At scoutbee we like to provide our talented employees with the freedom to grow quickly and take on early responsibility to lead projects. Let’s look at the journeys of Maria Olbrich, Ryan Pares and Alexis Kotbom Ok, who started their career at scoutbee in their first internship position, successfully took over broader tasks and projects and grew into a permanent role. 

Maria Olbrich – Junior Operations Partner

Maria is part of our Operations team responsible for improving internal processes to optimise daily operations.

In which position did you join scoutbee?

I joined scoutbee as an operations intern.

Why did you choose scoutbee as your new employer?

I was looking for a job at a start-up where I would be able to influence the work and make small improvements to the products and processes. After my second interview, I had the feeling that operations at scoutbee might be the right place to do that.

What expectations did you have?

I didn’t think I would have the chance to pursue most of the ideas I had for my team. I now know I can expect them to be open-minded about new ideas and very collaborative.

Have your expectations been met?

Without a doubt. scoutbee has provided me with great opportunities so far.

What would you say is special about working for scoutbee?

I think the main difference between scoutbee and most start-ups is the leadership team’s refreshing directness.

What do you like most about your job?

That I do exactly what I like to do! I was very lucky to have landed in the right team, where I can use my talents and aptitudes.

What do you think was the reason behind your recent promotion? 

Results. We have an amazing team, built by people who care and are great at what they do.

“If you go the extra mile and demonstrate your talents, you will find a challenging and rewarding place to work at scoutbee.”

Ryan Pares – Sourcing Analyst

Ryan works in our Supplier Sourcing team and is involved in shaping the supplier Longlist by understanding customer requirements, supplier competition & market factors.

In which position did you join scoutbee?

I joined as an intern in the sourcing department.

Why did you choose scoutbee as your new employer?

I had a feeling that scoutbee could be part of something huge with the capabilities to serve the most sophisticated and demanding customers. I was always given the impression that our team focuses on results rather than hours or location, which made it possible to retain a good work-life balance.

What expectations did you have?

To gain experience in, and exposure to, multiple functions of sourcing and be surrounded by highly talented and motivated people.

Have your expectations been met?

Yes. The company has grown considerably since I joined, and the role has evolved too.

What would you say is special about working for scoutbee?

I am convinced that we laugh more during the day compared to a typical company, both in the office and through slack channels while working remotely. I am surrounded by people who work hard and remain positive even during stressful times. It is nice to see the multiple perspectives and world views of different and diverse minds coming and working together. Our neat and tidy office also makes a world of difference to productivity and finding the right headspace to work – and the fact that we’re all working in a stable and healthy company.

What do you like most about your current role?

I love my job because everyone shares the same vision and is dedicated to the mission. I’ve always felt like a valued member of the team, and I love a little bit of everything – the planning, the handovers with customer success management, our discussions with the data science team, the creative aspects, and my co-workers. I’m glad we don’t have to work on one product for a long period of time. We get exposure to new products across multiple industries where we can use the experience from previous projects to our advantage, while still learning more in a new environment.

“All the cases we work on are different, so boredom is not a word we comprehend.”

Alexis Kotbom Ok – Junior Project Manager

Alexis is part of our Project Management Office and plans, executes, reports and documents scoutbee’s initiatives and projects.

In which position did you join scoutbee?

Business development intern in the Operations team.

Why did you choose scoutbee as your new employer?

Before I applied for the position, I did some research about scoutbee and realized the highly promising growth perspective that the company has. One of the reasons that I decided to start my career in Berlin is that the city is full of fresh ideas and strong newcomers on the market.Personally, I was hoping to get an opportunity to work at a company with good growth expectations and the possibility of personal development, rather than at a company where I would have a limited range of tasks.

“It seemed exciting that I could build new areas of responsibility at scoutbee.”

I also would like to mention that the hiring process at scoutbee was very pleasant. From the initial talk with HR to the final interview with the Head of Operations, the colleagues I met during the process reassured me even more about the opportunity and the company.

What expectations did you have?

As previously mentioned, I wanted to start my career in a healthy start-up environment. Gaining hands-on experience was my number one priority. I also learned that scoutbee is a very international company so I was looking forward to working with people from every corner of the world.

Have your expectations been met?

The experience has by far exceeded my expectations. I am very grateful.

What would you say is special about working for scoutbee?

The people. I hope everyone didn’t say that!

What do you like most about your new role?

Each and every day is different for a project manager. As this position was a new challenge for me, I had a lot to learn – and still do. It has been challenging but very exciting, and I am definitely enjoying the ride. I also get to know and work with a big group of people within the organization.
As a project manager, I function as a support so that the teams can work together organically and I love it.

Last but not least, my lovely team that I work with on a daily basis. They are great managers, coworkers, and simply great people to be around. I can’t express how much I appreciate that.

What do you think was the reason behind your recent promotion?

I actually asked my current manager the same question on my first day in the project Management office. “Why did you decide to give me the job?” And he said – highly motivated, a positive attitude, contributions to the team that my previous managers had noticed, him being an advocate of the idea of offering opportunities to young professionals, and my taste in music (yes, that turned out to be a plus). We have a PMO playlist on Spotify if anyone is interested.

Our bees make scoutbee the special, vibrant company it is. While having different backgrounds and personalities, every colleague has a passion for their field of work and our collective mission. Stay tuned to hear about the incredible journeys of Lisa Kopala, Jaydeep Gondaliya and Shivani Jadhav in our second part soon.

Would you like to join one of the teams in our hive? Please check out our “Open Roles” here.