Today we have a special edition of our employee interview. Philipp (Marketing & PR), who usually asks the questions, is now facing critical questions from Henrike (the sales engineer from the first edition) and has to answer them.

I meet Philipp at his workplace in the Oval Office (because of the oval walls). His euphoria is still palpable and visible, as he was able to hold aloft the trophy for the winner of the 3rd official TRICERA billiards tournament at the end of yesterday evening.

Philipp, how does it feel to be the newly crowned champion of the 3rd official TRICERA billiards tournament?

Henrike, I’m very happy about the win, thanks for asking. After the first two attempts, which I felt had a lot of room for improvement, it was important for me to show that I really can do it. The big goal was not to let the PJ team win the trophy again. The fact that I succeeded in the end is fantastic, of course.

What is it like to do marketing for a B2B company and what is the goal?

The goal is to provide qualified leads to the various teams within the company. This is different from advertising to end customers, who are then directly encouraged to make a purchase. My job is to use marketing campaigns to reach decision-makers who will then promote our battery storage solution within their companies.

Unfortunately, this is not a process in which there is only one touchpoint that leads to a decision. The potential customer must understand the product and, in the best case, have already seen it. At the same time, trust must be built that the specialists involved in the company are the right ones for the project.
We try to take all of this into account when we publish articles, issue press releases, or attend events such as trade fairs or forums.

Was it always your plan to do marketing for a product like battery storage?

Yes and no. At the beginning, I was still inexperienced in terms of understanding the storage solution and had to learn a lot every day. Over time, I grew to love it. I am a person who lives and acts in a sustainable manner (as far as possible). Being able to bring this to life in the company gives the whole thing a deeper meaning. That is very important to me.

What are your daily challenges?

Since it is very technical, the publication of articles or press releases always requires a second opinion from a specialist within the company. It is important not to overestimate your own abilities, but to play it safe and seek feedback. I am very happy with my colleagues, who are always willing to listen and quickly proofread my work, even at short notice.

In addition, from a marketing perspective, interests must always be aligned with those of management. That’s not so easy. In the end, it always serves the greater good, so individual interests have to take a back seat from time to time.

Is there a highlight from your time at TRICERA so far?

Every year, I am primarily responsible for organizing our trade fair presence at electrical energy storage (EES) in Munich. This takes up a lot of my working time, especially in the months leading up to the event. I am therefore particularly proud when employees and guests report afterwards that they enjoyed it very much and that everything was well planned.

What would you do at TRICERA if you had an unlimited marketing budget?

Since I started working here, I’ve wanted to have a small cuddly toy version of our spirit animal, the TRICERATOPS, so that we can give visitors at trade fairs, for example, or employees who have a special event coming up, something with added value.

What do you think the marketing world will look like in 30 years?

That’s a very difficult question to answer. I think that much more will take place in virtual spaces and that face-to-face interaction will unfortunately continue to decline. I can actually imagine us creating digital representations of ourselves that communicate with each other in a kind of metaverse. Advertising will also be done in these spaces, and tours of battery storage facilities will also take place virtually.

Let’s get a little more personal. In previous interviews, you mentioned that the team cooks a lot in the communal kitchen. I’ve heard that good food is also very important to you in your private life. What’s that all about?

My wife and I are very passionate about good food. We cook a lot of fresh and varied meals ourselves, with me playing more of a supporting role. Here, too, we consciously strive for a balanced mix of meat-based and vegetarian meals, eating meat-free during the week, for example. Through cooking, we have also become more familiar with Michelin-starred cuisine and occasionally visit restaurants with upscale and/or Michelin-starred cuisine. The highlight so far has been René Frank in Berlin. In the fall, we are going to Viktoria Fuchs in the Black Forest.

How do you balance your stressful work life with your free time? Do you have any hobbies besides cooking?

We go hiking every now and then, and I like to stay active by playing indoor soccer, volleyball, or going to the gym. I’m also thinking about volunteering somewhere soon. I’d like to give something back and support people who aren’t as fortunate as I am.

Finally, who do you nominate for the next interview and why?

We’ve now covered all areas of the company. It’s time for the management to have their say. That’s why I nominate Tim, co-founder of TRICERA energy GmbH and a respected expert when it comes to battery technology. Tim has many interesting views that should be heard.