INTERVIEW WITH
HI CAROLIN. PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELF.
My name is Carolin Völlm, I’m 50 years old, and I’ve been officially working at Marabu since March 2001. Before that, I wrote my thesis at Marabu, so I joined the company while I was still a student. Since then, I’ve worked in various departments and at different locations—here in Tamm, in Singapore, and in Bietigheim.
DESCRIBE YOURSELF IN THREE WORDS.
Positive, trustworthy, solution-oriented.
WHAT DO YOU DO IN YOUR FREE TIME?
I do a lot of volunteer work and am active in various clubs. I feel like 80% of my free time is taken up by volunteering (laughs). I also enjoy music and sports.
WHAT WAS YOUR PATH BEFORE MARABU?
Actually, I wanted to do something completely different and did a one-year internship at an advertising agency because I wanted to study graphic design. But there I realized that it’s difficult to get a foothold in the advertising world. A friend then told me about a degree program in “Paint (Chemistry)” in Stuttgart. Since I’d taken advanced chemistry in high school, he thought it might be a good fit for me. After doing some more research, I found out that the program was now offered at Esslingen University of Applied Sciences under the name “Paint, Coatings, Environment.” That’s where I ended up studying.
HOW DID YOU FIRST HEAR ABOUT MARABU?
Through a summer job—I worked in the lab for four weeks and really liked it.
WHY DID YOU CHOOSE MARABU?
Actually, I didn’t want to stay at the time and had applied for a scholarship to study abroad in Japan while working on my thesis. When I got the acceptance letter, I realized that I wanted to stay at Marabu after all. My boss at the time offered me the chance to work on specific development projects and take a Chinese language course. So I turned down the scholarship and chose Marabu. It was a big step, but I’m still glad I made that decision. I later took on the Asia assignment and spent an extended period working for the company in Singapore. Today, I’m once again responsible for our development labs in China.
WHAT DOES YOUR WORKPLACE LOOK LIKE? WHAT’S IMPORTANT TO YOU THERE?
I really like that I can sit in the office with my team. We’ve made it a bit cozy for ourselves.
WHAT MAKES MARABU SPECIAL?
The personal camaraderie and family-like atmosphere are unique. I’d say I know 95% of the employees and where they work. In development, we’re a great team that sticks together. At Marabu, we have benefits that other companies don’t offer. I also really appreciate the freedom here.
WHAT IS A TYPICAL DAY LIKE FOR YOU AT MARABU?
My day is never the same. In 25 years, I haven’t had two days that were exactly alike. The day usually starts with me checking my emails and looking at my calendar. I have a lot of administrative work to do, which I handle between my appointments. There are also days when I spend 70% of my time in the lab, but unfortunately that’s become rare. It’s very varied. Sometimes I have to take out the trash and tidy up, but I don’t mind that. I don’t want to sit in the office all day. I also like that I can visit customers, some of whom are far away. That way, you get to see your product in action and realize what challenges customers are facing.
It’s also important to me that my employees, if they want to, also have the opportunity to travel.
WHICH PROJECT STANDS OUT MOST IN YOUR MIND FROM YOUR TIME AT MARABU?
My first major project was the development of Ultrapack UV, a paint for plastic containers, in 2006. This project has since generated several million in revenue for the company. The best part of this job is seeing the results. I know who mixed the ink and who approved it. It’s also a great feeling, for example, to see all kinds of everyday objects and products and know: “This is printed with Marabu ink, and so is that…”
(HOW) HAS YOUR JOB CHANGED SINCE YOU STARTED?
My job used to be much less IT-driven. When I started, two people shared a single PC. Our desks were still in the lab, and the UV dryer—which makes an enormous amount of noise—was practically right in our office. My workplace is much more pleasant now. Researching raw materials, for example, has become much more efficient thanks to databases and the internet. Back then, you had to pore over books. Now everything goes much faster, whether it’s communication, research, or reporting. A major step forward was the introduction of our AI software about two years ago. This tool has accelerated our work enormously and improved organization. It’s an absolute milestone in our development.
IN YOUR OPINION, WHAT ARE THE THREE MOST IMPORTANT QUALITIES FOR A CAREER IN PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT?
Creativity, a passion for developing recipes, and curiosity.
HOW BIG IS THE TEAM YOU WORK IN?
There are actually three of us on the team. I like that we’re a small but tight-knit team, though.
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR JOB IN THREE WORDS?
Varied, creative, challenging.
IS THERE A SPECIFIC EVENT YOU'D LIKE TO TALK ABOUT?
Oh, there were so many. What really stuck with me was the summer party after my first three months at Marabu. The managing director at the time was given a send-off at the Reithaus in Ludwigsburg. It was the first time I’d ever been to a company party like that. There was a stage show and amazing food—it was a huge event. I just thought, “Wow, what a great company with such strong team spirit!” And many more fantastic summer parties followed, some with bus trips to wineries. Nobody wanted to go home.
And for me personally: those nearly three years in Singapore, from 2007 to 2009. That time was absolutely formative, and I still look back on it fondly to this day. It was an incredible opportunity, and I’m very grateful to the company for giving me that chance.
IS THERE ANYTHING AT THE TOP OF YOUR "BUCKET LIST"?
I’m thinking about going on a long-distance hike.
IF YOU WERE A COLOR, WHICH (MARABU) COLOR WOULD YOU BE?
Most likely MAXT+. It’s water-based, uses modern technologies—something we haven’t had before. Environmentally friendly and sustainable—I think that fits well.
IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU'D LIKE TO SHARE WITH POTENTIAL CANDIDATES?
If you’re interested in development—that is, the actual lab work—the qualities mentioned above are exactly what matter. You should be curious and eager to figure out why something isn’t working and to troubleshoot. Of course, a lot of cleaning and tidying up in the lab is also part of the job. You’ll also be working with chemicals that don’t always smell pleasant, you’ll wear gloves, and it can get pretty hot at times. But it’s a great feeling when something works, and it’s a ton of fun!
