At catworkx, we don't just talk about values, collaboration and cooperation - we live them. But how does this manifest itself in everyday working life? In our new interview series, we introduce people who take on central roles in our company - and thus actively help to shape or influence our culture.
We start with Doreen, Culture Expert at catworkx. She ensures that our cooperation is not a product of chance, but is consciously shaped. In this interview, she explains what drives her, why practising values is more than just buzzwords - and what she particularly loves about her role.
Role & tasks
Doreen, please briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
Doreen: Hi, I'm Doreen, I've been living with my family in northern Germany for around 15 years and have been part of catworkx for nine years.
What exactly do you do as a culture expert - and which teams do you work particularly closely with?
Doreen: I originally started as a consultant at catworkx - at that time the company had just 30 employees. Over the years, I have taken on various internal tasks and gained deep insights into our structures.
Today, around nine years later, catworkx has grown through several mergers into a diverse medium-sized company with over 200 colleagues - from very different nations and with very different backgrounds.
For about a year now, I have been in charge of the company's internal cultural project Together.We.Grow! We have set up a dedicated team of volunteers who are passionate about various aspects of cultural development at catworkx.
When many different teams become one
In recent years, many new colleagues have joined the catworkx family as a result of the mergers with Stagil and Brainbits. What role does cultural work play in such changes - and how do you support this as a team?
Doreen: We all know it: it's not that easy to turn a group of individuals into a real team that appreciates each other, trusts each other and works well together. At company level, this process is even more complex - there are organisational and, above all, emotional challenges: uncertainties, different habits, cultural differences.
In order to grow together successfully, one thing is needed above all: open communication, clear common goals - and the ability to deal with conflicts constructively. We support all of this with targeted measures as part of our cultural project - and with a large portion of patience. 🙂
Doreen Petzold
Culture Expert
catworkx GmbH
Sense & effect
What motivates you in your work - what drives you?
Doreen: I am motivated by the fact that I can play an active role in shaping how we work together and interact with each other at catworkx. I firmly believe that even the smallest cog can have a big impact. That's why I'm particularly happy about the moments when we get into a good flow as a team, get a new idea off the ground - or when a project that we've been working on for a long time is really well received by our colleagues.
How does the fact that culture is not an empty word at catworkx show itself in everyday life?
Doreen: Each of us brings our own values to the company - and we all shape our culture together. This often manifests itself in small things: Do I turn up to meetings on time? How transparently do I deal with mistakes? How do we share knowledge? What tone do I use in a difficult conversation? How do we celebrate our successes?
All of these are expressions of culture - and this is exactly where we start with our work.
For applicants - Insight & invitation
What qualities or values should someone bring to the Culture team - or to catworkx in general - to be a good fit?
Doreen: Curiosity, courage and openness - these are key qualities for me. Cultural work means trying out new things, leaving old paths and also openly addressing uncomfortable topics. This requires trust and sometimes perseverance. After all, change not only brings enthusiasm, but also doubts and fears. That's why it's important to handle it with care. Not every plan, no matter how well thought out, works straight away - sometimes we have to be prepared to compromise or start from scratch.
What convinced you to join catworkx back then - and what keeps you here to this day?
Right from the start, I was excited by the variety of tasks that I was able to immerse myself in at catworkx. Whenever I wanted to try something new professionally, there were always opportunities to do so - further training, internal changes, new roles. Of course, this only works with personal initiative, but the openness for this was and is there. From lateral entry to project work and the development of new areas of responsibility - I was able to organise a lot.
The person Doreen
What do you do when you're not creating or living culture?
Doreen: I currently work part-time at catworkx, I'm a full-time mum (wink wink) - and I'm also self-employed as a holistic coach. This requires organisation and a good sense of your own limits.
I find this variety of tasks very enriching. And I am very grateful that catworkx gives me the flexibility and trust to do so.
Do you have a motto that guides you in your role?
Yes - a phrase that has been with me for a long time and is particularly appropriate in our fast-moving world:
‘The only constant in the universe is change.’
Fancy getting better together with Doreen and the catworkx team?
👉 Then take a look at our current vacancies - there might be just the right thing for you!
