✨ Tanja ✨

Hello Tanja! Can you tell us a bit about yourself and your role at HelloBetter?

I'm Tanja, and I work as a Senior Product Manager at HelloBetter. I have the opportunity of teaming up with one of our cross-functional Engineering Squads, Team Blue 💙, to enhance and advance our platforms. This includes our patient-facing platforms such as the HelloBetter Mobile app and our Web platform, as well as internal platforms used by our coaches and the content team, among others. In a nutshell, my role is to ensure that our work aligns with our users' needs and our company's goals. This involves a lot of collaboration and maintaining open lines of communication. I work closely with stakeholders, design, user research, data, and of course, the engineering team to identify problems or growth opportunities and transform them into innovative solutions.

What led you to join HelloBetter?

I started at HelloBetter in 2021 as a Junior Product Manager. When I was job hunting, I knew that I wanted to work in product and I knew that it should be within a startup. What I didn't know was that I would be able to work in healthcare with the background I have. In 2021, I completed my Master's degree in Information Studies in Copenhagen, remotely from Berlin, and worked part-time at a vaccination center (we all remember those dystopian times…) Whenever there was a slump, I would sit and chat with the doctors in the vaccination cabins. One of the doctors* asked me about my future plans, and when he learned what I was aiming for, he mentioned DiGAs. I started researching and came across HelloBetter. Next to an open Product position and being a Startup the other aspect that was super important to me: Finding a job where I could proudly share what I do and who I work for because I truly connect with the values, goals, and mission. HelloBetter ticked all the boxes. * Unfortunately, I can't remember his name. Otherwise, it would be a cool HCP story and he would certainly soon be a top prescriber ;)

What do you love most about your job at HelloBetter?

In addition to having flexible work hours and the ability to work remotely, what makes it special for me is the team. While I could decide on the working conditions beforehand, I couldn't choose my colleagues. Fortunately, I have the privilege of working with two fantastic teams (Squad Blue and the Product Team) and regularly seeing my colleagues at the office. The joy of work significantly increases when you click with your teammates.

Have there been any memorable or amusing incidents with your team?

This actually dates back to my time just before joining HelloBetter. I had applied for the position and was in the second round, which at the time involved a case study. I completed the case study and sent it back as agreed. Then there was silence. The invitation to discuss and present the case study didn’t come as planned. No rejection either. Nothing. At that time, I was in Portugal, and I remember checking my emails multiple times a day and sending several follow-ups because I really wanted the job. Then, out of the blue, I received an email from Pierre, our CPO, with the following sentence: "Can you confirm that you are no longer interested in the position?" Since my email domain back then was not a standard one but private, none of my emails, including the case study, had gotten through. I remember I responded through three different channels then (including LinkedIn), assuring that I was absolutely still interested. Luckily, both Pierre and I were persistent and convinced that HelloBetter was a fit for me. Otherwise, I probably wouldn't be working here today.

If HelloBetter were an animal, what would it be and why?

That changes every two weeks since we have a tradition of naming our sprints after animals. My top pick from 2024 was the 'Singing Sea Urchin.' We always include a relevant picture in the sprint demos to match the name.

Is there a story behind why it was called singing sea urchin?

While surfing in Senegal, I landed on a sea urchin. The consequences, although not serious, stayed with me for quite a while. Maybe the sprint name was a way of coping with it…

How do you embrace HelloBetter’s remote-first culture?

I am based in Berlin and typically head to the office 2-3 times a week when I'm home. While home office is great, I find too much of it makes me miss the social interaction. At the office, there's always a good laugh, and it's naturally a space to learn more from other teams. It's also easy to exchange ideas about blockers and challenges. I also relish working remotely from outside Berlin. Being originally from Lake Constance in southern Germany, I make sure to spend a few weeks there, especially during the summer. In my opinion, it's the most beautiful part of Germany 😉 I regularly work abroad, usually for 4-6 weeks at a time, often by the sea. Regardless of where I am, I've never felt disconnected or excluded because of working remotely. I truly appreciate this opportunity.

Do you have a favourite workation destination?

That would be Portugal. I like to surf, so Portugal has already won by default with the opportunities it offers. Paddling out after or before work upgrades every day by 100%. But also the Portuguese people, the coasts, the food and the culture are simply a 10/10. I'm currently trying to learn the basics of Portuguese so that I can enjoy the country and connect with the people even more on my next trip. My favourite setup for workations is Coliving. You live together with other remote workers and the infrastructure you need to work (good internet, workstations, call rooms, etc.) is included, so you don't have to worry about booking additional coworking. I have already found good locations in Portugal, but also on Tenerife, mainland Spain and Morocco.

You mentioned enjoying surfing even before your remote job; how long have you been surfing?

I've been surfing for almost 3.5 years - so I only started shortly before I joined HelloBetter. 3.5 years sounds longer than it actually is when you only get to do it 2-3 times a year. I think many people's idea of my skills is way beyond the reality of what it actually looks like 😄

Do you catch waves in the morning, during lunch, or in the evening? Is your schedule with the product team flexible enough for that?

My work schedule is a mix of routine and project-dependent tasks. As a Product Manager, I'm involved in all Team Blue sprint ceremonies. These are recurring meetings held every two weeks according to our sprint cycle, including the daily stand-up, product alignment, retrospective, refinement, sprint planning, and sprint demo. Besides these, I also attend meetings with the product team, coordinate with stakeholders on planned or ongoing projects, and handle any unplanned tasks that arise daily. So, it never gets boring 😉 In essence, I have great flexibility in arranging my own time. I can start later or finish earlier and make up the hours as needed. However, given all the fixed meetings, there's also a certain time window during the day when I'm usually available, which could be considered my fixed working hours.

What would you tell someone considering a career in your team?

If you're looking to work in the healthcare sector on a mission that you can truly be proud of, HelloBetter is the ideal choice. Moreover, if you're prepared to tackle the challenges of product work in the medical field, are proactive and self-reliant, and wish to grow rapidly with your tasks, the Product Team is the perfect fit for you. And, as a bonus, you'll be part of the coolest team around 😉

HelloBetter in three words? Warm-hearted, passionate and welcoming

Who should I interview next in your opinion and why?

Victor, someone once called him the BfArM whisperer on Slack, which I think is quite fitting. He has impressive diplomatic skills and I'd be curious to read more about his background and daily life at HelloBetter.

Thank you, Tanja! It was a pleasure to talk to you!

Tanja’s journey is just one example of the wonderful individuals on our HelloBetter team. Stay tuned for more employee spotlights, and consider joining us on this exciting journey!

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