What became of...? Successful career paths at Steinbeis Papier
From the first day of training to today's management role - what are the personal career paths at Steinbeis Papier? Under the motto "What became of...?", eight colleagues look back on their beginnings and tell us what drives them today. The very personal stories not only show impressive developments, but also prove that despite all the seriousness and high standards of quality and sustainability, there is always room for humour, fun and a warm community to enrich everyday working life.
Sönke König
Started as: Apprentice papermaker
Today: Team leader of production planning
From papermaker to planner: Sönke König's path at Steinbeis is a prime example of the permeability within the company. After his first apprenticeship, he initially worked in the test room on shift before embarking on a new path: "One of the most important decisions I made was to start training as an industrial clerk." Today, as team leader, he coordinates the orders for the paper machines. He remembers his early days with a smile: "The funniest thing was that everyone in a new department asked me what relatives I had at Steinbeis. But I didn't have any." His advice to the next generation is clear and down-to-earth: "Always remain friendly, authentic and interested. Treat everyone with respect, no matter what job they have, and don't be too bad even for not so nice tasks!"
Steinbeis in three words: exactly my thing!
Luisa Egge
Started as: Trainee paper technologist
Today: Occupational safety specialist (SIFA) and industrial foreman in paper technology
Luisa Egge made history as the first female apprentice paper technologist at Steinbeis. Her motivation was clear from the start: to prove that women can do the job just as well. A special memory for her is "that all the 'older' men were always welcoming and did a great job of involving me". The decisive moment in her career came after two years at the roll wrapping machine, when production manager Thomas Denk gave her the opportunity to progress to become an occupational safety specialist. Today, she ensures that risks are recognised in everyday working life before hazards arise and says: "What drives me above all is that I actively contribute to making our workplaces a little safer every day." Looking back on her first day, she says today: "I did everything right!" Her endeavour to prove that women can do the job just as well has been more than successful.
Steinbeis in three words: consistent, lively-communicative, familiar
Stefan Seeland
Started as: Apprentice mechatronics technician
Today: Head mechanic PM6
Stefan Seeland also experienced the strong team spirit and support from experienced colleagues. His path was significantly influenced by the support of his master craftsman at the time, who "took him under his wing. I was able to learn a lot there and try things out in the second row." This spirit of trust and personal responsibility still drives him today. What he enjoys most is "working independently and the freedom you have to realise your tasks". He summarises his advice to young colleagues as follows: "You should listen to your more experienced colleagues, because you can often learn something from their experience. Even if you don't always realise it straight away as a young person...".
Steinbeis in three words: innovative, sustainability, family business
Anja Sörensen
Started as: Dual student in industrial engineering
Today: Project buyer
For Anja Sörensen, her path at Steinbeis began during her dual study programme with a practical phase in Purchasing - today she has returned there as a Project Buyer. "This has brought me back full circle today." She particularly appreciates the "variety in her day-to-day work, always different topics and projects". Her decisive moment was "having a line manager who recognised potential and interests and made further development possible". Her advice to career starters: "Don't be afraid to make mistakes, know that you do things 'well', compare less, listen to your gut feeling."
Steinbeis in three words: sustainable, innovative, family-orientated
Rieke Meier
Started as: Industrial Engineer/Project Assistant
Today: Junior Deputy Power Plant Manager/Project Engineer
The fascination for the cycles at Steinbeis is a strong drive that Rieke Meier also shares. "To this day, I am fascinated by the cycles that we have implemented at Steinbeis. I really enjoy being a part of this and helping to develop and refine the energetic building blocks!" Rieke Meier experienced one of her most formative lessons when she helped out in sample dispatch for a week during her training. "At the beginning, I thought I would be able to cope well, but in the end I was just glad that my colleague had come back from holiday." She has fond memories of her early days: "Within the first few weeks, we went water skiing with a very colourful group - shift workers from the paper machines as well as colleagues from customer service and also the opportunity for trainees." Her advice to younger colleagues is to make the most of the initial period: "In the early days, you usually don't feel like you've fully arrived and settled in, but that's exactly when you have the chance to look at all the processes and get to know as many people as possible."
Steinbeis in three words: Family business, forward-looking, creative
Ann-Kathrin Stoldt
Started as: Dual student in the field of business administration
Today: Head of Operational Human Resources Management
Ann-Kathrin Stoldt's path into the HR department was anything but predetermined. When she was asked towards the end of her dual study programme whether she could imagine succeeding the then Head of Plant Human Resources, her first clear reaction was no. "At first, I couldn't imagine doing much more than payroll accounting and recruiting," she explains. It was only a long conversation with the then job holder Horst Strota and HR Manager Hans-Rüdiger Bruchmann that revealed the full variety of tasks and convinced her to take the path after all. A decision she has never regretted, as mentors like Mr Bruchmann and her later Managing Director continuously supported her. What drives her today? "Accompanying and observing the development of our trainees and dual students" - a nice cycle, as she was once in their position herself. A funny anecdote from her early days is about one of her first business trips: For an early trip to Dresden and Berlin, she had taken a pillow with her in the car and immediately fell asleep. It wasn't until her colleague turned up the volume on the car phone and woke her up with a loud "Good morning, Anka" that the journey really got going for her. Her advice today: "Be more relaxed. Experience comes with time."
Steinbeis in three four words: professional home, great team
Broder Heepmann
Started as: Dual student in industrial engineering
Today: Managing Director Steinbeis Energie Papenburg
From dual student to Managing Director - Broder Heepmann's career path shows the enormous development opportunities within the Steinbeis Group. The flexibility of the company to "find individual solutions when my development required a next step" (for example, a first small management position at the biogas plants) was decisive for his path. He has two special memories of his early days: night-time encounters with security guards in the office and the habit of a locksmith to always take a large hammer with him for safety - "no matter what we were doing, even if it was just changing a light bulb". His personal advice is: "Always see the opportunity rather than the risk, always assume that something will work rather than that it won't, trust in your own strengths."
Steinbeis in three words: reliable, value-orientated, responsible
Veronika Warmers
Started as: Business economist (BA)
Today: Head of Marketing
Veronika Warmers' career path is a special example of long-standing loyalty. She looks back fondly on her first time in sales under the Zweckform flag after completing her training in 1994: "The stories from those few months would fill entire books, there was so much team spirit, such intensity and such an incredible time." After gaining valuable experience in other companies for ten years - or as she puts it, she "went astray" - she returned and is now Head of Marketing at Steinbeis. What does she like about her current role? "Little routine, always something new. No two days are the same. And I like being part of the big picture and am happy when I get to help develop things." Her advice: "Listen carefully, get involved, learn and keep challenging yourself."
Steinbeis in three words: sustainable, meaningful, right
Conclusion: People at the centre of the circular economy
As different as the paths are, all eight stories clearly show one thing: Steinbeis Papier's success is not only based on machines and processes, but above all on people. As a pioneer of the circular economy, Steinbeis is constantly breaking new ground - and that is precisely why it needs people who are creative, courageous and innovative, whom the company trusts and gives freedom. The company's sustainable spirit is reflected not only in its products made from 100% recycled paper, but also in the way it treats its people: Strong family cohesion, the targeted promotion of talent and the shared conviction of working on something meaningful are the common thread that connects these careers and carries the company into the future.
Cover picture: Steinbeis Papier
Since his editorial traineeship in Hamburg, Jan Strahl has worked as a journalist, editor or author for almost every large and small publishing house in the city. He writes for consumer media and corporate publishing publications on art, fashion, lifestyle and knowledge topics.
