Josephine Reinhold – From trainee to board member

“When I think of Softway and its employees, the first thing that comes to mind is that we stand up for each other!”

In our new interview series “10 questions for…”, we will be introducing our Softway AG employees at regular intervals. Josephine Reinhold kicks off the series. Our current board member started her career at Softway with an apprenticeship. In this interview, we look back on her time at Softway, talk about her unusual hobbies and want to know what makes working at Softway so special.

1. When did you start working at Softway AG & how did you come to Softway AG?

I came into contact with a programming language for the first time during my time at technical college. I was immediately fascinated by it. An acquaintance who worked at Softway AG offered me an internship and after a one-week internship, I decided that I wanted to do an apprenticeship at Softway after graduating from secondary school and not go to a university of applied sciences.
I did my apprenticeship at Softway AG from 2001 to 2004. After gaining professional and project experience for a few years in a permanent position and later independently in Switzerland and Germany, I returned to Softway AG as an ABAP developer in January 2015. From 2018, I worked as a project manager on various projects before becoming a board member in June 2021.

2. Why did you decide to do an apprenticeship at Softway AG back then?

During my internship, I was given a very warm welcome and the family environment within the company was immediately noticeable. I quickly came into contact with many of the employees and over the years this has led to personal friendships that continue to this day.

3. What fascinates you about your job?

What I love about being a programmer is that you can always keep learning and developing and that there is no standstill. In addition, there are often different ways to find a solution.

4 Let’s travel back in time: What did you always want to be when you were younger?

Before I got into IT, I had actually considered studying psychology and becoming a psychologist.

5. This or that?

6. What does a typical working day look like for you? What tasks are you responsible for?

My work as a board member at Softway is very varied. The area of personnel management, e.g. conducting employee appraisals, takes up a large part of my working time. Contract management is also one of my tasks, and I am also a decision-maker in all areas relating to our administration and the processes and tasks involved.
My fellow board member Frank Engert and I are currently also working on the strategic development of Softway. Another important area of responsibility is finance and controlling. Frank and I are jointly responsible for this. In addition, occupational health and safety and the health of our employees are very important to me, which is why there is always something to do in these areas. I also have a wealth of experience from my previous role as a project manager, which I am happy to pass on to our project managers.

7. There are quite a lot of organizational and bureaucratic tasks as a board member. Don’t you sometimes miss programming?

Yes, definitely! Thanks to our own SAP add-ons, I’m involved in the planning of product releases, but unfortunately I don’t have the time to implement content myself. I use blogs and podcasts to keep up to date with technological innovations. However, I don’t have the time in my day-to-day work to apply these myself.

8. How do you deal with a stressful day at work? What helps you relax after work?

I can really clear my head when I’m cycling or jumping into the water. Especially when I dive into the water, everything literally falls away from me. In 2020, I discovered stand-up paddleboarding (SUP) – another thing that really relaxes me. Discovering bodies of water from the “water side” is something else than from the shore.
I’ve been meditating for about 20 minutes every morning for a good two years now. It’s my gentle start to the working day. Yoga in the evening is a really good way for me to switch off. At the moment, however, I only make time for an hour of yoga once a week. I’m working on making it twice a week. 😊

9. How would you describe the work & the team at Softway AG? What characterizes Softway AG?

When I think of Softway and its employees, the first thing that comes to mind is that we stand up for each other. We work together and not against each other. We look out for each other and if someone needs help, they get it. We are a group of colleagues who enjoy a good laugh and have a relaxed atmosphere, without losing our professionalism towards our customers. As board members, Frank and I are always available for every employee and are interested in honest feedback, praise and criticism.

10. We would also like to know more about you in your private life. What do you particularly enjoy doing in your free time? Do you have any “special” hobbies?

I have “gasoline in my blood”. As a teenager, I raced all over Germany with my own go-kart. I still ride motorcycles today and always look forward to the start of the season in April.
I started learning to play the piano in February 2022. I really enjoy it and it’s a great way to switch off from everything, whether it’s personal or professional. I have to be in the here and now – otherwise it sounds horrible. 😉
I also love traveling. My dream is to go on a longer trip to Scandinavia and work remotely. Simply combining work and private life.