Rosanna, Team Lead Product Management

I started in 2018 as a Product Manager (PM) at the Travel Comparison Portal in Dresden. Our main responsibility is the direct integration of interfaces with various tour operators. One of my key tasks has been to build up and establish the “Post Booking and Extras” area. The focus here is on automating service processes related to booked package tours as well as integrating additional travel services.

Alongside my operational work, I now also hold leadership responsibilities as a Team Lead in Product Management.

As Product Managers, we act as the link between management, developers, and our partners. We take on two roles: as PMs, we develop concepts and strategies to optimize and further improve our product, and we coordinate closely with all stakeholders. Once these initiatives move into implementation, we take on the role of Product Owners: defining task packages, prioritizing them, and accompanying their execution within sprints.

As a Team Lead, I now take on these roles from a more strategic perspective. I’m responsible for coordinating various customer-relevant topics and projects and setting a clear roadmap. In addition, developing my team members is an important part of my work – for example, through feedback sessions or creating development plans – with the goal of strengthening their individual skills and supporting them in reaching the next “level.”

In the morning, I usually start by reviewing our key metrics. Then, we exchange updates within the leadership circle as well as with other PMs and developers regarding news or current challenges. Beyond that, every day looks different and often brings new surprises.

We’re constantly exploring ways to improve the user experience and expand the range of digital services and extras we offer our customers. We always take the customer perspective, analyzing the processes they go through on our website and after booking a package holiday. One of the big challenges is that the travel industry is still in the middle of digital transformation. This often requires creative thinking and finding innovative solutions.

Open communication is part of our DNA – this means we align regularly, make many decisions together, and address challenges openly. We support one another, and everyone is treated as an equal team member. As Team Lead, it’s especially important to me to foster this spirit while also giving my team members a high degree of responsibility and visibility for their work. Even working students or junior colleagues get the chance to present their successes and ideas to the leadership circle.

That you can learn something from everyone in the company – so it’s important to go through your daily work with open eyes and ears. To move forward, you sometimes need to step out of your comfort zone and try something new.

From the very beginning, I was trusted with responsibility and challenging tasks. This allowed me to grow, learn a lot, and gain experience in different areas. The LOT program also prepared me very well for my current role as a leader.

I started at CHECK24 as a Junior PM, but it took less than a year before I was promoted to Professional. Shortly afterward, I was nominated for the LOT program for aspiring leaders. In the program, I received a lot of theoretical and practical input on what leadership at CHECK24 means. In 2022, I first took on leadership responsibility as a Deputy Team Lead, and one year later I became a Team Lead in Product Management.

An agile mindset, high willingness to learn, and strong initiative are definitely helpful. Beyond that, though: there’s nothing you can’t learn here at CHECK24.