Schweitenkirchen, Bavaria, Germany
Several years in hardware & software engineering for photo typesetting machines and magnetic data storage. Many years experience in semiconductor industry sales and marketing positions for custom specific circuits, programmable logic, telecom, NV memories, microprocessors, development tools. Shifted focus to Intel Inside program management & strategic relationship management and management of major international product launches, strongly sales supporting roles. Experience and knowledge gained over the years were useful in managing a Hotel: Driving the business from supplier management to hotel marketing and team management. After a longer time-off, worked in a non-management position at a small Software Company near my home. The long term planned retirement has been entered and a few days of work per month continue.
Another customer facing, hands-on helping and support organising position, with no travel, few meetings, but lots of communications and conflict managing challenges. Quite rewarding work with all kinds of customer characters, where experience in sales and marketing comes in surprisingly handy. Technically the software industry requires some different thinking and lots of new learning, which is fun as well. Having a good time in a small company near home. I'm actually thankful to this company for hiring me in the age of 62 into a team of an avarage age in the middle 30s. An intersting experience as well - and fun!
Kind of long Sabbatical break. Enjoyed that time travelling, helping my wife with her Restaurant for some months, got health into gear, got certified for SAP Sales module. A slow, relaxed time.
Running a 40 Rooms *** Business Hotel in Munich near to Siemens facilities, not far from Munich City Centre. The time in my career where I was able to feel the freedom and the burden of entrepreneurship in practice and not only do the sweet talking, but the actual hand on doing. Leading this small team through the years of business crisis had its own challenges and really unique experiences. Learned many new skills and things (including those things I could have done without!), but don't want to miss any part of this time. Making a niche value proposition (korean leasure & business visitors) work with this little Hotel was really rewarding. Very special thanks go to my wife for standing strongly and loyally by my side during this "workoholic" 24x7 time for both of us.
Several Marketing and Programs Management positions mostly supporting sales and marketing programs for Pentium(R) processors, Intel Inside(R) program, driving marketing alliances and managing product launches. This was much more than a job and built a lot of my knowledge, experience and skills I have today. Taking this company and work as a measure for others makes many other companies look really "pale".