I studied theoretical astroparticle physics and cosmology at RWTH Aachen University, so I was as far away as possible from the reality of the manufacturing industry. Towards the end of my studies, I realised more and more that although pure science can be extremely interesting, the bottom line is that you often spend a lot of time and energy on something that ultimately has little to no influence on anything in the "real" world.

I also greatly missed working with teams, which is less found in theoretical physics. The prospect of a job where, based on an analysis and with the right engagement of a team, I can directly deliver measurable and visible results that have a real impact on people, the process, the product or even the environment, ultimately brought me to Chartwell.

Besides fascinating insights into many different industries and numerous "hard skills" of process optimisation, the opportunities for personal development at Chartwell are the most valuable elements of my past years at Chartwell.

As described earlier, I was not used to working with people, leading teams or managing challenging conversations after graduation. With the intensive coaching right at the beginning of my career, I was finally able to practice these skills again - and was provided with even clearer structure and more feedback. As the focus shifts more and more from the initial technical skills to the additional interpersonal interactions over the course of the career, I have noticed myself improve greatly in this area. However, arguably the most important thing about Chartwell’s support is that it doesn't just end with the initial coaching but continues to offer more and more tailored training and feedback sessions as your career progresses.

It means that you never stay at one level, but you are constantly developing. I have not yet seen these opportunities for continuous personal development and training at any company I have had the pleasure of working with over the years.

My typical week starts on Monday morning with a flight or train to our client‘s site somewhere in Europe. Once there, I gain an overview as quickly as possible of what happened on site over the weekend and what might be directly or indirectly relevant to the project.

As a "day-to-day" project lead, I also ensure that all Chartwell team members have a clear weekly plan and goals, and decide whether I take extra time for support, coaching or attending other meetings. On the one hand, my daily tasks involve managing my project workstream, which includes daily arrangements with clients, line studies and analysis etc.

On the other hand, I also manage communication with the senior client, including preparing weekly and monthly steering and performing logistical tasks. Another important aspect of my work is to provide support and feedback to my team members on the project to ensure they will achieve their goals and develop further.

On Fridays, I work in our office in Berlin, where I spend my time giving training to our junior team, coordinating German recruiting campaigns and beyond that connecting with my colleagues outside work.