5 things I learned in my first 100 days @ Porsche

When I told my friends about my move from Hamburg to Stuttgart, the most responses were like: “How could you leave Hamburg?” - “Yes, Hamburg may be cool, but Porsche is cooler” was always my reply :-). What’s my job? At the interface between business IT and infrastructure & platform IT, as the connection point I am initiating projects and fulfilling the IT demands of my colleagues. Since I passed the other week my first 100 days with Porsche, I would like to recap with you my major learnings about my new environment. Hope you’ll enjoy it!

#1 – Humble it’s all

Even though Porsche might be among the most exclusive brands globally, you feel humbleness everywhere. In the offices, style guides or communications – I did not expect “less is more” that strongly. One of my best-ager colleagues, who is with Porsche for years, told me once: “We are a solid Swabian mid-size company, who happen to build good cars.” Yes, this is humble.

#2 – Passion for the Business

Humbleness on the one hand, passion for the business on the other one. From my perspective, no matter if you work directly car-related, in factory security, catering, HR or IT: To contribute directly or indirectly to the spirit of 911, LeMans24 or other major Porsche achievements is what brings people day by day to work - and keeps them there, which you see with a fluctuation rate of only 0.7 percent in 2018.

#3 – Change is the new Run

The digital transformation has fully arrived in the company. From what I have seen so far, I can say there is no area or department, which is not dealing with and/or evaluating effects of digitization. The flashlight of digital is being hold in literally every corner of the organization, be it products & services, customer relations or corporate processes. Still it is not a law of nature that we are compelled to digitize whatever is possible to digitize. Guiding principle is what’s good for the customer.

#4 – Balance is Key

What I was amazed of is how every Porsche principle, method or guideline is in balance. What do I mean with that? For example, design comes with function, exclusiveness comes with social acceptance, performance comes with everyday usability. And innovation comes with…? Yes, tradition. Best example for that is the 2019 to be released fully electric Porsche Taycan (which actually has the principle “innovation-tradition” even in its name, since Taycan means “young, lively horse” and is a homage to electro characteristics and the logo, which is in use since the 1950ies).

#5 – Swabian Pragmatism

I truly didn’t expect this hands-on mentality: how my colleagues are not shrinking from new topics, trying be prepared for the upcoming changes and challenges. Everyone knows that things will change massively and that we will need to adopt accordingly. Success is not build on success. Success is built on failure and learnings. It’s build on fears that you have to overcome. This is why we are actively encouraged to go new paths and try new things.

Resume

This is very likely the most exciting time to join the automotive industry and its undisputed spearhead Porsche: the future of sports cars, digital services all around mobility, electrification and many more stunning topics are waiting to be tackled. After almost ten years of professional experience in the field of digital, it feels like I am to the right time at the right place. The move from Hamburg to Stuttgart was definitely worth it :-).