Sonja Schiebold, the driving force behind our talent strategies at Headroom. As the Head of People, Sonja plays a crucial role in shaping the team that powers our growth and success.

Let’s have a chat with Sonja, our Global Head of People

Joining the Headroom Family

My path to Headroom began with a recommendation from a former colleague. She told me about the vacancy and connected me with Kristel, our founder. That initial connection was the start of my journey in November 2022, as the Global Head of People at Headroom.

My role and daily focus

As the Head of People, my primary focus is on our talented team. My role involves developing strategies and tactics to attract, retain, and nurture the best talent while continuously evolving our talent strategy to meet both current and future challenges.

I regularly ask myself questions such as: do we have the right competencies in-house, what changes are occurring, and how do we need to adjust our ways of working? How can we balance our ambition for high service delivery and proactive behavior with the daily support of our team? When faced with a challenge or difficult situation, how can we stay calm and find the right solution?

So, in a nutshell, I don’t have this one regular day, but rather a dynamic role within a fantastic team where we strive to combine strategic long-term vision with operational excellence on a daily basis.

What I enjoy most about Headroom

This week, a potential candidate asked me the same question. I can honestly say that what I enjoy most is the dynamics of a start/scale-up combined with my direct team members and EAs solving Champions League-like tasks and finding solutions to (often) complex challenges. The sense of agency and ownership in my role keeps me sharp and grounded.

A productivity tool or hack that everyone should use?

One productivity tip I swear by is to analyse yourself concerning work productivity and organise your day in the smartest way possible. Identify when your energy levels are at their peak and schedule your most demanding tasks for those times. Recognise when you need breaks, such as taking a walk or handling administrative tasks while listening to a podcast. Determine what tasks you need to focus on yourself and identify opportunities to train others, highlight their strengths, or delegate tasks. Lastly, know who in your surroundings can help accelerate your thinking process and turn to them when needed. Understanding these aspects has been crucial for staying on top of my game.

Building strong relationships in a remote world

Maintaining strong relationships while working remotely requires extra effort. KeEven when things get busy, it’s important to keep the humour alive. I share personal touches, like photos of my workspace, someone cool I came along with or interesting articles. Staying approachable and regularly sharing knowledge helps keep the team connected and engaged.

Managing a remote team in a growing company

Being remote involves careful communication and functioning async. I try to create awareness of what we do and that everyone understands our goals, knows which channels to use for different messages and when we need to act one on one. Also in remote settings empathy and quick responses are crucial. Be transparent to the team on how and when they can reach you and foster a safe environment for people to bring their true selves to work.

How to delegate without compromising on quality and efficiency

First and foremost, trust is essential! Delegate tasks and allow others to take over when you’re not available. Clearly communicate your expectations and provide specific guidance on what to avoid. Also, be explicit about what will meet your standards and what will make you satisfied when reviewing the completed tasks.

Looking ahead: the future of Headroom

I’m optimistic about Headroom’s future and see high potential for growth. Whether through expanding collaborations, forming new business partnerships, or establishing hubs across various industries and borders, the possibilities are exciting.