Interview on Father’s day with Lars Schulze

Q: Would you introduce yourself?

A: I am Lars Schulze, Vice President Accounting at Carcoustics since August last year. In the past, I have worked in several positions in Finance and Accounting.

?I live in a patchwork family. My older daughter Anna is 16 years old and will soon be graduating from high school. Then there are my wife’s two children, Daniel and Elisabeth (13 & 12 years old) and our child, Marie. She is our little one and is 3 years old.

I think it's very unusual that I became a father again at 49. A reset button was pressed and everything happened again from the beginning.

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Q: Would you say that you were a different father now than you’ve been with your first child?

A: Yes, definitely. Much cooler and more relaxed. You may not be as nimble in many things, but you have a lot more experience and don't see things so strictly anymore.

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Q: How can you combine family and work?

A: My wife and I both work 100% and it takes a lot of planning to cope with everyday life. But it's going quite well, we have a lot of support and we manage it well. I take Marie to nursery in the morning and we split the afternoons: We have babysitters who pick Marie up two days a week. My wife picks her up two days per week and Thursdays are always Dad-Marie-Days. That's when I pick her up and spend the afternoon with her. What I really have to say is that thanks to the flexible working hours at Carcoustics, I can keep the Dad-Marie-Day.

It's not something I take for granted and I really appreciate it. It's also great that Carcoustics offers a supplement to support the childcare allowance in Leverkusen. Not many employers do that either and it helps a lot.

?In general, everyday life is also a challenge. Sometimes things don't work out as planned. We ourselves sometimes wonder how we manage it all. But it's worth it if you think about who you're doing it for.

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Q: Have you been on parental leave?

A: No, actually not at all.

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Q: What would you say prevents some men from going on parental leave in the first place?

A: For some men, this can mean career restrictions. In many cases, the role model is still outdated. But there are more and more fathers who are taking parental leave and I think that's great. Of course, it's also a financial question. Everyone should do it the way that's possible and best for them.

My wife didn't take parental leave back then either. Marie went to a childminder when she was 6 weeks old and my wife was able to go back to her job. She is a pulmonologist and wanted to go back to work soon. Of course, it was an adjustment for Marie at the time, as it was for us. But we managed it. And the childminder is now like her grandma to Marie and part of the family. It's a really nice enrichment for her and for us.

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Q: Which advice would you give any working father or somebody who is about to be one?

A: Quality instead of quantity! You should experience beautiful things together, enjoy them and somehow save them for yourself. Time passes so quickly, every moment really counts. And you should be really relaxed. The children should grow independently and then they will find their own way.

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Q: What do you like most about your job at Carcoustics?

A: What I like most is the internationality of Carcoustics, my colleagues and the Accounting topics I get to deal with. I really have a great team, both locally and globally! It's really fun!

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Q: What is your favorite way to relax after a working day?

A: When the weather is fine, I love going out into the fresh air with Marie. There's not much time to relax because everything is very well planned. But when there is time, I like to go for a run, go to the sauna or drink an espresso with my wife on the terrace.

At the weekend, I just enjoy spending time with my family and going to the swimming pool with Marie.

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Q: Being a father in 3 words

A: Basically, I think there are exactly the same three qualities that you should have as a manager towards your employees: Love, role model and responsibility.

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Q: Who is your biggest supporter? Do you have any role model?

A: I often think about my father, how he used to be with me and what I experienced with him. He has always been my role model and I had a really good time with him. He worked a lot, but he always made time for us. When I was at school, I remember him coming home during the lunch break and having lunch with me and my brother. And we spent a lot of time together as a family, especially at the weekends.

My biggest supporter is my wife. Behind every strong man, there is always a strong woman. We are really a good team and manage everything together. I am very grateful to her for that!

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