Digitization is a matter of the heart.

The responsive company organization enables employees to help shape the company and expand potential new areas through their own initiative. It was not least the collaboration with many different people that prompted Michaela to complete training as a systemic coach and thus create completely new added value for the company together with others.

How did you come to virtual7?

I came to virtual7 through a former work colleague. Our paths had already crossed several times professionally. As I was very unhappy with my job at the time, she recommended virtual7 to me. I didn’t have much to lose and applied without further ado. After the first interview, I was already convinced. In February, I will have been with virtual7 for 5 years.

What is particularly important to you in terms of your day-to-day work?

In my working life, I have already learned a lot from various managers – both positive and negative. It is very important to me in all areas to work together on a basis of trust. This also includes the trust that I place in the team that I supervise. This is not least due to the fact that I am not so deeply involved in the subject matter. I’m not a database administrator, my SQL knowledge is sufficient, but others are certainly better at it. I have actively decided against micromanagement. If someone takes on a task, I trust that person to be able to do it and to do it well. As soon as questions arise, I am of course there and am also happy to be a sparring partner. In addition to open communication, I attach great importance to respecting my colleagues’ working hours. This means that I let them know if I’m going to be late and try to respond to emails consistently.

If you could have a superpower, what would it be and why?

I would like to be able to divide myself into several people so that I can be equally present everywhere. Sometimes I have the feeling that I’m not equally involved everywhere, as I’m sometimes still dealing with old issues. With this superpower, I could be one hundred percent present both professionally and privately at the same time.

What goals have you recently achieved or what goals would you like to achieve in the coming year?

I had set myself the goal of completing my training as a systemic coach. I did this at the end of October last year. In my position as Team Lead, I can use this expertise to provide support. On an interpersonal level, there are always areas where you can offer your support. Another goal that I hope to achieve is to define the role of coach within virtual7 GmbH. I see enormous potential in this role to be able to offer added value internally as well. In the future, colleagues, but also customers, should benefit from the role if needed.

What are three special features of your job?

I think the industry focus is special. It’s interesting to look behind the scenes of the so-called “mills”. Another special feature of the job is working for virtual7. You don’t often find the way employees are treated here. I can understand how our Managing Directors run the company. Nevertheless, I have the feeling that they are always thinking three steps ahead, which meets my need for security. We can deliver valid figures and I have targets that I can achieve as an employee. As a team, we live the values of our company. I can walk in to anyone and it doesn’t matter if I’ve asked my question umpteen times, all my colleagues are courteous and patient. Everything together makes my working life easier, which I think is great.

Do you have many internal roles?

Yes, I have already taken on several roles. I only have limited resources due to my work with customers, so it’s important to me that I enjoy the role I take on and that I can live it intensively. For example, the role of Customer Communicator. I’m also involved in internal projects, such as LouKI7, our AI, which is currently being finalized for upcoming trade fairs.

What can you achieve with your daily work?

Together with my support colleagues, I manage a grant processing software. This software ensures that end users receive the funds they have applied for. I can support this through my work by ensuring that the process is properly mapped and that applications are processed on time. In my opinion, Germany still has some catching up to do in terms of digitalization, which is why I am happy and proud to be able to make a contribution through my work.

What are your tasks at virtual7, i.e. what exactly do you do?

When I started at virtual7, I sat on the bench for three months, which was a very unfamiliar feeling. At the time, I approached my then Head because I needed a job of some kind, and I would have painted the office if necessary. At some point I got a call with an offer to set up a team in the support area. Today, I’ve been the team lead in this project for almost four and a half years and support a total of 16 people, some of whom are also my colleagues at virtual7. At virtual7 internally, I participate by taking on various roles. The role of coach in particular is currently one of my favorite projects. Together with other colleagues, we are currently working on defining the role and integrating it into the responsive company organization.

For me, responsiveness means…

… freedom. I like to work independently and this is made possible by the responsive company organization. This way of working allows me to get involved in different areas and learn a lot of new things. In addition to different areas in the project context, I can also work internally on the company’s strategy. I don’t have to do much more than raise my hand and express my interest in the topic – that’s actually pretty cool. Nobody expects me to always give 120%. Sometimes it’s only 80% due to the project and that’s perfectly fine. I can also approach my colleagues at any time if I have suggestions for improvement or need something. No matter what the issue, I always feel that I am seen and heard.

What will Germany look like in 10 years?

I would like everyone to be able to work wherever they want. Ideally, with network coverage that is extensive enough to enable flexible working. I hope that more companies in this area will abandon their black-and-white thinking and be open to this new way of organizing their working day.

I can also well imagine that autonomous driving will remain an important topic in the future. I would be happy to be flexible and mobile when my driver’s license expires in 20 years. We have already proven several times today that artificial intelligence, when used sensibly, can make work much easier and at the same time bring progress. I therefore assume that these topics will be a strong focus in the coming years.

About the artist

Sopia Kiknavelidze

“I am a professional artist from Tbilisi, Georgia, living in Jülich. After studying Fine Arts at the State Academy of Arts in Tbilisi, I worked as an art teacher for a while, but soon realized that teaching was not the right profession for me and started learning digital art.

I have worked as a graphic designer in various companies since 2016. Now I work part-time for a creative agency as an illustrator and also freelance in the fields of graphic design and illustration. From an early age until today, my main motivator has been the urge to tell stories creatively – be it digital illustration, oil painting, but also needle felting and working with clay.

I love experimenting with different styles and techniques, and the topics I work on vary from children’s stories to current social issues. In my spare time I work on my personal projects. I recently had the idea of producing my own children’s books and hope to publish them soon.”

Interested?