Let’s start at the very beginning: How did your journey at Scout24 begin?

My journey at Scout24 started in Sales. It was a really exciting time for me because it gave me the opportunity to get to know the company, our customers and, of course, the culture at Scout24 really well. At the same time, I quickly realised just how many opportunities there are within the company to develop, grow and explore new paths. Looking back, I probably wouldn’t have imagined at the time where my journey at Scout24 would eventually take me.

You moved from Sales into Recruiting. What motivated you to make that change, and what appealed to you about Recruiting?

Even when I was working in Sales, I realised that what I enjoyed most was working with people. I found it fascinating to understand what motivates people, what they need and how different interests can be brought together.

That’s why Recruiting felt like a really interesting next step for me. On the one hand, it was something completely new; on the other, I was able to draw on a lot of my previous experience. What appealed to me most was the opportunity to get people excited about Scout24 while also directly contributing to bringing the right talent and teams together.

What did you learn in Sales that later helped you in Recruiting – and eventually as a leader?

More than I initially expected. In Sales, you quickly learn how important it is to listen carefully, ask the right questions and understand what the person you’re talking to really needs. You also learn how to work with different personalities, build trust and navigate difficult conversations.

All of that is just as important in Recruiting – and it continues to be important in my role as a leader today. Listening, understanding different perspectives and communicating clearly are skills that I still benefit from every day.

You’ve developed significantly during your time at Scout24. Can you walk us through your journey so far?

My journey at Scout24 definitely wasn’t planned out from the beginning – and looking back, that’s exactly what makes it so interesting to me. I started in Sales and spent four years working as an Account Manager. After that, I made a very conscious decision to change perspectives and moved into Recruiting, where I spent three years.

My move back into Sales – and into a leadership role at the same time – actually came about rather unexpectedly. I was approached internally and asked whether I could see myself taking on a Sales Team Lead role. I had already worked with my manager at the very beginning of my time at Scout24, and that mutual trust certainly played a part. For me, it was a great opportunity to combine my Sales experience with everything I had learned in Recruiting about people, development and different personalities.

I then spent almost two years in the Team Lead role before another major change came up for me personally: after 15 years in Berlin, I decided to move back to my home region of North Rhine-Westphalia. Naturally, that also raised the question of what my next professional step would look like.

And then an opportunity came up that I hadn’t expected at all: the chance to join Sprengnetter as Head of Sales. I took on the role at the beginning of August, and it marks the start of a completely new chapter for me.

When I look back at my journey today, it has been anything but linear. But that’s exactly what I find so exciting about it.

"Some of the best opportunitiesweren’t the ones I had planned for years in advance, but the ones I was open to when they came along."

Was there a particular moment when you first thought, “Leadership could be my next step”?

There wasn’t one specific moment when I decided, “I want to become a leader now.” It was more something that developed over time. I realised that I cared not only about my own responsibilities, but also about supporting others, sharing knowledge and taking responsibility for the success of the team as a whole.

At some point, the question came up whether Leadership could be a next step for me. And the more I thought about it, the more I realised that it was exactly this combination of people, development and responsibility that appealed to me.

What role did your colleagues and your manager play in your journey towards becoming a leader?

A very big one. For me, development doesn’t happen in isolation. I was lucky to have people around me who gave me honest feedback, believed in me and, at the same time, challenged me.

A manager can make a huge difference by recognising potential, giving people responsibility and creating the space to try things out. But my colleagues were incredibly important too – through sharing ideas, giving feedback and sometimes simply helping me see a situation from a different perspective.

How did Scout24 support you in your development as a leader?

Above all, by giving me the opportunity to try things out and take on responsibility. For me, development isn’t just about training or formal programmes – although those are certainly valuable. At least as important are trust, honest feedback and real opportunities to apply what you’ve learned in day-to-day work.

At Scout24, I repeatedly had the opportunity to take on new responsibilities and develop step by step as a result. The exchange with other leaders, as well as the feedback from colleagues and my team, was particularly valuable along the way.

What skills do you think are particularly important to be a good leader?

For me, empathy, clarity and the ability to really listen are among the most important. A good leader doesn’t always have to have the best answer themselves. I think it’s much more important to ask the right questions, provide direction and create an environment where people can take ownership and develop.

Self-reflection is also a key part of Leadership for me. Being a leader means regularly questioning your own behaviour, being open to feedback and recognising that you are constantly learning, too.

What would you say to someone at Scout24 who is considering an unexpected career change or is thinking about Leadership for the first time?

I would say: Be open to exploring opportunities, even when the next step might not seem logical at first. My own journey has shown me that a career doesn’t always have to follow a straight line.

You also don’t need to know how to do everything before taking a new step. To me, curiosity, a willingness to learn and the courage to take on responsibility are much more important. Talk to people, ask for feedback and try things out. Sometimes the steps you never originally planned are the ones that lead to the most exciting opportunities.