Cultural Spotlight: Annika Rollman

Annika Rollmann, member of GRACE for over a year now, is an Engagement Manager at AZ Consulting in the area of Productivity Excellence. She leads a team and supports different Allianz OEs in becoming more productive in their ways of working.?

Annika was born and raised in northern Germany and even though she gets told a lot that she looks like a “northern light”, her family roots are widespread all over Germany. Growing up, she spent most of her time outside always looking for new adventures. As the area she lived in is known to be entirely flat, the highest mountain was a chosen spot for school trips – being no higher than 169m above sea level. ?

In her teenage years, Annika started to fence and even though she was told that she is not a good runner, she started running for herself and eventually succeeded in running a marathon. Both sports taught her that mindset is an essential part of getting things done, as well as portioning one’s energy and pacing yourself until the final sprint. Lessons she nowadays applies in a business context, too.??

If you’d ask Annika to describe herself in one word, she’d call herself a learner, while her family, friends and colleagues characterize her as an entrepreneur who likes to bring people together for work and a “doer”, being the one who strives to get things done.??

In terms of German traditions, Annika is convinced that there are no such things, but instead numerous very distinct regional traditions depending on the area of Germany you come from and/ or live in. And as we move from one place to another (may it be in- or outside of Germany), we tend to create our own family traditions by combining cultural experiences we have had. Speaking of family traditions, Annika’s favorite one is to come together on special holidays and have delicious homemade food, usually not local food but rather something everybody likes – and of course, loads of cake.?

In addition to speaking German and English fluently, Annika also enjoys speaking Spanish which she learned while studying in Barcelona, Spain. When doing her MBA there between ?2013 and 2015, she worked with 150 students from over 50 countries. This international setup helped her to get to know different working styles as well as appreciating every person’s individual character and personal background. Being in teams with people from such culturally, academically, and geographically diverse backgrounds has influenced Annika’s style of teamwork . Today, as she is leading a diverse team with members from Vietnam, Turkey, India and the UK, she claims that communication and the exchange of expectations is essential when working together.?

In this regard, Annika is convinced that creating safe spaces for talking and listening is a major part of managers’ responsibilities. As well, the importance of making people feel part of the organization’s community has increased even further in the virtual set-up. She sees GRACE as a perfect platform to do so and hopes that the community will grow even further.?