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“I’ve always been a bit of a nerd,” Katharina chuckles. She’s not really a fan of the label. “But innovation is something I find really exciting—not just here in Germany, but in other countries, too.” Looking at the fast pace of developments in the USA or Asia, she thinks to herself, “Why can’t we make that happen, too? We can totally be a country of firsts.” One thing is for sure: the 29-year old from Hamburg is going to pull her weight, and then some. She drives Bechtle’s IoT business with contagious enthusiasm, as part of a strong IoT community of some 100 professionals in the DACH region.
Curiosity and visions.
“There’s an incredible breadth to IoT. Most of our customers, partners and colleagues have just an inkling of what this technology is capable of,” says Katharina. Her mission? To spark curiosity. Reveal potential. Inspire visions. For one and a half years now she’s been sharing her insights with Bechtle’s sales teams, developing a partner network, and translating IoT trends into Bechtle business processes.
“I love getting people on the IoT train just as much as I do to be seen—as an inspiration for other women who are interested in IT,” says Katharina. She’s become a bit of a fixture in webinars and presentations—as a speaker, she’s a natural—and she’s actively engaging on LinkedIn, too. “Networking is key”, she says, emphasising every word.
With nine years of sales experience in telecommunications under her belt, Katharina has always been on an upwards trajectory. Starting with a dual-study business programme, she quickly moved on to a role as Senior Digital Solution Manager. Eventually, eager for a new challenge, a friend pointed her in the direction of Bechtle. One thing led to another—a quick phone call with her future boss, an interview, and a job offer.
“Complete freedom” and room for creativity.
"It all happened really fast and the whole process was smooth as butter. It was almost a start-up-like experience,” says Katharina. Perhaps the biggest appeal was the opportunity to help build a new business unit from scratch, to make a real difference instead of blending into existing processes. For her, this “complete freedom” and the vast room for creativity are still among the biggest perks of her job. “Every day I can 100% do what I believe makes the most sense at a given time. There’s virtually no limit to the trust Bechtle puts in me,” says Katharina. Most of the time, she works from home, but she also regularly pops into Bechtle IT system houses and calls in on customers on site. She can be seen at partner events, workshops and trade fairs.
Right now, Katharina is ready to step up her game again and has secured a spot in Bechtle’s development programme, JUMP. Consultant or leadership path? Katharina is keeping an open mind about it. One thing is clear, though. She is ready to innovate, including herself.
