WHAT DO YOU WANT TO CHANGE IN THE WORLD?

Where to start? Question capitalism massively and end patriarchy. I would love to replace the greed for power, money and endless growth with much more empathy, social justice and wise questions.

WHY BE A PEACH?

Imagine you move to a new country, go to an event about sustainability in the first month of living in this place and listen to three incredibly determined young creatives about how they work and what their values are. And then, after listening, you realise that you not only want to get to know them but also really need to work with them. 

Well, that is basically how my journey with Be a Peach started. 

I am the latest addition to the Peach family – and could not be happier about it. Be a Peach is incorporating thinking work in progressive dimensions: BAP is functioning as a catalysator of meaningful ideas while constantly focusing on ethical values to give voice to the planet and social-centric projects and brands. Therefore, my choice to become a peach clearly has to do with the fact that I don’t know many other (maybe none?) creative agencies that are not selling their souls but maintain and grow their mission daily. On top of that, the company structure of Be a Peach is far from usual: While the term “flat hierarchies” is used in every second description of job announcements, at BAP, it truly is fundamental. The openness for all kinds of creative ideas, far away from pre-setting boxes, celebrating differences and respecting the individual to grow together put the term “work” on a whole new level for me. 

WHAT ARE THE 3 MOST VALUABLE LEARNINGS YOU GOT FROM BE A PEACH SO FAR?

1.TRANSPARENCY IS KEY – all the way through;

2. GROWTH THROUGH EXPERIENCE – yes, you can be comfortable outside of your comfort zone;

3. VALUES OVER EVERYTHING – never settle for less.

HOW DO YOU STAY INSPIRED WHILE WORKING REMOTELY?

ROUTINE – While routine and inspiration don’t belong in the same box at first thought, for me, they are interlinked. Working remotely basically means you can’t blame anything else than yourself for your (lack of) productivity. Establishing a routine in my daily life helps to embed a “working frame” into my home and encourages me to stay focused. 

ACTIVE BREAKS – The perks of working at home definitely include that you are in charge of your time management. For me, that also means that if I feel like this one incredible creative idea refuses to come to me, I decide not to spend another hour thinking about it, but maybe have a short active break instead, put my thoughts into something else, and find the creative access again.

MUSIC – I honestly can’t work without music. It inspires me, carries me through the day, and is an endless motivation source.

THE BIGGEST HACK TO COMMUNICATE & BUILD RELATIONSHIPS

ONLINE STRAIGHT FORWARDNESS – Especially online, clear and detailed communication is key. If you are not sure if you understand everything correctly, ask. There is no such thing as a stupid question! If you feel misunderstood, explain again. If you are uncertain, ask for feedback. 

In my opinion, most of the communication problems can be prevented if you speak openly and trust that your opponent is open to an exchange. I do not mean to over-communicate every single step, but instead of leaving something unspoken which might cause a bad feeling or tensions later on, just directly communicate it. Another benefit of it: It saves a lot of time for everyone! 

In general, but especially in tensions, I am personally a big fan of non-violent communication to avoid speaking in hurtful or ineffective ways. The concept of non-violent communication is based on observation instead of evaluation. The trick of it is to articulate this observation without any judgement. In practice, that means to make an observation and share with your opponent how that makes you feel instead of giving your opinion and evaluation right away. Next, you can articulate your own needs to solve the situation.