Talk us through an average day in your role.
No two days are ever quite the same. That’s one of the most exciting aspects of my role. I typically begin my day by reviewing our operational dashboards and checking in with the content playout teams to ensure everything is running smoothly. From there, I might shift to cross-functional meetings – sometimes with engineering teams discussing platform upgrades, sometimes with product owners focusing on workflow efficiencies, or with stakeholders across RTL preparing for upcoming programming needs.
I also spend significant time with our change management leads, because transforming operations in a media tech environment requires constant adaptation. Much of my role is about orchestration: aligning creative, tech, and delivery functions to serve RTL’s content strategy with excellence and reliability.
How did you get started in the media industry?
In 1992, I completed my studies in media engineering and joined VOX shortly thereafter, at a time when the channel was still in the planning phase. I was part of the team that helped build up the technical infrastructure and establish the channel’s initial operations. Over time, more channels were added to our portfolio, and my responsibilities grew with them. In 2010, I was involved in the planning, launch, and operational rollout of our broadcast centre in Cologne-Deutz – which was, at the time, one of the most advanced facilities in Europe. That project also marked the merger of RTL Television’s technical operations, bringing together teams and technologies under one roof.
What training did you have before entering the industry?
My academic background started in engineering. I studied mechanical engineering and aerospace, but soon discovered my real passion was in media. That shift led me to pursue formal studies in media engineering, combining technology, storytelling, and systems thinking. Over the years, I’ve built on that foundation with further development in data science and leadership. Today, that helps me steer not only operations, but also strategic transformation in a data-informed way. Combining technical fluency with people leadership has been key in an industry that’s constantly evolving.
Why do you enjoy working in the industry?
Because it combines creativity with complexity. The media landscape is always in motion: audience behaviour changes, technologies evolve, and content formats diversify. Being part of this ecosystem, where strategy, tech, and content intersect, means there’s always something new to solve. I especially enjoy leading change that empowers people – helping teams work smarter with better tools, and supporting organisations in delivering content more efficiently and sustainably. That gives the work real purpose.
What piece of advice would you offer someone looking to explore a role similar to yours?
Be curious, and don’t be afraid to cross boundaries. Media operations is a space where both depth and breadth matter. Understand how content is created, but also how it’s delivered, monetised, and protected. Develop technical fluency, but never lose sight of user needs – whether that’s a viewer, an editor, or an operator. And above all, cultivate collaboration. The future of media is interdisciplinary, and the ability to lead across different domains will make all the difference.
One thing I care deeply about is increasing the visibility and presence of women in technical and operational roles. Far too few women enter these fields, not because of a lack of talent, but because of a lack of invitation. I’ve always seen it as part of my role to make that invitation visible – through mentoring, networking, and simply showing what’s possible.
Talent is everywhere. Opportunity is not. That’s what we need to change.
