In August, Katja Feiber took on the role of Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) at Kulzer. In this interview, she talks about which topics are important to HR and to her personally, what she associates with Kulzer's core values, and how a perfect day starts for her.
Welcome to Kulzer, Katja Feiber. You took up your position as CHRO in August and have already been able to gain first impressions and get to know colleagues – what were the first weeks like and what are you looking forward to as the new CHRO?
I received a very warm welcome from my team, but also from the other colleagues. In the first two weeks, I had a lot of one-on-one conversations with employees – more will follow in the next few weeks. This is particularly important for me to get to know the culture, to understand the business, to see the challenges we are facing, but also the things we are doing well, the things we are proud of. I am looking forward to many more meetings and getting to know the Kulzer employees with their different (cultural) backgrounds.
You have many years of HR experience – most recently at a medical device company. In your view, what are the most important topics for HR at the moment and what is particularly important to you?
The work in HR has changed a lot in recent years. The shortage of skilled workers in particular presents companies with challenges, and many companies have to compete for good employees. Digitalisation is becoming more and more important and artificial intelligence will increasingly influence our working environment. The topic of "VUCA" (note: stands for volatility, uncertainties, complexity, ambiguity) also plays a role and shapes our everyday lives.
What do you personally associate with Kulzer's values of Challenge, Diversity and One Team?
I am convinced that companies that live these values will be more successful than others. As an HR manager, these values are of course extremely important to me.
Only by facing challenges can you rise above yourself and drive innovation. This leads just as much to better or more creative results and approaches to solutions as does the recognition and appreciation of different backgrounds, perspectives and skills. I certainly don't need to tell you that this also requires a team that acts as a unit. The feeling of togetherness and cooperation will make an incredible difference in standing out from the average.
My feeling about how the values are lived at Kulzer was confirmed in the first few weeks. They were indeed also the reason for me to accept the challenge of the role here. Our transparent learning and failure culture and cross-functional collaboration with agile methods are just one example.
What starts a good working day for you and what is the best way to relax after work?
The perfect start for me is when I can go for a run or do a short yoga session at sunrise and then drink a nice cup of coffee. In the evening, too, I like to work off my energy with sports or meet up with friends. If the working day has become a bit longer, I'm also happy to sit on the couch and watch a series.
Manager Corporate Communications
Bettina Link