Britta Baums

What made you decide to work at ifok?

To achieve sustainable change, we need to focus on people and structures: I am intruiged by complex challenges passionate about bringing stakeholders with their diverse goals and ideas together, designing processes, moderating them along dynamic lines and leading them to good results. There are no off-the-shelf solutions for this – and this is what I particularly appreciate about our approach at ifok: we provide case-specific advice, utilize our broad experience and develop customized solutions together.

I love the variety of our job. As a generalist, I have a broad thematic focus and am currently involved in areas such as climate change adaptation, strengthening rural areas and sustainability strategies. Besides that, I am always happy to take on assignments for dialogue training or team development.

How long have you been part of the ifok team and where were you before?

I joined ifok in 2006 after graduating from College and have been back since 2016. In between, I spent several years working in regional and destination development for the national parks in the Bavarian Forest and Hunsrück. My experiences from my time at ifok have also shaped my work at these locations: I was able to successfully initiate and implement new developments – in the combination of seemingly contradictory interests, the establishment and further development of stakeholder networks and the introduction of new steering logics and organizational structures.

I have not only expanded my professional expertise at all these jobs, but above all I have refined my knowledge of human nature, gained experience with cultural peculiarities and dynamics and learnt how to use them. To this day, I continue to learn and enjoy it.

What sets you apart at the office?

I like to listen and observe. An appreciative attitude and communication are important to me – in my teams, when working with clients and when moderating committees, events or workshops. It is also important for me that we have fun at work.

I believe in the wisdom of the many and the power of empathy.

What can’t you do without on vacation?

As much as my everyday life at work well-structured, I prefer to travel unplanned in my private life: I enjoy exploring the world by public transport and walking off the beaten tracks. And I like discovering Germany with a tent, a bike and a deckchair in the trunk. Always with me: my big old trekking backpack. I love travelling the world with my eyes wide open, going on adventures and capturing beautiful moments.