Five stories, five WOWs

I began my Freudenberg journey as a dual degree student – and I’m so glad I did. It has been a great place from which to get an overview of what the Freudenberg Group is all about.

In my various roles - currently I am involved with data analysis -  I have continued to gain more and more professional experience in Finance and IT. For example, dealing with the many differing IT systems company-wide due to our decentralized nature. At the same time, I have visited Freudenberg locations all over the world - which happens frequently on audits - accumulating cultural experience and working knowledge of our global production processes, machinery and products. Like when I visited our sites in India and saw different working methods in play and a vibrant society. Actually, I am constantly amazed at the diversity of our people, not to mention our product range - from automotive parts to textiles to cleaning products, and even coatings for gummy bears.

All at a company where the values aren’t just words on paper but are truly lived and guide our long-term outlook. With this in mind, I like to draw on the ‘give way road sign’ metaphor to describe my time here – keep moving but be mindful of others on their own respective journeys. These days, the way ahead is even more exciting for me. With the support of management and my inspiring colleagues, I am reaching further; a part-time student again, I am doing a Master’s degree. 

So, if you want to beat the same Freudenberg trail, my main advice, and I am sure my colleagues would agree: Be curious. Other than that, just enjoy the ride!

I feel so lucky to have joined Freudenberg about 17 years ago and I hope there will be more colleagues who end up having the same wonderful experience as me. I enjoy it here so much and I have two jobs! Yes, I am a Senior Legal Counsel but I am also Head of Freudenberg Regional Corporate Center and the Regional Representative in China. What I am doing now is way beyond what I imagined I would be doing in my career. That is the Freudenberg way, go further, reach higher and try always to be the better you.

My first chance to do that came in my first project, which was setting up a plant in Yantai for Vibracoustic. It was the first time I was involved in the whole process of a new investment project, and I made a legal-related contribution at each step. At the opening ceremony of the plant, I really felt a real sense of achievement. I now had some useful experience in my pocket that would serve me well on the projects that followed later.

For me, the local talent management training I participated in about 10 years ago, and then again in 2019 has been a real difference maker in my career. As has the Business Leadership Program. This is because I was often on courses with Freudenberg Group colleagues from all over the world, which helped me build up my network and gain different perspectives on our business and my field. It also taught me how to gain the trust of internal customers, which is absolutely vital to my role.

I would say in vehicle terms that I am a corporate Minivan with space for 6 or 7 people, because I like to do things with my great team. We would have to have a strong engine too, because legal work can be very challenging with lots of hills to climb. We would also need lots of fuel so the team can spread to the many areas of the company because of Freudenberg’s diverse portfolio. It is really a big stage with multiple opportunities in numerous locations that cover so many fields. It’s why I never feel bored here.

What do you do if you get an internal job offer, a great one, but you are not sure? You turn to the people you love, your family and circle of friends, for help in making your decision. And your manager, if you have a good one, and I did. 

The offer was to move from a technical role as an Application Engineer around Product Development, into a commercial role as Product Marketing Manager. I had already turned the role down, but my HR colleagues helped me see that I had the entrepreneurial capabilities needed to fulfill this role. After I was appointed, it became so exciting to ‘commercialize’ my technical ideas and see the impact that they might have on the business.

In 2019, as part of my performance review, it was stated that I was nominated as a successor to the previous Plant Manager. Soon after I began personal development training for my current Plant Manager role. You are not hung out to dry as a manager, you get support, you get training, you get guidance. And you grow.

I have grown from Marketing to a more Operations-type role, leading our site as Competence Center Manager (Plant Manager) with over 100 people in Troy, Ohio. I didn’t need to think twice about it this time. There had been HR planning in place, such as the career development process and succession planning, to satisfy any perceived gaps in the way to fulfilling this new role to the best of my capacities.

And the company events? They bring minds together. They stimulate. I was invited to several global events like ‘Management Summit’ or ‘Dialog & Post-Dialog’ events. Very importantly, the networking, and the people I met at these events show me why Freudenberg is celebrating 175 successful years.

For me, my next step is not currently a daily focus because I enjoy the impact that I am making, the team that I have, and the direction that I am able to lead this site.

I have been at Freudenberg for around 20 years – I started here before some of my younger colleagues were even born! When I joined back in 2004, I couldn’t dream of the role I’m in today: Set up and manage a Freudenberg Regional Corporate Center in South East Asia. And I think even now, I am living the dream because I am currently Head of Freudenberg Regional Corporate Center – and a mentor to those that will follow me.

I still have the same enthusiasm that I brought on my first day – I feel like a sports car, revving on the start line ready to go. It’s the type of projects I work on that get me going. For instance, in 2023 we began setting up a new joint office in Kuala Lumpur, bringing four Business Groups together in this region – Freudenberg Regional Corporate Center, Freudenberg Flow Technologies, EagleBurgmann and Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies. This will establish a crucial base for the Freudenberg Regional Corporate Center South-East Asia, a place where regional members can come home when in Malaysia, whether it functions as a startup incubator, regional meetings or training center or welcoming stopover for visiting associates from other regions or countries.

What am I wowed by at Freudenberg? The tangents in the road; the ability to deviate to places you never thought you would be at, with people you never thought you would be with.

Luckily, I have managed to negotiate the many speedbumps in my professional life. The company always gives you space and this allows you to bring out your A-game. For me, that happens when you have an open mind, as well as a keenness to learn about and build a network in other business groups and corporate function teams. Bring those attributes and you will go far here.

I have been here, there and everywhere during my 27-year career at Freudenberg. My experience, the knowledge I have gained, my leadership style and my aligned values to Freudenberg means I am viewed as a role model. And why not? For continuity purposes, it is good to have people who can show you the right way forward. It’s like the cycle of life. 

Your reward as a leader is knowing that a person you helped and mentor is achieving their dreams. A few years ago, I received a call from a colleague who at the time was CEO of Freudenberg Filtration Technology Brazil. A fellow colleague had shared his life story with them and said that I had had a big influence on their career and private life and that I was an inspiration and leadership model. It made me feel proud. I had hired this person years ago as a maintenance assistant. He had been working in a gas station. His attitude was great. He was always present and very committed. Now? He is currently responsible for the Technical Department at Freudenberg Filtration Technologies in Brazil. 

That is exactly what I did when I moved to Freudenberg Performance Materials in Cape Town, South Africa. The company's support for me and my family during my relocation was fantastic and really helped me settle in. With that backing, you can deliver a great job and great products and fantastic services. The evidence is that after four years in South Africa, all operations and business goals were fulfilled and the local team were in better shape. 

Now I am 100% focused on my new responsibility on the Board of Klüber North America. I am driving business development and growth, organizational and people development, operational excellence and, perhaps, some potential mergers and acquisitions (M&A). It is all about forward progress for me.