In the lead up to International Women’s Day, we’re introducing you to some of the kickass women behind Freeletics. From product management to HR, these women cover every single department and embody Freeletics day in, day out. Today, meet Sandra, Senior Product Manager.
How did your Freeletics story begin? And how has it changed?
My story with Freeletics, both professionally and as a Free Athlete, began 3.5 years ago in Berlin when I was hired as a product manager to bring the Freeletics Gym app to life. For that first year, I trained almost exclusively with Freeletics Gym with a crazy team of 7 people - it felt like a super small startup. Only after that did I begin to consistently train with Bodyweight. When I began, we were a young team with limited experience and had to work things out for ourselves, which makes me even prouder of the organization we’ve built. I’ve learned so much during my time here and I’m happy to have been part of this crazy ride for such a long time now.
What does it mean to be a woman at Freeletics?
To me, it means being part of a diverse, inclusive and exciting community of people who share a common vision. Being a woman at Freeletics isn’t important, it’s about being a part of a vibrant, exciting company where people don’t draw the differences between genders, but rather where everyone is accepted and respected.
What does your training routine look like? How do you balance training and work?
I do Freeletics and yoga. I see training as something that supports other parts of my life - it’s a balancing factor. In more stressful times, I might do less but I keep some sessions fixed - having time to unwind is very important to me.
What have you learnt from training with Freeletics that you’ve applied to your job?
Be persistent. Sometimes it has to hurt before it gets better; sometimes you have to push through the burpees even though you don’t want to, to get that sense of accomplishment afterwards. And I think that’s how things are in life: sometimes things are tough but if you’re persistent, the results are always worth it!
Is product engineering still a predominantly male area? Or are things changing?
Engineering has always been male-dominated, but things are definitely changing. The environment is becoming more open which is encouraging more women to apply for jobs in this field. In my everyday work life, people don’t differentiate between male and female opinions. I feel it’s becoming more equal and even if there are less girls, they’re not viewed as inferior. For me, this is the true achievement.
What makes you get up in the morning to come to work every day?
Everything! The product I’m working on, the people I’m working with. I love the topic and am really glad that I can combine fitness, something that I’m super interested in, with working on a digital product and working with so many people that are really enthusiastic and motivated to change the world.
