People at Gira > Kai Stracke

Pioneers on Two Fronts

After successfully completing his doctorate in the field of electronic measurement and circuit technology, Kai switched to industry and joined Gira in 2017 in the newly founded "Systems Engineering" department. Find out in the interview what makes his job special for him and how tension and pride are related.

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TOPICS In THIS ARTICLE


Systems Engineering


Work and Family Life


Working Atmosphere and Corporate Culture

PEOPLE AT GIRA > JAN KLEE

Go New Ways

With a great deal of diligence at work and a keen interest in sport outside of work, Jan has continued to develop both on a personal and professional level. Today, he accompanies the entire new product development process – from the initial idea, through the market launch, and right up to the discontinuation of the product. In the interview, he tells us about the challenges he has faced and the new directions he wishes to take together with Gira.

TOPICS IN THIS ARTICLE


Studying and Gira


Processes in product management


New products

People at Gira > Vera Breidenbach

Networking on the green field

Vera graduated from university with a degree in business information systems and started work the next day in the IT service department at Gira. Three years later, she tells us how it feels to have responsibility at Gira and how she makes the lives of her colleagues easier through her work. She is currently about to face the greatest challenge of her professional career. And what that has to do with volleyball will be revealed in the interview.
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Topics IN this article


Responsibility at Gira


IT service


Future projects

People at Gira > Frank Schimmelpfennig

New Challenges Every Day

Frank Schimmelpfennig, Head of Electronics Development, explains why you only get things done as a team. Together with his team he is overcoming challenges such as the growing complexity of products and the ever increasing pressure to innovate. "What's interesting about the job is that nothing has stayed the same as it was 20 years ago." The key to success lies in fluid communication between the various teams, and in each individual's personal initiative.
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Topics in this article


Complexity of products


Product development


Personal initiative of employees

People at Gira > Clas Vesper

Adventure with a safety rope

In 2005, the management offered its trainees a year-long placement abroad for the first time. One of the options on the table was a stay in China. No-one took up the challenge – except Clas Vesper, who was then an apprentice toolmaker in the plastics production plant. He assumed a pioneering role and also posed new logistical challenges for Gira relating to the organisation of a job, accommodation and a visa. Just under a year later he started his trip to the mega-metropolis Shanghai.
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Topics in this article


Vocational training


Stay abroad


Dual course of study

PEOPLE AT GIRA > JÖRG HESSLER

The Gira Active Partner club is unique within the industry. What is extraordinary is not only the sheer number of activities on offer, but also the personal interaction and trust-based relationship between Gira and the club's members. As head of the club, Jörg Hessler plays a central role in the events.
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Topics in this article


Active customer retention


Designing creative events


Project with vision

People at Gira > Claus Schrödinger, Michael Weber

Freedom to develop innovative ideas

Claus Schrödinger and Michael Weber joined Gira as sales engineers at the age of 18 or 19 respectively. As part of their activities with planners and architects, they have, over the years, become increasingly involved in the implementation of complex functions of Gira high-tech products in calls for tender.
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Topics in this article


Technical sales marketing


Innovation processes


Development of new tasks

People at Gira > Sebastian Marz

Going to the limits – with backup

At the age of just 29, Sebastian Marz heads up what might be Gira's largest organisational project: the introduction of SAP as the lead software for all business processes in the company. "No ordinary task", says the industrial business management assistant and industrial engineer, who took over as assistant to the management at the age of just 24. "But one which is easily doable – if the support is there in the company."
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Topics in this article


Innovation processes


New technologies


Project management

People at Gira > Jan Böttcher

Pioneer and team player

Jan Böttcher is an economist and has already tackled the subject of sustainable corporate management as part of his degree. He completed his thesis as a practical project at Gira, thus introducing the subject of sustainability into the company. He received a great deal of support for this at Gira. Jan resolutely continued along this path and now works as sustainability manager at Gira. He promotes this topic with expertise and enthusiasm.
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Topics in this article


Final-year project at Gira


Career start after university


Gira and sustainability

PEOPLE AT GIRA > CHRISTIANE FASTENAU

Family-oriented career woman

Juggling children and a career: Many women ask themselves how this can work. Christiane Fastenau is a mother of two and head of the Export Marketing division on a part time basis. "A great deal is possible" she says, "if the whole package is right."
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Topics in this article


Work/family balance


Flexible working hours and working from home


International opportunities

PEOPLE AT GIRA CHRISTIANE HARNISCHMACHER, LILIJA SARTISON

New beginnings with staying power

Endless motivation: The employees from Segment 5 from Assembly received the "smart bonus", which is paid out by Gira for increasing net productivity, for the eleventh time within four years. All this just for the money? The team coordinators Christiane Harnischmacher and Lilija Sartison have a different opinion. They say: "Money alone can never be a motivating factor."
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Topics in this article


Willingness to change


Openness to ideas


Scope for creativity

PEOPLE AT GIRA MARKUS FROMM-WITTENBERG

Computer nerd with visions for the future

All companies want creative and innovative employees. But what does this mean in technical professions? Markus Fromm-Wittenberg knows. He believed in the combination of KNX and internet technology when everyone else was dismissing it - and created a product that enables an entire house to be controlled by a computer.
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Topics in this article


Technical sales marketing


Innovation processes


Development of new tasks

PEOPLE AT GIRA > BILJANA BRANISAVLJEVIC-SOVIC

Thirst for knowledge as a driving force

Learning has become a real passion for her. Biljana Branisavljevic-Sovic started at Gira in Assembly in 2004 and then soon applied for the position of team coordinator. While she was completing the two-year in-house training for this new function, she was already thinking about the next one.
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Topics in this article


Further training and promotion


In-house training at Gira


Extra-occupational university studies

PEOPLE AT GIRA > ANDRÉ DORNSEIFF, HARTMUT HEINBACH

Pioneers with a leap of faith

In 2002 Gira invented the door intercom system in the design line and by doing so revolutionised the world of building technology. André Dornseiff, senior hardware developer and Hartmut Heinbach, programmer for embedded software/ firmware are the "founding fathers".
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Topics in this article


Innovation processes


New technologies


Scope for new developments

PEOPLE AT GIRA > ASTRID JURZITZA

Dynamic enabler and constantly on the go

When Astrid Jurzitza started at Gira in Assembly over 25 years ago, she was still worried about whether she would meet her quota. But this fear was quickly forgotten. Today, she is not only confident in her work, she also constantly thinks about how the processes can be improved there.
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Topics in this article


Openness to new ideas


Implementation of suggestions for improvement


Commitment to quality

PEOPLE AT GIRA DR STEFAN PEES

Specialist with an eye for the big picture

Dr. Stefan Pees is head of Software Development IP at Gira. He has built up the division since he started at Gira in 2010 and was therefore able to develop and define his area of activity himself. He especially appreciates the creative freedom offered by his position at Gira.
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Topics in this article


Vocational training


Stay abroad


Dual course of study