House of PM GmbH
Ferdinandstrasse 12
20095 Hamburg
>> House of PM: Personal insights into experiences and future plans for House of PM.
Interview with Sibylle Schmidtke –
New Managing Director of House of PM
Sibylle Schmidtke has been the new managing director since the beginning of the year and now gives personal insights into her experiences and future plans for House of PM in a short interview.
How would you describe yourself in a few words?
As someone who likes to shape his life, be it private or professional, I'm not afraid of change, but like to go new ways.
What have you found to be the biggest challenge in your career so far and how have you overcome that challenge?
The biggest challenge was to recognize and acknowledge my own limitations. The development of people and systems can only take place in stages in order to remain "healthy". Recognizing the moment when a growth phase and when stabilization is necessary is not always easy. Especially saying "no" in this context was a learning field for me. Being open with each other and reflecting on my goals helped me to get clarity.
What motivated you to join the executive team and how will your experience in your new roles differ from your previous work?
Even at a young age, I experienced what it means to run a business and what responsibility but also self-determination entails. This role model has shaped both my schooling and my professional career. Having worked for HoPM for years, I know the strengths of the company and its potential. This made it attractive for me to join the management team. For me it was never a question of if, but rather when and with which organization I would take on responsibility.
What are your future plans for the next few years?
Stabilization as Managing Director (laughs). I have a long phase of development behind me, starting with my appointment as authorized signatory, the launch of Corona and the associated new coordination of the working environment, and finally becoming managing director. Now I want to stabilize myself as Managing Director and shape my idea of House of PM, in the cultural sense as well as in the market.
What changes do you want to implement, what will stay?
We will present our competencies in agile project management more strongly. We have already built it up and implemented it with partners more than 10 years ago. It is time to establish this more strongly on the market, especially in the field of hybrid project management, where I see one of our strengths. What will remain is that we at HoPM unite everything on the subject of PM under one roof.
What is your vision for the company and how do you plan to implement that vision?
We are service providers for the management of complex project plans at our target customers and are in demand as PM experts in important and critical projects in Germany. In doing so, we take responsibility, think and act entrepreneurially, and thus create structures that ensure continuous improvement of the companies - your project is our company. We must continue to implement this vision and develop and measure it against the current currents and trends. In this context, you only have to think of the topic of AI and how it will change the working environment of project managers.
What excites you about your new responsibilities?
It is the perfect mix of things that I like and that suit me. Variety in projects and topics, the high degree of freedom to shape my life and let things develop/grow.
What was the most unusual job offer you received?
I was never offered anything unusual. After secondary school, my grandmother wanted me to go to the bank, saying that it was a secure job, and after graduating from high school I should study to be a teacher, saying that it was compatible with a family. I then studied something (at that time still) unusual, social and organizational pedagogy. At that time, there were only 2 universities in Germany that offered it, so there was more of a concern: "What is she supposed to do with it? My father confessed this to me years later.
How do you spend your time outside of work?
In my spare time I'm outdoors a lot. On the one hand, that's because I often sit at my laptop, and on the other hand, because of my horse and dog. And when the two are busy, there's still the garden. I like to create and for me that includes growth and learning together. Growth in the garden and learning/growing together with the animals.
What does a relaxing day on the weekend look like for you?
One round with the dog, then one round with the horse or both together. The rest comes out.
How do you like to spend your vacations?
I don't have a pattern, I can spend a week just lying by the pool and reading, but I can also go on a horseback tour through Iceland and spend the night in highland huts. I can find relaxation in many things.
House of PM GmbH
Ferdinandstrasse 12
20095 Hamburg