In what position and department do you work at EnBW?
Andrea: My name is Andrea Sternbacher, and I work at our Stuttgart site. I am 46 years old and have three children. I completed my training as a legal assistant in 2000 and worked in this profession for about twelve years in law firms. In 2019, I joined EnBW AG as an assistant in the legal department.
What are your main responsibilities at the moment?
Andrea: I assist around 20 lawyers at the Stuttgart, Karlsruhe, and Hamburg sites. This includes coordinating appointments, processing mail, managing the invoice workflow, commissioning external law firms, preparing workshops and in-person events, among other tasks.
Which topics bring you the most joy in your job?
Andrea: Not one specific topic; it’s the variety of my tasks and the joy of working with my team.
Did you also work in the energy sector when you were in the law firm?
Andrea: No. I came from a media law firm.
How did the move to EnBW come about?
Andrea: After my parental leave, I decided not to return to a law firm because I was looking for more stability, variety, and development opportunities. In addition, there’s now a better balance between work and private life.
What are the biggest differences and similarities between your previous work at a law firm and your current assistant role in the legal department (Generation)?
Andrea: The biggest difference is probably in the work content and the dynamics of the environment. I now support processes and workflows, whereas in a law firm I supported legal work and was involved in standardized procedures such as dunning or enforcement proceedings. However, both professions require a high degree of precision, reliability, and organizational skills.
Is there a project in this area that particularly surprised you?
Andrea: Yes, among others, the fuel switch projects. I find it exciting how renewable energies use natural resources such as sun, wind, and water to generate clean energy while protecting the environment and climate
Where do you see particular challenges in this project or for the energy sector in your area of work in general?
Andrea: As an assistant, I see particular challenges in organizationally supporting the transition to renewable energies in our legal department, such as planning sustainable measures. This includes, among other things, reducing paper consumption and promoting sustainable mobility (e.g., forming carpools for in-person appointments).
Do you work full-time, and do you use the flex account?
Andrea: I work 70% and use the flex account. This allows me to adapt my working hours flexibly to my personal and family needs.
How exactly does using the flex account work?
Andrea: The flex account is a flexible working time model that allows employees to organize their working hours themselves within certain framework conditions, such as flexitime or the build-up and reduction of overtime.
What gets you out of bed on Monday mornings, and what drives you in your job?
Andrea: The aspects I mentioned earlier, the exciting work, and the joy of working with great colleagues.