Heiko, what do you find particularly exciting about your job?
Heiko: I love that, in the end, you can actually see the results of your efforts. I work on projects over a long period of time, and eventually there really are wind turbines there, turning.
That makes my work feel very tangible. You can see that all those individual steps have ultimately resulted in something concrete.
What can you accomplish on your own in your role?
Heiko: As a project manager, I drive my projects forward independently. That also means that what I do, or don’t do, has a very concrete impact on progress.
I like this level of responsibility. I can make decisions, try new things, and help shape the path to our goal.
How much freedom do you have in that?
Heiko: Quite a lot. Of course, there’s support from areas like legal, technical, and species conservation. But I’m not told exactly how to proceed at every single step.
To me, it sometimes feels almost a bit like working independently within a large company. What’s important is that the project moves forward and that the end result is right.
What circumstances make a difference for you in your everyday life?
Heiko: Above all, the flexibility. As a team, we have relatively free rein to decide how we work together and when we’re in the office or working from home.
There’s also some flexibility when it comes to working hours. For me, it’s important that we don’t just sit around for the sake of clocking in hours, but that the work gets done in the end.
How does this flexibility help you in your everyday family life, specifically?
Heiko: It’s especially important to me now that I have two children. For example, my daughter had a performance at school this morning. I was able to go to it and then just start work a little later. Without this flexibility, a lot of things would be much harder to organize.
Does more flexibility mean fewer professional demands for you?
Heiko: No, not at all. On the contrary: if the project requires it, I’m just as flexible.
For example, we have meetings with municipalities or property owners that take place in the evening, or we travel long distances for meetings. In those cases, I naturally adjust accordingly.
For me, it’s a matter of give and take. I have the freedom to organize my daily life flexibly, and at the same time, I’m willing to bring that flexibility to my work.
Besides flexibility, what else is particularly important to you today?
Heiko: With a family, stability also plays a bigger role for me. Especially in economically challenging times, it feels good to work for a large company that I fundamentally trust.
That sense of security is more important to me today than it perhaps was at the beginning of my career.
What surprised you the most about EnBW?
Heiko: I was able to take on a lot of responsibility at an early stage. Especially on large projects, you get the opportunity relatively quickly to make your own decisions and drive things forward.
I found this trust to be a very positive experience.
Is there a current project where this responsibility is particularly evident?
Heiko: I’m currently working as a project manager on a large onshore wind project in Brandenburg with 19 wind turbines. We’re in the process of preparing the permit application for this project.
Projects like this are complex and take a long time to complete. There are many stakeholders and differing interests that need to be reconciled. But that’s exactly what makes the work so exciting.
Why is “Our energy can power daycare and conferences ” such a good fit for you?
Heiko: Because it really resonates with my everyday life. On the one hand, I have big projects and a lot of responsibility. On the other hand, I also want to be there for my family.
For me, both work well together when I can organize my day flexibly. So it’s not about working less or taking on less responsibility, but about being able to decide more independently when and how I do my work.