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Hi Anja!
Hi, I'm Anja and I've been working as a project manager in the Corporate Responsibility department since December 2015. During my master's degree, I did my internship in OTTO's sustainability team and that's how my path at OTTO started: I didn't leave after the internship, but stayed in my team and have been driving project around sustainable business and responsibility there ever since.
The start of the day
My typical day currently starts from home. My alarm clock rings at 7:30 a.m. and after a short meditation session, I make myself a coffee while I boot up the computer. My first action is then quite self-explanatory - I get an overview of the day ahead. This routinely starts at 09:15 with our "Team Daily". In this approximately 15-minute appointment, we have created a team-internal framework in which we talk about our personal well-being during these times. Especially now, when contact with colleagues is suffering, I find this coming together very important.
The morning
We also currently discuss our professional topics in a digital setting: My routines include our once-weekly team routine and our one-on-one team discussions. Apart from that, however, I don't have a routine daily routine; the only constant is variety. This is partly due to the complexity of our sustainability issues. I focus on all sustainable product topics at OTTO. These can be fashion, house and home textiles, energy-efficient household appliances, FSC furniture and also DIY store ranges. However, OTTO's transformation into a platform means that my day-to-day work is not only about our own and licensed brands, but also increasingly about the products of third-party brands and partners.
In my daily work, I check all these sustainable product topics on the operational level and see if they meet our requirements for a "sustainable product". But also on the strategic level I am constantly developing this claim and defining it for new assortments as well. This approach is necessary to avoid greenwashing at OTTO and to ensure that our customers can trust us.
The lunch break
Normally, the lunch break at OTTO is "sacred" and is used for personal exchange with colleagues from other areas. Since the pandemic, and the resulting mobile work situation, this opportunity for networking has unfortunately been eliminated. At least in the usual way. To make good use of my break, however, I like to go for a walk or run small errands.
The afternoon
After the lunch break, I get back to the topics described above. In the day-to-day doing, I mainly support the purchasing areas in selecting sustainable fibers and raw materials for their products and also take care of internal and external communication. A particular highlight of my work was this year's launch of our sustainable own brand "OTTO products". This collection includes sustainable textiles as well as home & living items. In the run-up to this project, various workshops were held with the buyers and product managers. Through everyone's cooperation, the brand was finally brought to life on 01.09.2020 and the products were live on otto.de. A great moment! I think you can see from these exemplary tasks and topics that as a sustainability manager you combine many roles in one person. I mainly see my role as a networker, impulse giver and advisor for all areas at OTTO.
In all these roles, I am particularly motivated by my passion for the topic of sustainability and corporate responsibility, which drives me forward every day. Even during my master's degree in business ethics, it was clear to me that I had to be able to identify with the values of my future employer. That is absolutely the case at OTTO. I can fully develop and contribute my own ideas and set priorities. In addition, I am motivated by our open, appreciative and honest corporate culture. I notice that all my colleagues want to change things and be part of the digital transformation that we are currently experiencing at OTTO.
Anja blättert im Heft
The end of the day
Despite all my energy, I also finish work at some point, usually at 6:00 pm. Before I put the computer away, I enter my hours in our HR portal and take a quick look at the next day. That way, I already know what's coming up and can finish the day in peace.
And finally: Why OTTO and Corporate Responsibility?
I felt like a full member of OTTO's sustainability team right from the start. I am very fortunate to have been able to turn my passion for sustainability into a career and to be able to make a real difference together with OTTO. Especially with the increased inclusion of sustainability issues in OTTO's strategic goals, I felt confirmed in this. My colleagues want to step on the gas: for climate protection, responsible supply chain management, circularity approaches and for sustainable fibers and raw materials. This development fills me with pride and motivates me to push this issue further every day.
If you are now looking for a suitable position, visit our job search and application tips. You can find more information about Corporate Responsibility at OTTO here.
There's a lot coming up: Let's get started and apply.
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