How often do you have to make last minute changes to your plans in the weeks before Christmas?

I feel like I have to change my plans several times a week: Waves of illness, snow or unexpected rainy weather and a far too full schedule for the short pre-Christmas period force me to constantly reschedule. And Christmas with the family is often much more chaotic than any project at work: lots of people with different tastes and preferences come together, and there should be something for everyone to make it a merry Christmas. If a certain ingredient is sold out at the supermarket or the sauce burns on the stove on Christmas Eve, you have to improvise. And in the end, everyone is happy (even if there is chocolate instead of vanilla ice cream).

How important is flexibility in your day-to-day work and your projects? And what helps you to keep calm when things get tough?

You can’t work at ifok without flexibility. Every day is different and there are always new challenges: It could be a new task, an idea that comes up at short notice, a new offer or a new project. So there’s never a dull moment – and that’s a good thing!

It helps me to believe that things always turn out well and that we know what we are doing. As a team, we work hand in hand and together we can move mountains at short notice.

What rituals are part the winter season for you?

For some years now, Secret Santa been part of our family’s routine – everyone brings something that is lying around at home and is no longer needed by anyone. A pufferfish paperweight, bedside table lamps made from pearl necklaces and invalidated share certificates from 1956 have all changed hands. Hearty laughs are guaranteed when swapping gifts!