Shanghai, China
- Began my international journey in 2008 as a high school exchange student in Taipei, Taiwan, building a lasting connection to Asian cultures, languages, and markets - Known for building effective bridges between people from diverse cultural and professional backgrounds, both in business and in personal life - Hold B.A. and M.A. in Economics from the University of Heidelberg and the University of Oldenburg, driven by a personal interest in globalization, economic interdependence, and cross-border dynamics - Currently serving as Head of APAC Procurement, with regional accountability for heavy-duty machinery spare parts and the management of complex multi-country supplier ecosystems - In parallel, acting as General Manager of a Shanghai-based procurement office, leading local teams and overseeing supplier strategy and end-to-end sourcing execution - Fluent in Chinese, English and German - key to working across cultures internally and with diverse business partners - Leadership values are centered on respect, transparent communication at eye level, empowerment, always combined with a pragmatic and down-to-earth management style
- Overall responsibility for coordinating regional procurement offices across China, Taiwan, India, and Turkey - Strong focus on process optimization and sourcing synergies, driving operational excellence, team development, and effective administrative governance - Product scope includes heavy-duty machinery spare parts for agricultural and construction equipment, trucks and trailers, garden and forestry machinery, and forklift components In close partnership with local leadership, I am driving five core procurement pillars: - Sourcing: Identification and development of new products through structured collaboration with existing and prospective suppliers - Operational Procurement: End-to-end order execution at target cost levels, ensuring on-time delivery, supported by digitalization and continuous improvement initiatives - Supplier & Product Quality: Product-category-specific approaches to identifying, developing, and qualifying manufacturing partners - Supply Chain & Logistics: Optimization of logistics cost structures and delivery performance across the region - Administration & Governance: Establishment and enforcement of robust procurement governance, compliance, and administrative frameworks
- End-to-end responsibility for sourcing and operational procurement across Mainland China, leading a team of eight professionals - Acted as the primary interface between Chinese suppliers and European headquarters, ensuring alignment of local operations with global corporate objectives - Built and developed a high-performing local team and a robust, nationwide supplier network across China - Designed and implemented standardized processes for all sourcing and procurement activities at the local level - Legal representative as well as full responsibility for budget and cost
- Management Trainee in Global Sourcing at headquarters in Germany, supporting group-wide sourcing activities and gaining exposure to end-to-end procurement processes - Built a strong internal network through cross-functional collaboration, developing a solid understanding of the group organization and stakeholder landscape - Preparation for an international assignment in Shanghai
- Short-term, high-intensity sourcing project focused on sourcing biodiesel raw materials to support rapid market entry and supplier qualification - Conducted market analysis, supplier identification, audits and initial commercial assessments across Mainland China and Taiwan - Supported sourcing strategy definition, pricing benchmarks, and risk considerations to enable informed go-to-market decisions - first negotiations and trial orders - succesful market entry
- Internship in supporting German companies with market entry and business development activities in Taiwan - Conducted market and industry analyses, regulatory research, and competitive benchmarking to inform client-specific market entry strategies - Prepared briefings, presentations, and decision-support materials, acting as a junior consultant interface between German businesses and local market stakeholders
- Part-time position during bachelor studies at the University of Heidelberg, coordinating academic exchange activities with visiting scholars from China - Managed scheduling, meeting preparation, and stakeholder coordination with university programme leadership and external institutions - Provided on-site translation and liaison support for meetings with state-level government representatives
- Internship at public services group, supporting advocacy activities at federal and EU level, namely CEEP - Conducted policy monitoring and stakeholder analysis related to public-owned enterprises in public transportation, energy, water, and waste management with regard to international trade agreement TTIP - Supporting work for public position papers to support advocacy efforts and engagement with political and institutional stakeholders