A year ago, Martina Hacker took over as Managing Director at KPM Berlin. Her leadership style: feminine – with a lot of trust, mutual understanding and an office whose door is always open. An interesting article from our WEISS Magazine No.4...

The way from the historic grounds of KPM Berlin to the greenery of Berlin's Tiergarten is not far – but Martina Hacker's dog takes its time. Meggy stops, sniffs, and only moves on very slowly. Her owner remains relaxed, no tugging, no pushing. After all, her Parson Russell Terrier is an old lady at 14 years old – and you shouldn't rush her.

The managing director of KPM is not a loud driver. With Meggy on the leash, she walks along the water in the Tiergarten. When taking photos, treats keep the dog in a good mood. To get Meggy to the right place for the next motif, her owner simply takes her backwards in her arms, her dirty paws stretched towards the sky, to protect her light blue blouse and gray blazer. Martina Hacker has an uncomplicated and direct way of approaching things - also at work.

In 2016, the Stuttgart native began working at KPM as Commercial Director. For a year now, as Managing Director, she has been determining the fortunes of the traditional Berlin company. In this position, she acts as a generalist through the excellent support of the management team in the areas of marketing, retail, product design, production, painting, sales, online and KPM Welt, and is a sparring partner for KPM owner Jörg Woltmann. She proceeds with caution: "The first year was a learning process for me," says the 58-year-old, who worked in the music industry for a long time. "I held back at the beginning. And some may have thought: Now there's a new top dog who has to have his say." But she preferred to listen and learn first. "In my professional life, I have always been looking for role models," says Martina Hacker. She admires Jörg Woltmann for his entrepreneurial spirit, his authenticity and his Prussian virtues: honesty, reliability, punctuality. And the fact that he sometimes sits down with the people in production to eat a Mettbrötchen with them.

It is also important to her to have an open ear for the employees of the Berlin manufactory. "Our employees give me a lot," says Martina Hacker, a business graduate who also works as an honorary judge at the labor court. Most of the employees have been with KPM for many years, not only in painting and production, where special knowledge is required, but also at the administrative level. "They are the experts in their fields. The best ideas usually come from them."

More than half of KPM's 220 employees are female. There's no testosterone-fueled behavior, as one might experience in some executive circles, here.

Martina Hacker's door is always open - and that's not just a figure of speech. She listens to everything the employees have to say and then makes decisions in consultation with Jörg Woltmann. And the offer for exchange is accepted. Everyone puts their cards on the table, problems are addressed openly - without blaming, she says. Would she describe her leadership style as feminine? "Yes," says Martina Hacker. "We don't have this testosterone behavior, as you see in some leadership circles, where men are often among themselves and try to take over the conversations, at KPM." And there is definitely enough female power at the Königliche Porzellan-Manufaktur: more than half of the 220 employees are female. Almost all of the sales consultants and porcelain painters are women. The same applies to the administrative level and marketing. The ratio is only balanced in production.

“We are currently focusing heavily on our online offerings. We also have a young, strong team of women there who have driven this area forward,” says Hacker. The history of the traditional company and its products is described in detail on the KPM website, and a consultant can be added to the shop via chat if desired. Lovers of the brand are kept up to date via Instagram and Facebook.

Another important topic in the company is sustainability. In cooperation with Vattenfall, the manufactory has connected its kilns to the capital's district heating network. The excess process heat can thus be fed directly into Berlin-Charlottenburg

can be used for a warm shower. In order to save energy, Martina Hacker has also had the company's lighting switched completely to LED. Since July, KPM has been shipping its products in a climate-neutral way, and the Managing Director will be replacing the van used by the manufactory in Berlin with an electric vehicle. Martina Hacker does not want to reinvent the wheel at KPM, but rather learn from the experience gained - and continue with the rejuvenation that has already begun.

In her office, some of the successful new developments in the company's history are gathered together on a cabinet. There is, for example, a cup of the KPM classic KURLAND in the BLANC NOUVEAU version developed in 2013 - it features the famous relief border made of biscuit porcelain in a pastel shade. Next to it is a simple, thin-walled LAB cup from KPM's latest, multifunctional series. Tableware and cookware are experiencing an upward trend. Products that people need today are gradually being developed for the LAB series: A mortar and pestle, a porcelain coffee filter or the cup with a special feel - a favorite of Martina Hacker: she likes to drink her coffee from it in the morning and a cocktail in the evening. There is also a simple CADRE vase from the Bauhaus period on the cupboard. This timeless classic can now be customized by hand with a personal motif. A cell phone photo is sufficient as a template. Meggy is panting on Martina Hacker's vase. As the dog rarely comes into the office, he is always there, at least in this form. As the 221st employee of KPM, so to speak.

Text: Sandra Winkler

Images: Gene Glover