Telio's monthly Digital Disclosure

February 2024: Meet our HR Team - Ibolya Lauter-Sági & Christoph Günther

What is your current position at Telio?

ILS: I have been working for Telio since 2014 in different roles, but from September 2022 onwards, I started my job as a human resource business partner being responsible for the Central Eastern European region. I am located in Budapest, Hungary, the centre of Software Development.

CG: I am an HR Manager based in our Telio Group HR Team in Hamburg since September 2022. I am responsible for our COO and CBO departments, as well as our Dutch, Swiss, and North American entities.

What aspects of your job at our company make you feel fulfilled and passionate about the work you do?

CG: I enjoy working in a company that gives something back to the people in society which are often overlooked. Being in prison must be tough, so it's nice to be able to give the inmates solutions for social interaction with their relatives and friends. You can feel that spirit at Telio. As stressful and complicated as it can be at times, everyone pulls together and helps to reach that goal. That makes work fun and meaningful.

ILS: I like making sure that everything runs smoothly. This not only includes administrative work, but I also like interacting one-on-one with my team who need help or guidance. Knowing that my efforts contribute to our colleagues’ overall well-being and motivation makes me really motivated about my job.

Could you share an interesting cultural tidbit about yourself that has positively influenced your approach to international HR?

ILS: I was born in former Yugoslavia, but I have been living in Hungary since 1999. The fact that I speak Serbo-Croatian has been highly advantageous during my career at Telio, especially within the Central Eastern European Region (CEE), but also internationally, as the mutual language and experience with some colleagues have helped us to get to know each other easier and to converse more freely.

CG: An interesting fact about me is that I have a fascination for aviation and flying. I have always been fascinated by the mechanics of flying, the thrill of taking off and landing, and the feeling of freedom that comes with soaring through the air. My passion for flying has given me a special perspective on international HR, as it has taught me the importance of adaptability, resilience, and calm under pressure. Just as pilots must cope with changing weather conditions and unexpected in-flight challenges, HR professionals working in a global environment need to be prepared to deal with different situations and manage cross-cultural interactions effectively.

In your opinion, what role does communication play in building strong international teams, and what strategies do you employ to ensure open and transparent communication?

ILS: I believe that in order to build strong international teams, open and effective communication is inevitable.

And strong teams make a company successful.

To ensure open and transparent communication, I show empathy for my colleagues whenever they have any questions or concerns. We also try to maintain and keep a good work-life balance. Speaking about monthly RUMBA meetings (which employs a specific communication method to ensure comprehensiveness) or virtual update talks to share progress, and address any concerns or challenges are very important to us. This helps keep everyone informed and connected despite geographical distances.

CG: Communication is the key to successful HR work, especially in such an international environment as Telio has.

I always try to communicate openly and directly with my colleagues and take different points of view into account. This approach has proven to be beneficial in fostering collaboration, building strong teams, and promoting a positive work culture in international settings.

How do you promote a sense of team spirit among geographically dispersed team members who do not have the opportunity to interact face-to-face regularly?

ILS: The fact that goals and values are common within a company does a lot to promote a team spirit among geographically dispersed team members, but of course, different social channels (Teams, LinkedIn) also help a lot in this matter. Here at Telio, I especially like that the management endeavors to keep everyone connected by organizing regular virtual meetings worldwide (e.g. town hall meetings).

CG: These regular exchanges are essential. Of course, this doesn't completely replace face-to-face communication and it's even more fun when you can see each other in person again. I also like to talk about private matters with my colleagues from time to time and learn a lot of new things that way.

Could you share a unique team-building activity or initiative you've implemented that brought international team members closer together?

ILS: Within the CEE region, we usually come together before Christmas and have dinner together to close the year jointly. We always combine these gatherings with some team-building activities as well. This special event has been ruined around the Covid era, but we will do our best to keep this tradition and to further strengthen our good relationship.

Can you describe a memorable experience where you learned something new about a colleague’s culture?

CG: Every time I work with international colleagues over a longer period, I learn something new. Especially on business trips, I try to also spend some time outside the offices with my colleagues to get to know the country and the people. I always find the culinary specialties in particular very exciting: Bitterballen in Amsterdam, Pastel de Natas in Lisbon, Beaver’s Tail (pastry) in Calgary, …

How has working at Telio challenged you to think outside the box and find innovative solutions to problems?

CG: Telio constantly poses new challenges for which there is often no one-size-fits-all solution. You always have to get involved in new situations and problems and think anew about how to tackle them. The different cultural and legal aspects internationally make it even more exciting. However, it is very satisfying when you successfully solve another problem and can move on to the next adventure.

ILS: Each country within the CEE region has its own set of labor laws, regulations, and compliance requirements. Navigating these legal complexities while ensuring consistency and fairness in HR practices required creative problem-solving and innovative approaches.

What excites you the most about the future direction of Telio and the opportunities it presents for both personal and professional growth?

CG: It's an exciting time at Telio right now. We are growing strongly, are represented in new countries, and are launching many new projects and products. Seeing this growth and being able to play an active role in shaping it is very motivating and allows me to continue to grow both professionally and personally.

ILS: Innovative projects and technology solutions that our developers are working on resolutely sound exceptional to me. From an HR perspective, it is also very interesting to be part of this team as it often requires collaboration across different teams and disciplines.

Would you like to share a lesson, and what have you learned?

ILS: I would like to express my appreciation to my supervisors for providing me the opportunity to take over the responsibilities of the human resource business partner of the Central Eastern European Region. I believe and can prove with my example that by investing in the growth and development of employees, companies can cultivate a motivated and talented workforce. Providing internal career steps demonstrates a commitment to employee development and retention. When employees feel valued and see growth opportunities, they are more likely to remain loyal and committed over the long term.

CG: There are many, but mostly:

Be interested and open to new ways of work, don't overcomplicate things, use the knowledge of your international colleagues, and try to get better every day.

?#telio #rehabilitation #prisontechnology #teamwork #diversity #resocilization

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