5 Questions to Christian Dristram

Christian Dristram has been Chief of Staff at CISPA since January 2024. The sociologist with a focus on systemic organizational development and consulting is determined to change things at CISPA. He coordinates the areas close to science: Planning and Coordination, Corporate Communications, Technology Transfer and Scientific Support. In the following, he introduces himself and describes his plans for CISPA.

Can you tell us about your role as Chief of Staff at CISPA??

As the Chief of Staff at CISPA, my role is very dynamic and constantly evolving. In general, my main task is to provide comprehensive support for the work of the Management - and the CEO in particular. This includes the coordination and implementation of projects as well as various management tasks.

Specifically, I am responsible for the content-related management and coordination of four central areas: Planning and Coordination, Corporate Communications, Technology Transfer and Scientific Support. My aim is to ensure that the Management's vision becomes reality.

This includes the adjustment and optimization of organizational processes to ensure their functionality. I also work closely with our heads to drive forward strategically important personnel recruitments, which is essential for our growth. In addition, I have overall budget responsibility for the areas mentioned.

As a young research center, CISPA is currently in a tremendous growing phase. What future opportunities do you see for CISPA?

The fact that things are still in the development phase and not everything has been completed is particularly appealing. We have the opportunity to shape many things together for the first time and initiate positive changes. Even if things were handled differently in the past, employees are very open to breaking new ground.?

What leadership philosophy do you follow in your role at CISPA?

My leadership philosophy at CISPA is based, on the one hand, on focusing on people as individuals. On the other hand, it is very important to me that we foster a culture of appreciation. I think it is important to lead in a way that not only takes into account the role of the employee, but also their personality and individual circumstances. In other words, we need to respond to the individual needs and characteristics of our employees in order to support them in their performance and help them grow. However, it goes without saying that there is also a professional framework in place and that professional tasks and goals cannot take a back seat.

As a systemic thinker, I see people as the central element of an organization, because everyone spends a significant amount of their life time at work. Therefore, it is essential for me to create a working environment in which people enjoy working, as a large part of our waking lives is dedicated to work.

And what would you say are the biggest challenges facing CISPA in the future and how do you plan to overcome them?

One of the biggest challenges that CISPA will have to overcome in the future is definitely retaining and motivating employees as an attractive employer given the current labor market situation. The fact that our center is still in the development phase and processes are not yet fully established gives us a lot of creative freedom, but can also lead to a higher workload for employees compared to established companies or scientific organizations with fixed structures.

I want to put more focus on the topic of work culture, also by means of innovative formats. My aim is to encourage people to openly address issues that may not have received the necessary attention in the past. This way, I want to help create an organization where people not only enjoy working, but also feel comfortable and committed in the long run - with regard to long-term employment rather than daily working hours.?

To tackle these challenges, I want to focus more on the advantages of our dynamic environment and work actively on the development of our organizational culture. A key part of my strategy is to create additional formats and opportunities that promote team spirit and collaboration. Good initiatives such as various social events are already in place and I would like to keep supporting and expanding them. That is why we are now starting to develop a common understanding of values, communication guidelines and leadership principles under the motto “Culture@CISPA”.?

In your opinion, what sets working at CISPA apart?

What characterizes the work at CISPA for me is a feeling of openness and a culture of encounter that I have never experienced before in my professional career. It is the first time that I have been part of an organization that is shaped by so many highly qualified people who are all very committed to moving CISPA forward. There is no sitting back; you can feel the common drive to develop CISPA further instead. This combination of excellent expertise and the will to play an active role is something I find unique, especially in an environment that is largely organized within the framework of traditional public services.