Aygül Özkan
Aygül ÖzkanDepot Manager TNT Post Hamburg
35 years old, married, 1 child
Aygül radiates energy and drive and you only need a single conversation with her to understand why she is proving such a success in a challenging job. In November 2005, starting entirely on her own, she took on the task of setting up TNT Post’s Hamburg operations. In a metropolitan area spanning 750 km2 and some 1.8 million inhabitants, that’s no mean task. After creating a team of over 400 staff within a 6-week period, deliveries started in January 2006 with new contracts coming in each week.
Aygül: “The months setting up the depot were an absolute rollercoaster and without doubt the most intense of my career to date. Although I had a good position at Deutsche Telekom at the time, I loved the idea of setting up something new. My first task was to create the team. Sometimes we had 10 interviews a day, with a five-minute break between candidates. I didn’t have time to think so I had to rely on gut feeling and common sense. Unless people connect, there’s no chance of success. So far things have worked out better than I could have hoped for. Seeing the harmony that already exists within the team has really increased my self confidence.”
Self confidence is something she needs at the moment. “Now that the team’s in place, we’re concentrating on optimising our processes and eliminating any problems. Cost-cutting, sales and expanding our delivery network are critical. One of the things I have been most amazed about at TNT is the trust the organisation has in its staff. Of course they take my track record into account, but I am currently also involved in looking at companies that would be of interest to us for purchase to expand our delivery coverage. I guess it’s one of the advantages working for a company as large as TNT that this is possible.”
So how has she managed to set up this sort of operation within such a short period of time? Aygül: “Teamwork, teamwork, teamwork and a personal touch. In the same way TNT has trusted me to do my job, I trust my staff. I believe that if you empower people and give them the feeling that their work makes a difference, you will get the most out of them, they will enjoy their work and they will feel appreciated. Of course it’s not going to work 100% of the time, but if they feel connected to the company, if you can forge a feeling of personal responsibility, a team is far more likely to succeed.