IT in industry?

The Importance of Understanding and Support – Personal and Professional 

Managing Milestones 

On a personal level, one of the most important aspects of my experience at Freudenberg is the understanding and support I have received. The company has provided flexibility when needed, especially in relation to my child with special needs. Their support helped me navigate a very difficult period in my life.

On a professional level, when I started at Freudenberg, I was a junior developer for the Shop Floor team. My background was in network engineering, and I had minimum knowledge and skills in programming or database. Despite that, I reached a major milestone when I was appointed as a Project Lead, managing medium-to-scale projects and supporting the needs of the Business team. Now, I would say I am a reliable compact car with a modern design that offers valuable features – smaller in size than other sedan cars, but it matches the purpose, is practical, efficient and fits urban life. 

Insight Into Impact  

I’ve visited several U.S. sites, including Bristol, Cleveland, Ashland and Santa Ana. My first visit to the U.S. was a big eye-opener. In my earlier years, I didn’t fully grasp the significance of the projects I worked on. But, when I visited the Shop Floor in Bristol, I saw firsthand how even the smallest improvements made a big difference in operations. That experience boosted my self-confidence and helped me see the real value of my work. My journey has given me the strength to stand up for what I love and believe in.  

One thing I’ve learned at Freudenberg is that it’s okay not to be perfect right away. Growth takes time. You have to start somewhere, and every step forward matters. Communicate openly when you have concerns - eventually, you’ll find the right answers from the right people. And when you do, you’ll be able to choose the path that’s right for you. 

Ride the IT innovation Wave

Filling the age gap 

In Information Technology, paradigm shifts are constant. Being with Freudenberg for more than 15 years, I have managed several successful transitions. For example, moving from an on-premise data center hosted system to cloud-based solutions. Or, from ex-post analytics to real-time and advanced analytics. Each transformation was driven by business strategy and a commitment to cost efficiency.

Change also affects our society. We are becoming more international, while facing an aging and shrinking German workforce. For us, this has meant leveraging global talents from IT hubs in Eastern Europe, Central America and Asia. One key step was expanding our team in India and developing our Shared Service Center in Chennai.  

Now, with low attrition-rates, stable development paths and significant contributions to a wide range of IT Services, the IT Center of Excellence, with more than 100 colleagues in IT, serves not only Freudenberg Flow Technologies, but also a growing number of other Freudenberg Business Groups. 

Empowering diverse talent 

The future of IT is about seamless interaction - voice, vision and conversational interfaces that make information accessible and actionable. Our mission is to unlock these capabilities, freeing knowledge workers from repetitive tasks, so they can focus on what matters most: applying their expertise to create value.

At Freudenberg, we believe diverse perspectives drive innovation. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone - regardless of gender, background, or life stage - can thrive. We encourage diverse talentswomen and underrepresented groups to explore careers in IT with us, where we offer them flexibility, stability and opportunities for growth.

Driven by Growth

Building Connections and Expertise 

My career at Freudenberg has been an exciting journey, like a story that evolves with each chapter. And one that brings new challenges and lessons with each turn of the page.

It began in 2018 when I joined as a trainee. Within a year I was promoted. Then I again in 2020, and again in 2022. While it may sound like a smooth path, it took hard work and making the most of every opportunity presented to me.

The first thing I did as a trainee was building a strong foundation in Master Data. That experience allowed me to support various roll-out projects as an Associate Consultant, where I regularly contributed ideas to improve processes.

When I started in my Consultant role, I handled projects as a Business Process Object Expert, which provided me with a deeper insight into different areas of the business and helped me build valuable relationships - something that’s incredibly important at Freudenberg.

While my career at Freudenberg has had its challenges, it’s also brought meaningful recognition. I started in a small team in Chennai, and just a few years later, I was awarded with a 5-year service award from Dr. Weiss. Moments like these are deeply appreciated and continue to motivate me.  

Growing Beyond the Comfort Zone 

The challenges I’ve faced - including aligning goals, improving team efficiency and adapting to new technologies - have helped me grow. I was fortunate enough to work on projects that drove my analytical skills, tested my limits and contributed significantly to my development.

Every step of that development path at Freudenberg has brought valuable lessons and opportunities for growth. My career has been like a street-racing car on a challenging circuit - at times smooth and direct, at other times full of unexpected twists and bumps that have pushed me to the limit and helped me grow tremendously. Looking ahead, I’m excited to take on more responsibility - in leadership, innovation, or cross-functional roles.

SAfe and Secure

My driver: Openness.

I am currently Chief Information Security Officer at Freudenberg & Co. KG, having started as a Cyber Security architect.

You can call me a security van, I am there to make the digital realm secure. But I also believe it is important to make the space where you actually work feel safe, too. So, security for me operates on two fronts – the company being secure and you being secure in the company. 

My driver: Openness. 

It comes from having trustworthy colleagues to sign the right way ahead. When my former manager joined the team, he introduced himself to the whole IT department. He was completely open, shared personal stories and also his weaknesses. He trusted us with that information. That made a big impression on me and inspired me to be transparent with colleagues – don’t be afraid to be open — there’s nothing to lose, because no one is perfect.

Really, the sky is the limit here!

I have felt trust since day one. In October 2018, I was given a task with a huge amount of responsibility. The result? On my very first gig we invented and released the ONE Freudenberg Security Baseline. More recently, I have taken on responsibility for the global Information Security Management System, successfully restructuring the system and completing my Business Group's first information security certification.

Like many other employees, I also get the chance to travel with my job, which is always interesting. What never ceases to amaze me is the hospitality we receive when we visit other places. It makes you feel like family. It helps build on the already great relationships you have with those you work with.

For those joining Freudenberg, I would suggest not shying away from communicating your goals and ambitions with regard to taking over responsibility for specific activities or areas. Really, the sky is the limit here!

Working Together to Tackle New Challenges 

Taking on New Challenges 

I can't say I have had one big WOW moment at Freudenberg, but I can recall many beautiful moments. One example was when I left Freudenberg unexpectedly at short notice. I was given a wonderful farewell party, and colleagues gave me a small book filled with photos and personal messages. I was very happy about that. But then I returned. Nobody expected me to be back after just seven months. Still, I was welcomed in the same spirit as I was said goodbye to. That very kindness was there for me during a difficult time in 2015, when I had to reduce my working hours. Moments like these remind me that Freudenberg is about more than just work.

Some of my most important milestones include being promoted into my role in Accounting after completing my apprenticeship. And, later when the Shared Service Center was established, I took on primary responsibility for the Cash Pool area. But the biggest challenge was transitioning into IT. Leaving a secure environment where you know the processes and then having to learn everything from scratch was intimidating at first. I probably wouldn’t have applied for a similar role elsewhere. But at Freudenberg, I already had experience with SAP and had done some customization work as a key user. That gave me the confidence to take on a new challenge. Now, I am SAP Process Manager for Finance and Controlling in Weinheim.  

Togetherness 

For me, the word career isn't so much tied to titles. My mantra: Work together and not against each other; that's the only way to achieve the best results. Essentially, it’s about the connection to people and personal growth. And continuously working on myself, learning new things, understanding and advancing processes, improving/facilitating work and experiencing success afterwards.  

I am like a modern and comfortable plug-in hybrid vehicle because I am eager to learn, service-oriented, and enjoy taking people with me on my journey, which can go off the main roads at times, so that I can find and explore new paths. 

Adapting and Accelerating 

Taking the lead

My journey with Freudenberg started over 20 years ago - and it keeps gathering speed! I have done a lot of things here, but I still believe I have much more in front of me. You can’t have iron feet at this company; you have to be ready to press that accelerator under any conditions. It’s like being a high-performance car with plug-in hybrid power that seeks to combine traditional strength with forward-looking efficiency. Ready to go anywhere, at any time. 

That mindset has shaped my path through a series of high-impact leadership roles. I led the rollout of Microsoft BI platform across Freudenberg Chemical Specialties and implemented a CRM system spanning 20 countries. Currently, I serve as the Director, IT APAC, leading a team of 15 IT professionals focused on aligning regional IT strategies with broader business goals. My leadership also extends to overseeing the Enterprise Applications Department for 14 years, where I built a team and managed global IT-Shared Services, plus contributed to digital transformation projects involving platforms such as the Microsoft Power Platform. 

Home from home

One of the most satisfying parts of my journey has been my work in China. Even as a foreigner, I was welcomed as part of the family. Working between cultures has taught me that success in IT isn’t just about systems or tools, it’s about building trust.  Helping teams in China align with our European headquarters has been deeply meaningful. I see myself as a bridge translating business needs across borders, perspectives, and time zones.

In this role, I’ve led cross-functional projects with Chinese departments, overseen IT operations for four companies across seven cities, and managed a team of local experts to implement strategic initiatives and drive alignment with corporate goals.

Now, as Director at the IT Hub APAC, I’m focused on the future - of the company and of our people. That’s why I’ve taken on a mentor role to help retain and grow top talent in China. 

I’ve grown by stepping up at every opportunity. And now I’m passionate about helping others do the same. Maybe one day, someone I’ve mentored will take on my role - and maybe that someone could be you.