More than just a balance between work and family

More than just a balance between work and family

The Search for the Perfect Partner

Their story began when they worked together in a startup within Mercedes Benz Mobility. They built on this experience when the opportunity for jobsharing came up, which felt like a natural progression in their professional relationship.

Gesine: "We've known each other for quite a while. We worked together in a corporate startup for three years. After that, I transitioned to the business side in the charging environment, while Thomas moved to the technical side. When my previous job-sharing partner went on maternity leave and planned a longer absence, I needed someone new and thought, 'Why not ask Thomas?'”

Thomas: "I still remember Gesine's words clearly. She said, 'Thomas, you probably want more time for mountain biking. Would you like a part-time job?' After that, she didn't have to convince me anymore."

Clear Division of Tasks

With precision and clarity, Gesine and Thomas define their roles in the dynamic world of sustainable mobility. While Gesine is responsible for Green Charging worldwide, Thomas focuses on managing Mercedes Me Charge in Europe. Their tandem approach is based on distinct areas of responsibility, fostering efficiency as there’s no need for constant handovers.

Gesine: "We divided our responsibilities so that each of us takes care of different areas. It’s well-structured. Although we work as a team and benefit from certain synergies, our thematic responsibilities are clearly separated."

Thomas: "Mercedes Me Charge essentially provides charging services for all our plug-in and fully electric vehicles to offer a seamless charging experience. We have access to 650,000 charging points across Europe (as of May 2024), aiming to address customer concerns regarding range anxiety and the availability of charging points. Green Charging complements this by ensuring that all charging sessions enabled by Me Charge are environmentally friendly. So, we divided our responsibilities according to the products."

A Unified Team

Despite their distinct areas, Gesine and Thomas work closely together as a team: navigating personnel matters and strategic planning, fostering a culture of collaboration and mutual support. Regular meetings with their entire team ensure alignment on goals and roadmaps, enabling them to tackle challenges together. They also organize their vacations so that the other can step in and handle tasks or inquiries.

Work-Life Balance

For Gesine, jobsharing offers a precious gift - the opportunity to prioritize her family while pursuing her professional ambitions. "I have a five-year-old daughter. I initially worked full - time, but it was too stressful, so I switched to part-time. I had already experienced jobsharing before. It was a great opportunity for me to spend more time with my family. Now, everything is much more relaxed, and I can focus on myself. Even when the kids are older, it will be incredibly valuable to have more time for myself."

Similarly, Thomas' decision to work part-time stemmed from a desire for more time to pursue his athletic passion. "My motivation for part-time work coincided with my promotion. Although I didn’t want to work less, I needed more free time to pursue my passion for time-consuming sports like mountain biking, surfing, and snowboarding. On my free Mondays, I can now plan a bike ride or have some 'me time' to better coordinate my personal appointments."

Gesine and Thomas' example shows how well jobsharing can work. Their collaboration combines professional competence with personal fulfillment. As they navigate the dynamic world of sustainable mobility together, they serve as role models for the importance of a good work-life balance.

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