Join us for a Catalyx Coffee with Karo.
Each month our Brand Manager, Esmeralda Voegele-Downing, sits down with one of our fantastic team members to have a catch-up over a cup of coffee in which you can get to know some of the people who make Catalyx tick and what they’re up to…
Today, I met with Karolin Meisel. She works alongside esteemed Catalyx Coffee alum, Sherifa, in the Strategy team based in London, but it’s hard to think of Karo separately from any department, event, or social initiative within Catalyx.
Besides her strategic excellence, I would say Karo’s greatest strength is her energy and ability to connect. Euros? Karo has organised a match-day get-together in the office. Summer party? She’s shuffle-boarding until the lights come on. Day to day? Karo is a passionate and attentive colleague with a gift for making it clear you have her full attention, even when you know she is handling a wealth of complex projects at any one minute. Oh, and in between it all you’ll find her teaching Zumba – at every chance.
Want to get to know Karo for yourself? You’ll simply have to read to find out more.
I caught glimpses, but tell our readers: what did you get up to at the office party last week?
I think I somehow managed to do a lot without getting involved in too much! I was playing shuffleboard with Tana-Maria Botezat, Matt Catchpole, James Hodder and Rubel Ahmed and unfortunately, Tana and I lost to Matt and James in the end. Sad, but ready for a rematch anytime! I was also talking to Jenny Kieras, Mel Nicholls – you, Esmeralda – and Andy Cestaro. It was great to catch up properly. In the end, I stayed until the last moment of the party with only a few people left but I really enjoyed talking to everyone and the drinks! Cannot wait for Christmas to come around.
What are you currently working on?
I am currently working on a healthcare and a homecare project, which makes me realise that there is not always a white and black formula for the best outcome. Sometimes the answers lie within the lines where grey could be a more fitting recommendation really. The challenge is, though, to find that needle in the hay (German saying) and support it with the gathered data. I’m definitely busy, but on a rare day I’ll get the entire office to myself – when I do I just take over the entire sound system!
Oh, do tell – what’s your work-zone playlist?
I can’t listen to my own Zumba songs because then I start dancing! It depends on the task you’re doing. If it’s something that requires fully focusing on the data to analyse, then it’s classical music. I like learning while I work, so I listen to podcasts. It’s actually not a distraction because I just switch it into German in my head and I’m able to do everything at once!
Therefore, the office is the perfect space as we have different people coming together, with whom I am able to learn further and share ideas.
I’d say that’s more than impressive as an office regular. What draws you to in-person working so much?
I really enjoy it! At least within the Strategy team of Catalyx, the office gives a facility where everyone can come in. I am not someone who always needs to sit in silence, I am someone who likes to connect with people in person and try to watch and learn from them. Therefore, the office is the perfect space as we have different people coming together, with whom I am able to learn further and share ideas.
The million-dollar Karo question. How do you make time for Zumba mastery on top of this?
Zumba has always been a part of my life and I finally had the courage to step up and get my license so I can teach it. I like that it is literally another world in which I enter every time the music starts and then forget the busy London life around me for as long as the class goes on. That’s why it works so perfectly with my work life at Catalyx; I have me-time to switch off, have fun and only think about my participants understanding the pattern of the steps!
Through Zumba I enjoy both the big and the small moments without forgetting what I want in my life! Thanks to Catalyx I am able to combine both.
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