INTERVIEW WITH ALEXANDRA
HI, ALEX. PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELF.
My name is Alexandra Riese-Gann, I’m 38 years old, and I’m from Stuttgart.
DESCRIBE YOURSELF IN THREE WORDS.
Empathetic, open, reliable.
WHAT DO YOU DO IN YOUR FREE TIME?
Right now, besides work, a lot of my life revolves around my family—with two small children, I’m kept pretty busy. Otherwise, I enjoy being outdoors in nature and going for swims. I like to cook, go skiing… so overall, it’s pretty varied.
WHAT WAS YOUR PATH BEFORE JOINING MARABU?
I went to school in Gerlingen and studied German language and literature and business administration in Mannheim. During my studies, I had my first exposure to the chemical industry through an internship at BASF. My first job was at Freudenberg, also in the chemical industry. That was a classic parental leave replacement, so it was temporary. It was clear that I would have to look for something new afterward. Then I came across the position at Marabu, again in the chemical industry. This gave me the opportunity to move back to my hometown—back to my roots, so to speak.
HOW DID YOU FIRST HEAR ABOUT MARABU?
The classic way: through job portals. I specifically searched in Baden-Württemberg because I had a personal connection to Stuttgart.
WHY DID YOU CHOOSE MARABU?
I was specifically looking for a position in marketing communications, and everything was a perfect fit at Marabu.
WHAT MAKES MARABU SPECIAL?
What makes Marabu special to me are the personal connections within the company. You can really tell that many of my colleagues have been here for a very long time—some for 30 or 40 years. It feels like a family here.
WHAT IS YOUR DAY LIKE AT MARABU?
In terms of tasks, it’s a mix of short-term tasks that need to be completed quickly and larger projects.
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR JOB IN THREE WORDS?
Communication, text, digitalization.
IS THERE A SPECIFIC EVENT YOU'D LIKE TO TALK ABOUT?
One highlight for me was the trade shows. Not only do they give you the chance to get to know your colleagues better—even on a personal level—but they also let you connect with people you don’t usually work closely with. In general, working in marketing has the advantage of collaborating with many different departments. This gives you a broad perspective on the company because you need a lot of information for your work.
HOW BIG IS THE TEAM YOU WORK IN? DESCRIBE THE COLLABORATION IN THREE WORDS.
Our team consists of five people: my four colleagues and our team leader.
For me, our collaboration is: on equal footing, supportive, open.
ARE THERE ANY RITUALS OR TRADITIONS IN THE TEAM THAT YOU PARTICULARLY LIKE?
This isn’t strictly team-specific, but we have regular get-togethers with former colleagues who no longer work at Marabu. We got to know each other at Marabu, grew to appreciate one another during our time together, and these meetings help us stay in touch. I think that’s really nice.
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE BALANCING YOUR ROLE AS A MOTHER OF TWO CHILDREN WITH YOUR WORK AT MARABU?
My children are five and seven years old. It’s a challenge, and organization is key. But Marabu really supports me in this regard. Flexible working hours, flex time, and working from home are incredibly helpful. Without these options, I wouldn’t be able to work as much as I do; otherwise, I’d have to cut back on my hours. I was able to design my own work schedule—that is, how I distribute my hours throughout the week. What I find important here is this: I expect flexibility from my employer, but I also think you should give a little flexibility in return. For example, my day off is Friday, but if something important comes up, I’ll reschedule my day off.
IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU'D LIKE TO SHARE WITH POTENTIAL APPLICANTS?
Especially when it comes to balancing family and career: I know it’s not always possible, but it makes your daily work life so much easier if you can be there for a full day sometimes, rather than just in the mornings. That way, you’re more flexible with appointments because you don’t have to cram everything into the morning. You can also attend appointments that take place in the afternoon. Of course, this only works (for us, too) with support—for example, from grandparents, because daycare and school don’t cover the entire day. But if it’s feasible, it helps you personally and your colleagues as well.
A PHRASE I OFTEN SAY: “What would you decide if you weren’t afraid?”
