Experience report - Kim-Nina Ridder

My background / my job

Woman with blond hair, wearing a beige blouse, against a light background — Key Account Manager at thyssenkrupp rothe erde Germany GmbH

My professional career began immediately after graduating from high school with an apprenticeship as an industrial clerk and a dual study program (as a B.A. in International Management) at a well-known DAX company. Fortunately, I had the chance to start my career in strategic sourcing and worked as a Global Commodity Manager for machined cast components for almost 7 years.

To broaden my knowledge and become an even more qualified generalist, I completed my M.Sc. in Marketing & Communication in an evening program.

However, after gaining great experience after my studies, traveling abroad often and for long periods of time to search for new potential suppliers, vetting them and seeing them through to series production approval, I knew it was time for a change.

And so I came to thyssenkrupp rothe erde and joined the PSM (Procurement and Supply Management) organization. The most important tasks related to the following topics: Leading change management within a transformation, introducing an international procurement guideline in all operational units, developing a new supplier audit system and implementing the first SRM system within the business unit.

Now, after roughly 3 years, I am very grateful to get the chance to change views and be part of the Sales community, as Key Account Manager. This is a real challenge, which I would like to face.

Our challenges

The biggest challenges I have faced and still face in international business are when it comes to working together as a partner and colleague: openness to change; different cultural mindsets; building trust and language barriers. And certainly there is much more to overcome.

Being able to manage change management processes properly is in my opinion one of the core skills of executives.

Our typical working day

No day is like the other, but for sure there is a repetitive process.

As I worked in the business unit, most of my working day consisted of being on site at the plants or holding video or telephone conferences with PSM colleagues from the operating units. As part of my sales job, I am happy to travel around the globe, hold personal meetings and workshops with colleagues and customers, and of course to negotiate with customers.

„engineering. tomorrow. together.” Together means for me …

working together as a team
trying to get rid of silo thinking
involving the younger generation and people from other departments to challenge ideas
creating value for thyssenkrupp rothe erde!

My employer thyssenkrupp rothe erde

First of all, I am very convinced of the products thyssenkrupp rothe erde produces. Furthermore, I am sure of the fact that we can contribute to making our world greener and more livable again, because the majority of our products are core components of a wind turbine.

But for sure: the more globalization and cost pressure will arise, the more flexibility and agility in different areas will be required in the near future. In the end, this will also have effects on the company culture.