The blog is based on one of my biggest adventures. Before COVID hit I was a participant of Remote Year, a group of professionals working remotely while traveling the globe. I was 1 of 26 participants of RY’s community Bolivar. My tramily. Strangers who became friends.
While working remotely for clients in Europe and the Middle East, I did reside in five different cities and traveled throughout Latin America. I got to experience life in Rio de Janeiro, Santiago de Chile, Lima/Peru, Medellín/Colombia and Mexico City.
As I wrap up a recent contract, I find myself reflecting on a conversation with one of my mentees. When I asked why he chose me as his mentor for breaking into the motoring world, his response stopped me in my tracks: “I admire the work you’ve done.”
His words brought me back to one of those career-defining moments that still appears in my social media memories: the 2018 Porsche World Expedition – 80 days around the world in the latest Cayenne S.
What sounds like the ultimate automotive fantasy became something far more profound. Beyond the endless starry skies above the Simpson Desert, the campfires with black coffee and guitar music, crossing the Arctic Circle, and having Spa-Francorchamps entirely to ourselves, this experience taught me the true value of authentic leadership.
The Corporate Authenticity Challenge
In a business world that often rewards composure over passion, I’ve been told my emotional investment in my work isn’t ideal corporate behavior. One former boss dismissed my motorsport expertise as “just cars driving in circles.” Yet here I am, sought after by mentees and clients precisely because of what others see as professional weaknesses.
The disconnect is clear: while corporate culture preaches the importance of “bringing your whole self to work,” it often punishes those who actually do it.
Why Authenticity Drives Results
My unconventional approach has consistently delivered exceptional outcomes because:
Passion creates deeper connections. Clients and colleagues respond to genuine enthusiasm. When you truly care about your work, it shows and it’s infectious.
Emotional investment drives innovation. The projects I’m most proud of came from moments when I allowed my passion to guide strategic thinking and not suppress it.
Authenticity builds trust faster. In an age of personal branding and carefully curated professional personas, “what you see is what you get” has become a competitive advantage.
The Mentorship Perspective
Mentoring women in automotive and motorsport, along with empowering the next generation across all genders, has shown me something crucial: young professionals are hungry for authentic role models. They don’t need another polished executive speaking in corporate platitudes. They need someone who’s willing to show the real journey, complete with passion, emotion, and unconventional paths.
The Leadership Lesson
The Porsche World Expedition, among other passion projects, taught me that extraordinary experiences often feel ordinary when you’re living them. It’s the reflection and the ability to share those stories authentically that creates lasting impact.
In a professional landscape where everyone tries to maintain the perfect poker face, perhaps our greatest competitive advantage lies in being courageously, authentically ourselves.
What experiences have shaped your authentic leadership style? I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Currently mentoring the next generation of automotive professionals. Always open to connecting with passionate individuals looking to make their mark in this incredible industry.
Brace yourself. I’m getting a bit nostalgic. It’s race week.
This week, the 24 Hours of Le Mans returns. The 93rd edition of “the mother of all races”.
I can’t count the number of times I’ve stood at the Circuit de la Sarthe – listening to the engine sounds, headlights flickering in the dark, and having in-depth discussions about the strategy being developed with my journalists and the teams. Eat. Sleep. Race. Repeat. Minus the sleep of course, because who wants to sleep during a race like this?
It’s a place where time stretches and every second counts. Unfortunately, I’ll be keeping a close eye on things from afar this year. Le Mans will always be a race I follow, regardless of my location.
With the race approaching it got me thinking. What is it about endurance racing, and in particular this one, that keeps you drawn to it? The 24 Heures du Mans teaches us valuable lessons about endurance, strategy, and resilience.
This race is a demonstration of resilience, self-discipline, and the ability to handle pressure with determination. It’s not just about speed, either. The formula for winning endurance racing is rarely to achieve a perfect score. Learning when to push and when not is key. The objective is to manage risks, stay alert over a prolonged period (or years), and align every decision with achieving long-term objectives. In that sense, it’s akin to both life and business.
The new qualifying structure this year and the added difficulty of combining schedules with F1 has highlighted that conditions change. Strategies must undergo rapid changes when they occur.
The Human Machine
This race has always impressed me with the demands placed on its drivers and those working behind the scenes. A 24-hour chess match is played as drivers battle fatigue, pit crews strive for flawless execution, and strategists take charge of the game.
I find it to be a demanding, exhausting and immensely inspiring task. Great results are only possible when a team is prepared, has bold decisions, and stays composed when things go down. When it matters most, stay resilient.
Yet one theme continues: resilience. Le Mans will always be affected by failure. The most successful teams will adapt and carry on, regardless of the circumstances – a punctured tire, thrown foul, or rain at 3AM.
Lessons learned from this race
Why is that? Endurance over intensity. Strategy over spontaneity. Teamwork over ego. Race week is approaching, and I need to remind myself that victory doesn’t (only) entail running for the finish line first. Tom KristensenDindo Capello and Allan McNish I hear you… (to finish first…). But it’s more, it’s about sticking to the game, making wise decisions, and being present consistently throughout the day. It’s about staying in the game, making smart calls, and showing up. Because whether you’re into racing cars or chasing goals, life isn’t a sprint. It’s a 24-hour race.
The 24 Hours of Le Mans are intense, exhausting and deeply inspiring. I’m wishing all an amazing race, I will be glued to the live stream and relive the great memories and lessons learned from this race.
Class
doesn’t end when you get our diploma. Class keeps on going for a lifetime. I
cannot agree more. Being in my profession for more than 3 decades I’ve
experienced first-hand how the landscape in communications, marketing and media
has changed.
How
people see and use information today has changed dramatically. Therefore, it is
important to keep learning, to keep an open mind and to grow and keep track on
changes.
Being
naturally curious and an eager learner, I took the chance during the quiet
Corona times to dive in a little deeper. I signed up for a MicroMasters in “Marketing
in a Digital World” from Curtin University in Australia.
What I’ve
learned in the past few months about how consumers and their behavior have
changed is not new to me. I’ve seen and experienced it in my professional life
all along – unfortunately minus the reaction of most companies to the obvious
new landscape.
Not flexible enough to adapt
Many
companies are still old-school when it comes to their marketing and
communications. They stick with concepts that worked just fine in the past and
they are not flexible enough to adapt.
A lot of
companies still regard the digital world – especially Social Media – as a nice
to have, but not as an essential tool in their marketing. But they should,
primarily when it comes to the reputation of a brand. Today it is impossible to
treat your offline reputation as separate to your online reputation. For
consumers today Social Media is the new traditional media.
And yes,
good reputations are built on delivering what you promise, on trust gained over
many years, founded on consistency, delivery on the vision, the product and the
people. But in a digital world the traditional marketing and the mass-style
communication does not go deep enough. A shiny TV commercial, a polished ad
campaign and a mere press release will not do the trick anymore.
Today’s audience wants to participate
Today’s
audience wants to be part of your brand, they look for deeper and more engaging
experiences across all available mediums. One needs to be much more aware of
who you are trying to engage with and what’s the story you are trying to tell.
Every interaction your audience has with your organization affects its
perception of your brand and therefore contributes to your reputation.
Brands that stand up for their core values and also show it across all platforms are the ones who win. They are also more likely to keep their audiences trust when a crisis hit.
More on ideas how to build and protect your organization’s reputation will follow soon.
Do not stop doing what you would do in the office.
Working from home or even remotely is a way of life
and for millions of people around the globe a deliberate choice. In times of Covid-19
a lot of people are forced into home office and some are not comfortable with
it. I embraced home office already during my time as an employee and took it a
step further as I became a freelancer and started to work fully remote. For me it’s
a choice and a blessing, but I can relate to people who cannot imagine working
away from the comfort and familiarity of their offices and co-workers.
In the US remote working is already very common, recent surveys show that approximately 5% of the US total workforce already work location independent (see also my previous post). The “new work” concept only slowly arrives in other countries around the globe – something that might change in the near future given the current circumstances. And a lot of people might want to hold on to it. The reasons are not surprising. A survey of the jobsite www.monster.com states that a better work-life-balance, increased productivity/better focus, less stress and to avoid a commute are the main drivers for people to favor working from home.
Communication is key
But how can you be your best working from
home? From my experience self-motivation, self-discipline, time management and most
importantly communication are some key factors to be successful. I figured that
I’m much more productive working on my own terms with no distractions and the
chance to really focus on the task at hand. And you get tech savvy if you
cannot just quickly walk over and chat to your colleague or boss. You learn to
use tools (from logging your time to communication) and you also streamline
your messages. Keep it short and clear and don’t spam your co-workers’ inboxes.
No matter if texting, skyping, emailing
or meeting your colleagues online – cut out the noise!
My advice is do not stop doing what you would
do in the office. Have your brainstorm sessions over your lunch break, use the manifold
technology available to stay in touch and most importantly deliver! Face time
with your team is even more important when you’re not present physically. Be accountable,
proactive, engage and pick up the phone rather than sending an email. But also
make it a habit to be responsive – even if it is only a short reply like “I got
this covered” or “I will be back with an answer today/tomorrow”. Schedule regular
check-ins with your superiors and keep them updated on your progress or on what
you’re working on.
Keep it professional
Another important thing is to keep it
professional – no matter if you work from your kitchen table or at a desk in your
home. Have a dedicated workspace and don’t be tempted to do your work-out
sessions during working hours or switch on the TV. Behave as you would in an
office environment. Therefore, also set your working hours: Schedule your
coffee and lunch break and switch off your computer and your phone at the end
of the day. The downside of working from home or remotely is that you tend to
forget when it’s time to stop. Your working hours and your private time are blurred,
and it is easy to mix both.
To master these challenging times and the new
way of working – don’t lose your stride and get shit done. Great work can be
done from anywhere!
Here is a list of tools I use to be
productive no matter where I am on this planet. There are many others out
there, but I liked these the most:
A
stable internet connection that can cope with long conference calls
As much as the current situation scares people, it can also change the way we work. Covid-19 could have a permanent impact on how companies operate, or people work. It´s a blessing in disguise I´d say. As much as I vote for new work, I also see the problems that arise with it not being a choice for most but them being forced into working from home.
Speaking to several IT savvy friends just recently they also pointed out
the difficulties for some companies who are not prepared for it. Systems will
crack they say, it will be a problem especially for companies whose employees
are usually safeguarded by corporate networks and have to connect over virtual
private networks now. This might cause a real problem for the IT infrastructure
of most companies. Furthermore, internet providers might not be able to supply
the bandwidth needed. Peak traffic will increase and with schools being
suspended as well, there will be even more internet users during the day. Time
will tell if we (or the internet providers) are prepared for this.
One good thing about the whole situation – besides that people really
start to care about each other and support each other – is the opportunity for
companies and employees alike to build a remote work culture or at least some
more flexibility. And companies like Slack, Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Trello and a
few more have already reacted to support remote work and offer some of their
services for free for the time being.
I’ve been working remotely for a few years now and I
do love the flexibility and productivity that comes with it. And to be honest,
the most important thing is that the work gets done – within an office or at
your desk somewhere else. The key to be successful with location independent
work is to be organized, structured and to have your communication right. Speak
to your co-workers and to your boss on a regular basis, like you would do in
the office. Keep up the casual conversations and the chat in the coffee corner.
But most importantly: Keep spirits up and get your shit done! Don’t see remote
work as a ticket for being sluggish because nobody is watching.
I will share some tips and tools shortly that helped me a lot to
structure my remote work life. Stay tuned.
A Mariachi Band crashing your house party – only in Mexico.
Have you ever been in South America? If so, you
know what I’m talking about. If not, I highly recommend you visit this part of
the world.
Four months into my remote work experience here
in South America I’m having trouble imagining going back to a world with less
music, less dancing and less of an easy going, chilled and laid-back attitude,
not to speak about the weather.
Despite all the hardship, the obvious disparity
and the resulting social and political unrest the people are facing in this
part of the world, they have a much more positive approach to life than the
average European has.
All of the countries I had the chance to live in
for a while are struggling with a huge disparity between rich and poor. But nevertheless,
they never seem to lose their smiles and optimism.
Viva la vida!
Medellin/Colombia for instance – the City of Eternal
Spring – has transformed from a violent past into a hub of entrepreneurship and
an up and coming tourist destination. Colombia was seen as dangerous and
conflict-ridden, a country known for drug wars, violent crime, poor
infrastructure and corruption. Spending a month in Medellin I have not had a
minute where I felt in danger or uneasy. Colombia still has problems, no doubt,
but it is rebranding itself and I would not hesitate to return to Medellin, to
its music, to the incredible landscape, the variety of birds not found anywhere
else on the planet, to the rich literature culture and last but not least the modern
and lifestyle hub it has become. Viva la vida!
The same is true for Santiago de Chile. A city that has been making international headlines for the last few months with people taking to the streets to raise awareness about an insane disparity in income. As I learned, the minimum wage in Chile’s private sector is approximately 350,000 Pesos, less than 500 Euros, and employees in public sector companies’ bag in millions of Pesos – some senators in Chile earn more than our German chancellor Angela Merkel…
But it’s not only about the money, it is about opportunities – be it in education, health care or equality in general. A message the protesters (most of them students) plastered around the city in countless graffities. They express their anger, their frustration, but also the hope for a new Chile. A blooming and economically stable country that wants to leave the past behind, especially the not so distant past during the cruel Pinochet dictatorship and its violation of human rights, tortures and disappearances. The people of Chile are fighting for a country where dignity is a habit.
And as far as I can tell, they have not lost their hope and optimism. I’ve hardly ever came across a nation that is distant and reserved at first but once you’ve cracked their shell is welcoming and warm hearted.
357 eyes and we can still see – a strong message about pain and hope.
Pursuit of happiness
Having spent the past four months in Brazil, Colombia, Peru, Chile and now Mexico I got a taste of freedom, a taste of what is really important in life and especially a taste of what the ease of being can mean. Far away from our European or American way of life of buying things to be happy, I found my happiness in just being. Life is more lively here, there is more life to be lived there, the pursuit of happiness is not just an empty phrase.
I also have to admit that living out of a suitcase and sharing my accommodation with at least one or two other people contributed to it. I always thought that having more, is making me happier. That collecting possessions and making a lot of money defines who we are. It’s not. It is how we connect with other people, it’s the meaningful conversations, the walks in a city that you have never seen before, the experiences and the pure joy of being that makes a life happy. At least for me.
Connecting with people, having meaningful conversations and experience the world together – this is my happiness.
“Oh, are you German?”. Have you heard this question as many times as I
did? Does it also drive you up the wall to be recognized as a German the moment
you open your mouth? Not that I’m not proud of my German heritage, but when it
comes to language an accent free pronunciation is a big advantage – especially
professionally.
Despite me
being fluent in English and having lived in English-speaking countries for most
of my adult life, I did not seem to be able to get rid of that undertone in my
pronunciation which immediately labeled me as a German.
Can you imagine my joy as I found out that one of my fellow remotes is an accent reduction coach. With her company Parker Accentuation she helps non-native English speakers to gain a standard American accent and to improve their speaking skills for interviewing, presenting, or public speaking.
Can I finally
get rid of the annoying (to me) or charming (as others call it) accent?
I jumped on
the opportunity to be one of Nicole Parker’s students. Once a week she sat with
me and not only did I learn a lot about the history of the English language but
also how to move my tongue, my cheeks and my lips to give the sounds I’m making
the typical American color. Lots of laughter guaranteed. Believe me, it needs
practice to move your mouth, lips and tongue in a way that you are not used to
or to make sounds your throat just does not seem to be built for.
But with regular practice – make sure you’re locked away somewhere where other people cannot hear you or they might think you’ve gone mad – progress is inevitable. If you really put some effort in and spend at least 30 minutes to an hour a day on your pronunciation, you will see rapid results. I improved my accent by more than 60% within a few weeks. And surprise, surprise, people who meet me for the first time now, cannot really tell where I’m from. They spot an accent, but not the German accent anymore. I was recently asked if I’m Australian :).
Spending the weekend at Machu Picchu – the beauty of remote work.
As I started this new project – working remotely from South America – friends and clients alike were, to say at least, irritated. For my European clients, the concept of working for them, but not being in their office frequently was an alien thought.
But is it that different?
People’s perception is changing – also in Germany. In the end, it is the result that counts, not how you achieve it. Great work can be done from anywhere. As long as you have a stable internet connection there is no hindrance for working remotely. At least this is the experience I’ve made and the feedback I get from my clients.
Recent surveys show that
the concept of remote work is getting greater support by the minute in Germany.
The motivations for the so-called new work model are multifaceted: Be it the
dream to explore the world, following your partner who works abroad or having
to take care of your loved ones at home without losing your job. “New work” means
more flexibility and freedom for a workforce that puts a greater emphasize on
work-life-balance than previous generations.
A recent survey of flexjobs.com highlighted personal freedom and an increase in the health of people who did work remotely. Companies like SAP, Deutsche Bahn or several German startups realized the benefits it has for their business as well. In a very spirited job market, companies that offer flexible working structures are much more competitive than companies with a conservative structure, not to speak about the boost in productivity, reduced turnover, and lesser organizational costs. A recent survey by “Institut der deutschen Wirtschaft (IW)”, support these statements.
Embrace remote work
In the US remote work is almost common nowadays and most of my fellow remotes do have full-time jobs with US companies. It is a growing trend, 43% of US employers said they plan to allow their employees to have more remote working opportunities over the next year. Only 9% said they plan to offer less.
One explanation for this is highlighted in recent research of Harvard Business School. Prithwiraj Choudhury, an associate professor in the Technology and Operations Management Unit at Harvard Business School, and fellow researchers who compared the outcomes of flexible work arrangements at the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Read the full story here.
Let’s talk about Germany and some companies that embraced remote work and its benefits again. As an example, for Mirco Hellekes, HR-Manager at Giant Swarm GmbH offering remote work is a huge competitive advantage. “We can hire the best talents from across Europe”, he says. For him, this kind of flexible work is the future and they have practiced it for five years already. He continues “Remote work for us means that all our employees create the work environment that makes them happy and successful”.
Speaking from my own experience, I can live and work from places I might have never been able to see. I can explore the world while working full-time and so far, my clients are happy with the results. To me, this adds true value to my life and even more so to the work I’m doing for my clients. I enjoy getting up in the mornings and starting my workday because I know that I’m able to see Machu Picchu at the weekend, go for a lunch break in a traditional restaurant in Chile or go out in the evenings to improve my Salsa skills in Colombia.
New Year’s Eve or Silvester as we call it in Germany is usually the biggest party of the year. You go out, dance on the streets and marvel at the countless fireworks at midnight. Not here in Santiago de Chile. At least not this year. Because of the unrest in recent months, there was no official firework and private fireworks are not allowed. It was an unusual sight to walk the streets in Santiago after midnight and not spotting a single soul.
Nevertheless, celebrating the start of a new year and a new decade here in Chile was memorable. In this part of the world festivities like this are a family affair. Being very family orientated, the Chileans prefer to have their parties at home with family and friends. Something I admire. And if they go out – as we discovered during our NYE dinner show at a reputed restaurant – they include the whole family. We had four generations sitting at the table next to us, obviously having an amazing time together and interacting with each other, chatting, laughing, dancing – no mobile phone to be seen. Unfortunately, in our yet so modern world, we do not see this very often anymore. Actually, pretty sad.
Interesting to see was also that NYE parties here in Santiago only start after midnight and it’s mostly the younger generation that turns night into day and party until the sun comes up. So, the people here in Santiago de Chile certainly do know how to party – they just do it in a more family orientated way.
To stumble upon a piece of Germany was the least I expected as I roamed the streets of Lima, one of South America’s largest cities with a population of close to 10 million. But there it was – a tiny café tucked away from the major roads of the busy metropolis.
This cafe is wonderful, it has a beautiful
interior and is a place to relax and enjoy quality time with friends. This cozy
place, run by the German Christiane Pfuhl, has become one of the favorite
places for those who want to relax with a good coffee or German food such as a
bratwurst.
The highlight for me was to find German
Christmas cake there – Christstollen. A blessing at this time of the year.
Merry Christmas to all my friends celebrating!
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