explain how things fit together, answer questions and share their knowledge – even if a question might be asked a second time.
What has been your best or most memorable experience with us so far?
Which corporate values or aspects of our corporate culture have particularly impressed you since you joined?
I was particularly pleasantly surprised that sustainability isn’t just a buzzword here, but is actually put into practice – both in our products and in many other areas of the company.
Social responsibility is also a top priority. The well-being of staff is highly valued and taken just as seriously as the company’s financial success.
The open, informal culture has also made it easier for me to settle in. In general, I very quickly noticed the positive and appreciative atmosphere amongst my colleagues.
How do you find working with your team? Is there anything you particularly like about it?
We’re currently experiencing an exciting period of change: many areas are growing closer together and moving away from a traditional departmental mindset towards a more process-oriented way of working. For Product Management, as a cross-functional department, this is a major advantage.
Collaboration works very well in my team. We support one another, share knowledge and work together towards our goals. This creates a very pleasant working environment.
What are your hopes for your professional future with us, or what goals would you like to achieve over the next few years?
I aim to establish product management as a valuable part of the company in the long term. Together with my colleagues, I would like to refine the product-related processes so we can respond flexibly and efficiently to new requirements.
Furthermore, I would like to help bring successful products and innovations to market and thereby play an active role in shaping the continued growth of Schulz & Sohn.
