Philippe Gauss and his team
From a small crew to a large team.
Philippe began his journey at Bechtle just over five years ago with a team of seven. Today, he leads 11 specialists and 3 apprentices who take care of the operation of the platforms and services.
‘When challenges become complex, we take over to support the team in 2nd level support and find solutions,’ he explains with a smile.
It is impressive how calmly and clearly he talks about his work - almost as if it all comes naturally. He took over the Vietnam team four years ago, which he sees as an exciting challenge. ‘It's just mega cool to lead such an international team,’ he adds.
Expertise is the key to success.
His team is divided into various technological specialisms. There are specialists for each of the specialist areas who have familiarised themselves with their respective fields. Philippe is in the process of optimising the team structure in order to increase efficiency and make even more targeted use of specialist knowledge.
‘It's about everyone doing exactly what they do best. And preferably in a way that reflects their passion. The aim is for us to cover all technologies as a team,’ he emphasises. He speaks with a calmness and clarity that I have rarely experienced - someone who knows exactly what he is doing and, above all, why.
Between IT assignments and family time.
What Philippe particularly appreciates about his job is the flexibility. He manages the balance between work and family well, also thanks to the home office options and the understanding of his employer. ‘I have the freedom to organise my job in such a way that I can also be there for my family,’ he says. This balance is particularly important to him - and he also exemplifies these values to his team.
He tells of an incident that impresses me. A major incident started at night and coincided with an important family event. Philippe worked through the night, phoned his colleague at 3am and handed the case over to him in the morning so that he could be with his family. ‘That's exactly what Bechtle is all about. Working together and for each other - even in stressful times,’ he says. As he tells me this, I realise how much these moments are close to his heart. For him, they are not just tasks, but values that he lives by and passes on.
Philippe at work
Stress? Always a question of priorities.
Philippe describes his work as a mixture of precision and calm, especially in critical moments. ‘My colleagues in my private life compare me to an emergency doctor - for IT.’ It's about acting quickly, setting priorities and keeping an overview even in hectic moments. ‘If the phone rings in the middle of the night, I need a moment to wake up. Then I can deal with the situation calmly and objectively,’ he explains. The image of the IT emergency doctor sticks in my mind. You can sense that Philippe always finds a way out of hectic situations in his very own way and keeps a cool head. Not in the medical sense, but for customers whose systems are in trouble, he is the saviour in the IT emergency room.
His team and the collaboration with other departments, such as Professional Services or the network team, give him the support he needs. ‘None of this would be possible without a reliable team,’ emphasises Philippe.
The passion is in the detail.
During our conversation, it becomes clear how much Philippe cares about his job. He talks about the importance of prevention and how his team works hard to prevent critical cases from happening in the first place. ‘It's just good to know that our measures are working and that the systems remain stable,’ he says.
At the end of our conversation, I realise that Philippe is getting a little antsy. Something is on his mind.
‘In conclusion, it is important for me to summarise once again that I am very grateful for the great commitment of my team, who do a great job even in hectic times. Thanks to their support and expertise, we can act quickly even in challenging moments and find ideal solutions for our customers.’
When we end the conversation, Philippe is left with an expression of satisfaction and gratitude. His gaze wanders briefly as his thoughts turn to the people with whom he works side by side every day. For Philippe, his role is far more than just a job. It is the daily challenge of finding the balance between the precise IT emergency doctor and the caring family man that fulfils and drives him.
Would you also like to become part of our team?
At Bechtle, you benefit from flexible working arrangements, individual support and a full 6 weeks holiday per year! Take a look at our careers page and discover how you can put your career in the fast lane with us.