First things first:
Before I start talking about new things, the bright future, the possible challenges and everything that could and will come up during my next chapter, I would like to take the chance to say thank you.
There are so many people that helped me be who I am today, as well as helped me get where I am today. I will never take it for granted and I will always be grateful for:
> My leaders at satis&fy: Nico, Kai and Venne – who raised the professional me, picked me up right after school 13 years ago and offered me opportunities, challenges and support throughout my career. They let me try out new things, they supported me when I needed it and they gave me the freedom to create. It has been amazing and I have been so lucky to get to work for you.
> My brothers in crime: Michael, John and Patrick – who kept up with me, and went along with my sometimes crazy ideas and revolutionary approaches from time to time. Thanks for your input, thanks for grounding me and thanks for making me a better leader.
> My sister in crime and my work wife: Nancy – we were meant to meet each other. You are just amazing and I couldn’t imagine a better, sweeter, more professional, energetic, passionate person than you to take over from me. You got this, sis! On top of all this – thanks for being an amazing friend!!
> The satis&fy, LLC team: This is the best team I have ever worked with and led. Thanks for all the motivation, great achievements, openness, hard work, push back, and most definitely, all the fun and joy we had together every day. All in all the crazy journey we have been on the last 4 years is unbelievable. Keep it up!
> All clients and network in Portland and in the US: I got the chance to meet more amazing, inspiring and honest people than I ever dreamed I would. Special thanks to Andrea Michaels, Tona’ Broussard and Guy Meadows for teaching me how to survive in the US business world and how to win the game in a boys club. Also special thanks to Jim E., Kelli S., Dave and Kathleen for helping me to get into the PDX circle and telling me some tricks how to succeed over here.
> Many thanks to ladies like Katie and Brit, Olga, Jess Roy and so many more who made me feel good, inspired me, were always open for happy hours, workouts, fun stuff and became good friends over the years.
> Heather and Gwen: Thank you, thank you, thank you for being my PDX besties. What else can I say?
> My network in Berlin: Berlin was a very essential station in my life so far and I am still thankful for having the opportunity to work and live in that beautiful, crazy, inspiring city for almost 4 years. Thanks to the satis&fy team as well as the event network with iconic characters like Frank Lienert and Fee Vogel, locations like the Olympic stadium, events around fashion week or world track & field highlights. The work in Berlin was as eclectic as the city and the people itself, we never took it too seriously, we never forgot to party and the glasses were always half full. Keep it up please!
> My Berlin friends Beate, Pat, Matti and Sabi who told me how to live the Berlin way, enjoy life and were always on my side.
> My family and friends back home in Frankfurt: I am so grateful that my parents always pushed and motivated me to check out new places and things in this world, although this meant for them that I would be moving further and further away. Besides being my biggest supporters, they are also known for being my biggest critics (total cliché for German teachers – “it’s okay, but I think you can do better”…) as they know how to enable me to do better. Thank you both for always being there for me and following me around the world. Thanks to my brother for simply being the most loyal, mellow, funny, reliable and unconditional supporter I could ask for. You are just awesome, although I don’t know you how managed to become such an amazing dad and find a girl like Christiane to put up with you ;-). To my grandparents who will always be my role models when it comes to the “perfect retirement” – thanks for all the time, love and memories, and for learning all the modern digital technologies for staying in touch with me over two continents.
> My friends Caro, Judith, Konstantina, Mirka, Bastian as well as Hannah & Christian: Thanks for always staying in touch and taking care of me, although I am never there and when I am there I hardly ever have time. You guys mean the world to me.
> And finally, thanks a million to my personal “one stop solution”: Venne. I could not ask for a better husband, mentor, boss, teammate, lover and best friend. You are my better half and you make me the happiest girl on earth. Thanks for always supporting and keeping up with me, letting me realize my dreams, going on this crazy journey with me and gifting me with the best step daughter in the world, Marlene. I love you.
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