Marvin has already worked in various roles in our purchasing department. He started his career at the BMW Group as a student in the Fastlane Master's programme. He recently took on his first management role as team leader in Purchasing Body Electronics and is – amongst other things – responsible for purchasing central control units. In this interview, Marvin gives us an insight into his experiences to date and his path to his first management role.
WHAT OPPORTUNITIES FOR PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT HAVE YOU HAD AT BMW SO FAR?
"I can tell you about some great experiences! One of my best was definitely my start as a scholarship holder in the Fastlane programme. I had so much coaching, mentoring and great training here – I learnt a lot that helped me in my various roles in Purchasing. As a buyer, I also took part in various training courses, such as negotiation training or modules on intercultural collaboration. Just recently, I completed the ‘New Leaders’ programme – an offer specifically for prospective leaders. It prepared me perfectly for my new role as a team leader."
HOW DO YOU PERCEIVE THE MANAGEMENT STYLE AND CULTURE AT BMW?
"Executives here are not just managers, but also coaches and mentors. And the hierarchies in my area are very flat, so I have a direct and uncomplicated line to all the managers above me. So, if I have an issue, I don't have to communicate it via several intermediate levels just because it's on the organisation chart, but can simply discuss it directly with the person responsible."
AND WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO YOU IN YOUR OWN MANAGEMENT STYLE?
"Above all, I want to give my team members freedom and trust them. They know their work best and know when and how to do it most efficiently. That's why I want to give them this room for manoeuvre. Above all, a high degree of openness is important to me. When putting together the team, it is also important to me to have a heterogeneous group with different strengths and talents."
YOU HAVEN'T BEEN A MANAGER FOR VERY LONG. WHAT SURPRISED YOU MOST IN THIS ROLE?
"I think I was quite well prepared for the role from a technical point of view. What surprised me was the variety of topics that go beyond purely technical tasks. We are such a diverse team with very different personalities, concerns and needs – it’s sometimes more challenging to really do justice to everyone than to make purely technical decisions."
IS THERE ANY TIME LEFT FOR PRIVATE MATTERS? WHAT ARE YOU INTERESTED IN OUTSIDE OF WORK?
"The most important things for me are clearly my family and my two children, for whom I naturally want to have time. And I enjoy doing sports. Fortunately, I manage to juggle all of this because my superiors and my team show me so much trust and openness. Whether it's picking up the children from nursery early or spontaneously working from home if circumstances require it – it's all made possible without any complications."
WHAT ELSE DO YOU THINK MAKES THE BMW GROUP AN ATTRACTIVE EMPLOYER?
"For me, it is above all the incredible diversity that the BMW Group offers – both in terms of tasks and content as well as in terms of the workforce with people from all over the world, different cultures and personalities. Personally, however, I particularly appreciate two things: firstly, I can maintain a healthy work-life balance here. And secondly, the development opportunities are great!
I have always been individually encouraged and supported since I joined. That's why I'm really glad that I took the step to BMW after my studies and can now prove myself as a leader."
THE FASTLANE PROGRAMME.
Marvin's journey at the BMW Group began as a scholarship holder in the Fastlane programme. If you are a student and want to proactively prepare for your future, Fastlane offers you the perfect complement to your studies with practical experience and the opportunity for personal development.
OPPORTUNITIES IN PURCHASING.
Have Marvin's insights inspired you and can you imagine starting out in Purchasing at the BMW Group? We are always on the lookout for talented people with negotiating skills and a passion for quality who want to achieve the best results together with our suppliers.