Christiane Korupp

What did you do before joining exccon?

I originally came from the banking sector but soon switched to IT. Since then, I have been constantly involved in seminars and project management. I have developed and delivered seminars for project management, communication, coaching and presentation techniques, as well as user training courses. I have led projects in which systems were replaced or departments were centralized. Subprojects, which included project communication and training of many employees when introducing new systems, were also included. I started out in sales at exccon to get to know “the other side.” However, I soon ended up with “trainings” and “projects” again here. It just suits me.

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What do you appreciate about your colleagues / team?

I particularly like the colorful mix in the team. Different talents, experiences, cultures, characters and interests enrich with diverse ideas and inspirations, so that topics can simply become round and good. Working together is also nice. Sometimes we sit together after work, have a drink and a great time. Completely informal, across departments and regardless of age, gender or origin. That is really fun!

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How do you balance family and career? How does exccon support you in this?

Balancing family and career requires a great deal of organization, discipline and flexibility. Since I joined exccon, I have gone through several stages with 2 children from crèche to secondary school. Flexible working hours, working from home and self-organization enabled me to care for sick children, go to school consultations or attend kindergarten parties. I received excellent support from my supervisors and colleagues over the years. Of course, it is always a matter of give and take. That's why it was always a matter of course for me to work towards a deadline in the evening, to attend an event or to step in for other colleagues who dropped out themselves.

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How often do you work from home and why?

Personal communication with my colleagues is very important to me, which is why I enjoy being in the office. Many questions can be answered more quickly and the flow of information is better. There is also solidarity through chatting at the coffee machine or taking lunch breaks together. I work from home one day a week. When I sit over concepts, work out ideas, write texts or make complicated calculations, I want to dive into the topic completely undisturbed over a longer period of time. Sometimes I increase my creativity with loud music. Of course, that doesn't work in the office.

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What does someone need to bring along to do your job as a project manager and trainer?

Definitely creativity and organizational talent. You also need self-confidence and self-confidence, as well as “a thick coat.” You have to enjoy being on stage, but you also have to be able to let others in the limelight. And — even if that sounds a bit strange from a trainer's mouth — you have to be able to shut up and listen. Empathy is important in order to be able to understand participants, project employees or stakeholders and their points of view. If you can then broaden your horizons, enjoy making plans and have a dose of pragmatism, you can roll up your sleeves and get started.