Career paths in the Otto Group: Sophie Schaible as "Woman in Tech” and consistently curious

Sophie, what motivated you to redefine your career path?
During my time in Business Intelligence at OTTO, which I pursued alongside my studies, I developed a desire for the next professional step. I had already explored various fields—from marketing communication to business informatics and data science—allowing me to gain a broad perspective. I enjoy trying new things and actively seek challenges that foster my growth, especially in the tech sector. Therefore, I was excited to discover the position at Otto Payments after completing my computer science degree. The subject matter was completely new to me: B2B creditworthiness, Know Your Customer/Know Your Business (KYC/KYB) were concepts I wasn't familiar with before. But that was exactly what attracted me. I wanted to learn something new and immerse myself in a new field. At the same time, the role of Business Analyst offers many connections to my existing knowledge. I don't see my path as linear, but rather as consistently curious.

What prompted you to pursue your desire for change within Otto Group?
I have come to appreciate Otto Group as an employer—starting with the corporate culture, openness, and mutual trust, to the flexibility in work design. And I simply enjoy the vibe at Otto Group—the informal culture, the approachability, and the collaboration across hierarchical boundaries. This is not a given everywhere, especially for women in tech.

How did the process unfold?
Once I was certain that I wanted to change careers, I sought discussions with my manager. My then-supervisor, Markus Hagen, responded positively and supported me. We openly talked about my interests, brainstormed options together, and even created a small timeline. Among other things, I spent a week shadowing another BI team to better understand the work of data scientists and held conversations with other departments. However, since there were only a few open positions in my previous environment, I was ultimately suggested for the group-wide talent pool of the "Your Next Move" initiative. Through this, I connected with Carolin Schneider, the talent broker responsible for OTTO. We regularly exchanged ideas—she helped me navigate, showed me suitable areas and roles, and discussed open positions with me.
The multitude of opportunities within the group was a significant advantage. When there were no suitable positions in my area, the perspective shift within the corporation was the right next step. Through "Your Next Move," I engaged with various subsidiaries, including Otto Payments, where I eventually applied and got the position.

Is it an advantage that you had previously worked within the corporation?
Absolutely, it made many things easier for me. For instance, I was already familiar with certain organizational processes—from tools to processes and internal terminology. Additionally, the shared cultural understanding helped me. Even though every team is different, the underlying feeling—this "vibe"—remains the same. This made my entry smoother.

What was the biggest adjustment for you?
A noticeable change was transitioning from a more established environment to a significantly more dynamic one. At Otto Payments, we are currently in the process of building a new system for the B2B partner lifecycle: Many processes, structures, and services are being newly created or adjusted. This brings great opportunities for design but also requires good self-organization and a lot of initiative. In my previous role, I was involved in complex topics but in a more supportive capacity, according to my role as Coordinator. Tasks often came to me when there was already some clarity. Now, I am involved much earlier in the process, guiding topics from the beginning, communicating with various stakeholders, gathering requirements, structuring them, and overseeing the development of solutions. This is not only challenging but also a great opportunity to learn new methods and perspectives. Professionally, I now work with a clearer focus: B2B partner onboarding. While I previously handled cross-sectional tasks for various teams, I can now specialize more.

What do you wish for your personal development the most?
I wish to continue growing, both in terms of expertise and methodology. I also want to become more confident in proactively sharing my perspective—especially in discussions with many participants or on complex topics. At the same time, I hope to continue having open and supportive leaders in the future, just as I have experienced so far.

How has your new team welcomed you?
Very well! Honestly, I had many questions at the beginning. But everything was explained to me with great patience, and I can ask questions at any time. Additionally, I am given increasingly responsible tasks, and I feel trusted. The team has a supportive atmosphere, which is very important to me. It’s wonderful to see how diverse the personalities are—and how well it works.

Were there any challenges?
Not really. I felt very supported. My previous team and I would have been happy if there had been a suitable follow-up role there—but there wasn’t. I never felt like obstacles were being placed in my way. On the contrary: the openness with which my search for development within the corporation was received helped me greatly.

What experiences would you like to share?
My experience is that there is a lot of support available within the corporation when you are looking for a new position. Sometimes it takes a bit of time for the right opportunity to arise. But if you stay persistent, a lot of good can come from it.