Michael T.’s Post

Yesterday marked my 8-year anniversary at Zalando! 🎉🎈 Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine staying with a company for this long (my previous record was 1.7 years), but here I am, thrilled about it and excited for what the next year holds! This time has been a journey of high growth and learning, filled with extraordinary people (some of whom I now call friends) and unforgettable moments hashtag #bestteamevents. For me, Zalando has been an exceptional product school. Over these years, I've had the opportunity to: ⇥ Work with products in all stages (0-1 remains the most exciting for me – there's nothing like launching a new product direction!; growth the most surprising and maturity the most fruitful) ⇥ Launch impactful and innovative solutions ⇥ Dive deep into various business verticals ⇥ Collaborate with almost all types of tech products ⇥ Learn how different customers are across the European markets ⇥ Build and grow cross-functional teams ⇥ Organize fun product events and trainings ⇥ And most importantly, grow as an individual As I reflect back, here are 8 important product learnings I’ve gained along the way: ① Don’t A/B test everything – it easily gets costly. Instead, make time for more user research. The more you talk to the customers, the more you will understand them and nail the right solutions quickly. Then, use A/B testing at the end for quantitative confidence; ② Figure out how to ship the great ideas faster – focus on 'wow' ideas for your customers, not on the ones easy to do. Get creative with your team to execute them within the desired timeframe. Solutions always exist; don’t compromise on the product outcome; ③ Focus on solving the underlying customer needs, not only on the customer problems – this helps drive innovation rather than patch solutions; ④ Understand what to optimize for – for 0-1 products, impact = speed; for growing products, impact = volume; for mature products, impact = high quality; ⑤ Teamwork over solo work – no matter how experienced you are, the ideas and solutions always better with a cross-functional team. I've learned so much from amazing peers in other functions; ⑥ Great product work can be done anywhere – even in less exciting problem spaces. However, exciting visions and problem spaces can motivate teams to move mountains; ⑦ Say "no" thoughtfully – instead of the classic “no” or "later", ask the right questions to understand stakeholders' problems, have data and research at hand and see how you can find solutions to the core problem. Bonus points if you find a quick fix; ⑧ Effective communication is THE skill to master - it will solve the majority of your problems. It’s also one of the hardest ones, where you always keep on learning. Bonus tip: Have fun while doing it! The PM’s work isn’t always glamorous, so it’s crucial to laugh and enjoy the ride🎢 What has been your most valuable learning experience in your career? #WorkAnniversary #ProductManagement #Innovation

We’re constantly experimenting to find better ways to connect our customers, brands, and partners. When those experiments work, we celebrate. When they fail, we learn the lessons. It’s part of the Zalando culture. But we know that for lots of people, failure feels like a big deal. So how do you become a pro at 'failing forward'? Here are our top tips. 1. Break it down Being good at failing doesn’t mean taking unnecessary risks. If you’ve got a bold idea, break it down into smaller chunks, so that if you fail, you fail early and move on. 2. Remember the re-do At school, lots of us learn that instant success is the only acceptable result. But the joy of being an adult is that there’s always the re-do. If a project goes wrong, try it from a different angle. If this week’s presentation is a disaster, there’s always next week. Take the long view. 3. Give yourself points for being brave If your only measure of career success is perfection, you’ll probably take a pretty safe (and boring!) path. Give yourself points for being creative and bold. 4. Understand the consequences What would really happen if a project failed? What would your manager actually do if your big idea turned into a big mess? Where are the boundaries? Talk to your team leader to make sure your fears are based on reality. 5. Give yourself permission Failing doesn’t make you a failure. It makes you somebody who is brave enough to try. And that’s the kind of person we love! Put failure into perspective by allowing it into your career as part of your growth. At Zalando, we think big and act fast – it’s been an essential part of the Zalando story. Read it here: https://zln.do/3X4zU2K #InsideZalando

Yesterday, I had the privilege of presenting at the Zalando Grow event. For those unfamiliar, Grow@Zalando is an annual, company-wide event focused on internal growth and development opportunities offered by Zalando. We discussed personal branding, a topic that resonates deeply with me. During the panel discussion, which included colleagues from various departments, we explored the challenges of creating a personal brand, the importance of authenticity, and the balance between professional and personal life while maintaining a strong professional image. Key themes such as courage, feedback, peer support, and leadership were highlighted. If you are interested, here are some tips for building your personal brand: # Treat it as a Project: Collect data and feedback from individuals you trust to provide honest and constructive criticism. Reflect on your value system and identify how your personal values align with the company’s values. # Be Authentic: Show genuine interest in your interactions. Authenticity fosters trust and credibility with your audience. # Set Clear Goals: Define your objectives for your personal brand. Establish both short-term and long-term goals that align with your values, career aspirations, and personal life. I was thrilled to see my team’s support, the audience's engagement, and the insightful questions that arose during the session. Thank you, Robert Schiller, Veronica Schilling, Fuada Daco for the opportunity & Preethi Rao, Miguel Dupret, Charlotte Preut for an amazing discussion & exchange. #insidezalando

11 days left until summer. And finally, it's time to relax. But for me, June is not about relaxation. I received my offer from Zalando in June 2021. It seems like a month that's not great for hiring, but that's not true! I've received in past a several offers between June and August. Summer is perfect for hiring because fewer decision-makers are around, everyone is in a more positive mood, and offers still need to be closed. It's easier and faster to receive offers in the summer. My team and I know a lot about how your LinkedIn profile should look to attract employers' attention. This Tuesday, for the first time in a long time, I am bringing back LinkedIn enhancement. We'll review your profiles, your career goals, and think about what needs to be adjusted. Details here: https://lnkd.in/eqUeCF3y [RU] More about LinkedIn boost and career in Europe here [RU] => https://lnkd.in/e6wb7VjS

✨ It’s the people that make my work at Zalando truly rewarding! ✨ Last week marked a special milestone as we celebrated our 4th anniversary of the Zalando Zurich office. What a journey it’s been! 🎉 It all started with the acquisition of a startup, which is now our Size & Fit Zurich team. From day one, I had the privilege of guiding the team through a smooth integration into the wider Zalando world. What's truly remarkable is that nearly all our colleagues are still with us—growing, evolving, and today tackling one of fashion's biggest challenges: helping people find the right size advice as one team spread across Zurich and Berlin. 👗👚 We’re continuing to expand and we all have been excited to welcome one of the Zalando eCommerce Plattform Service Teams to Zurich last year, working on exciting initiatives like the Zalando Fashion Assistant and other inspiring projects. 🚀 A big thanks goes to the Site Operations Team that I have the honor of leading for the past three and a half years. Pamela Herrera, Petros Papagiannis, Roxana and Marko Kauzlaric - we are a small team and we make the magic happen together, thanks a lot for your commitment and trust 🙌 Reflecting on my own adventure - moving to a new country during the pandemic, building up our site in Zurich and leading across functions far beyond my original profession - I couldn’t have done it without the incredible support from my team, central experts and leadership who believed in us every step of the way. 💪 For anyone dreaming big, here are two pieces of advice I’d love to share: 1️⃣ Build a strong foundation from the start so you’re ready to grow when the time is right - this equally counts for personal as well as business growth 2️⃣ When a great opportunity comes your way, be brave. (Personal) Growth often comes from stepping outside your comfort zone and surrounding yourself with people who challenge you in the best ways as well as those believing and supporting you 💡 Here’s to many more years of growth, collaboration, and exciting opportunities ahead! 🚀💼 #Teamwork #InsideZalando #ZalandoZurich #Leadership #GrowthMindset #CareerJourney

How to deal with unpredictable challenges in supply chain logistics in times of constant change? Zalando building the leading pan-European ecosystem for fashion and lifestyle explains the strategy: The key are flexible partners like we as KNAPP are.🤝 Zalando values various factors that make our partnership so good and flexible: ✅ Save time up front: Working closely together as partners also during times without an active project and preparing for different scenarios. ✅ Scalability: providing modular solutions that can be scaled up when needed. ✅ Internationality: possibility to handle large projects across Europe. ✅ Resident engineers: short response times for technical challenges. ✅ Collaborative approach: transparent communication about requirements. We are proud to have this partnership with Zalando and we are looking forward to our further collaboration. 🚀

Being part of the Sustainable Packaging Operations team at Zalando over the past six months has been both an honor and an incredible learning opportunity. Sustainability is not just a buzzword—it’s a critical priority for every ecosystem we’re part of. This experience has allowed me to contribute to an impactful project, gaining first-hand insights into upstream operations within supply chain processes and reinforcing my commitment to creating meaningful impact through innovation and efficiency. As the current project at Zalando approaches a successful conclusion, I am now actively seeking a long-term opportunity where I can apply my expertise in supply chain optimization, operations management, and leadership to drive organizational growth and success. If you know of any opportunities that align with my skills and passion, or if you just want to reconnect and exchange ideas, feel free to drop me a message or like this post. I’d love to hear from you and explore ways we can support one another. #SupplyChainManagement #OperationsManagement #Logistics #Sustainability #SustainableLogistics #Procurement #Innovation #Efficiency #Optimization #FutureOfWork #JobSearch #CareerOpportunities #OpenToWork #Leadership #CareerGrowth

Starbucks, Amazon, Tata Group– what do they have in common? The answer: Purpose-driven branding. This is what is revolutionizing branding and is the thing to watch out for in 2025. 📍Tata has- Empowered global progress through diverse industries, from steel to technology, focusing on innovation, sustainability, and community enrichment. 📍Starbucks has- To inspire and nurture the human spirit-one person, one cup, and one neighbourhood at a time. 📍Amazon has- To be Earth's most customer-centric company, where customers can find and discover anything they might want to buy online. Do you know why the shift? Today’s consumers are no longer just buying products; they are investing in ideas they believe in. Hence, purpose-driven branding is super important to know why your brand exists beyond profit. For Indian businesses, this could mean embracing social causes, from supporting local artisans to focusing on more eco-friendly practices that resonate with conscious customers. This also applies to personal branding- a person who showcases and positions themselves as a thought leader and shows their personality through their social media, is the person people listen to. If you’re a founder this will help you create a brand that goes beyond products and resonates well with consumers on an emotional level. Do you agree that purpose-driven branding is the new rage? #Branding #consumer #Growth #SocialMedia #purposedrivenbranding

Braze sat down with Gaiar Baimuratov, Head of Product and Technology at Lounge by Zalando to discuss the challenges that companies face to stay ahead in a highly competitive market. The decision to build or buy isn’t always straightforward; it involves evaluating resources, market availability, and long-term goals. With a modular approach to their technology stack, they've developed a balanced strategy that empowers them to scale efficiently while keeping ownership of critical processes. Here are seven steps Lounge by Zalando takes as they navigate the "Build vs. Buy" dynamic. https://lnkd.in/gB_BhfF3 https://bit.ly/3OjBwQO

I'm OUT! 🌞 Bye bye Zalando, the fashion industry, and the marketing world! I'm grateful for the friends I met, the opportunities I was given, and for the confidence & skills I grew. All in all, it's been a quite enriching and empowering journey! But the current scale of the fashion industry is NOT sustainable nor desirable, and I think I am now old enough to finally start aligning my beliefs and my doing. At least, let's try! There seem to be plenty of big issues to tackle, out there. For now, I'd like to learn more about the current actors and challenges of the circular economy, as well as about waste and water management. If you have any information (book references; company names; trainings; friend of a friend working in a related field, stories of people who changed sectors...): I would really appreciate you reaching out! 😎