Hello Justine, first of all, congratulations on your new position as depot manager in Kesselsdorf. Before that, you were a driver and also worked in the office. That's quite a rapid progression, but how did it come about?
Yes, thank you. But I actually knew from the beginning that I wanted to develop my career further. I started at CWS Hygiene as a driver through a service provider company. People who know me like to say that I address things openly, especially when I see potential for better solutions. That makes it easy for me to get along well with people and, as a driver, with our customers. However, for health reasons, I had to switch to an office job and became an office worker at CWS Hygiene. I already really liked the atmosphere and the team spirit among my colleagues, so it was an easy decision for me to switch completely to CWS Hygiene. Nevertheless, I longed for more responsibility and took the plunge to apply for the position of depot manager. And it was definitely worth it.
Do you see your path to becoming a depot manager as an advantage?
Definitely! I know the work, the products, the processes—and most importantly, my colleagues. There is a tremendous sense of camaraderie among the drivers. That was already the case when I was training, and fortunately, we have maintained that to this day. Because we all know each other and have built a real bond, it is now easier for me as a depot manager to approach my colleagues, and it is easier for them to come to me with their concerns. We are a well-coordinated team, everyone helps each other, and that ultimately enables me to maintain a family-like environment with my colleagues. That's important to me because I want everyone to feel comfortable and enjoy their work. Ultimately, I can really empathize with the drivers' situation because I've been in their shoes and know how everything works from their perspective.
And what are your goals as a depot manager, and where do you see yourself in a few years?
Definitely as a depot manager, but then with a few more years of experience under my belt and alongside my colleagues. I like the varied tasks and the responsibility I currently have as a depot manager. I like my team and my employer. If I had the chance to choose my path again, I would follow it in exactly the same way, and that's exactly how I would like to continue. However, continuous development is also very important to me, which is why I want to keep working on myself and, as a result, on our depot, and achieve improvements.
What advice would you give other colleagues on their career development?
When I think back to my early days, I asked a lot of questions until I really knew every process, every product, and every aspect. I would advise everyone to dare to ask questions and get to know everyone. I believe you have to find a way to work together so you don't lose the fun in your work. Talking to my colleagues helped me a lot to settle in and keep my motivation up. I am very grateful to them for that. What I particularly took away from my time in the office was the understanding that everyone—including us—is allowed to have bad days, but it's important to never lose your smile, because better days are definitely coming!
