We had a chat with Sebastian, Head of Projects at the Change & Technology Department in MEININGER Hotels, and father of 3 kids. He reveals to us what Change & Technology is all about and how he manages to balance work with family life. Sebastian also reflects on how fatherhood has shaped his approach to work and why flexibility and an empathetic team make all the difference.
Hi Sebastian! Can you tell us a bit about your background and how you came to join MEININGER Hotels?
I started at MEININGER in 2010. At that time, I had returned to Berlin after my apprenticeship and was looking for a job in a hotel. I then started at MEININGER in reservations. A lot has happened since then. I changed positions almost every year and was Hotel Manager in Berlin and Austria for a few years before I came back to the headquarter.
What sparked your interest in Change & Technology, and how did your career path lead you there?
At the time, MEININGER was looking for someone with experience in operational processes to switch to a new hotel system. Someone who could help transfer these processes to the new platform and then pass them on to new employees accordingly. I was therefore responsible for both the changeover project and the training. The fact that this was then assigned to Change & Technology was pure coincidence.
Around 2018, when project management was fully established at MEININGER, I saw an opportunity to further develop my career while also seeking a better work-life balance due to family commitments. Since then, I have been working as a Project Manager, and I currently serve as the Head of Projects at MEININGER.
What does your role as Head of Projects involve on a day-to-day basis?
In essence, my team and I support all departments in implementing their desired initiatives and necessary changes. This might involve, for example, enabling the Marketing team to adopt new software, assisting HR in consolidating data entry into a single system, or working with the Groups department to enable online group bookings via our website. Our role is to identify specific needs, define clear objectives, and manage the planning and coordination of implementation. As Head of Projects, I strive to maintain oversight of all current and upcoming initiatives, serve as a central point of contact, and support my team by shielding them from unnecessary project-related distractions—allowing them to focus fully on execution.
You’re a dad—how many kids do you have? What does a typical day look like for you, balancing work and family life?
I have 3 kids, so the days are naturally very stressful. We are very early in the morning and after getting up and having breakfast, we go straight to nursery. The afternoons are of course correspondingly full. One parent spends the afternoon with the kids, one works late. On the days when I finish early, I usually do one or two things from the sofa in the evening when the kids are asleep.
What are the biggest challenges you face as a working parent, and how do you handle them? Are there any routines or habits that help you stay on track?
In terms of the partnership, it is above all the levelling out of needs. Before the kids, work naturally had a clear priority, regardless of the partner. If you had to work longer, you simply worked longer. Now you have to negotiate the urgency with your partner, so to speak. Let’s assume 1 out of 3 kids is ill. Who takes care of them now? Who can perhaps cut back on their job more easily at the moment? Who might have issues that are difficult to postpone and when? That was probably the hardest part.
How do you and your partner split responsibilities at home—do you have a system that works well for you?
We have a clear system for dropping off, picking up and looking after the kids in the afternoon. It’s identical every week, which makes it easy to plan. For everything else, we have a kind of hands-on mentality. Don’t talk about it, just get it done. This works for us, as we know each other very well and can rely on each other.
What advice would you give to other working parents who are juggling similar challenges?
That’s super hard. I think everyone has to find their own way. And some times are just hard, there’s no good way. It’s like the ugly way to the railway station. You just have to go that way if you want to get anywhere. What helps me is to start the day early. When I have to take care of the kids, I focus on them. I used to try to get things done on the side. But that always frustrated me because i wasn’t able to focus at all. I prefer to invest effective time when the kids are asleep.
Do you feel that working dads are perceived differently from working moms—in the workplace or beyond?
Of course they are. Working Dads only live the benefits. No one thinks when they’re hired, ‘oh, this man has kids, how often will they be sick?’ The man is more likely to be applauded for looking after the kids. Men are then modern and committed. Of course, that applies everywhere, not just at work. I’m constantly approached when I’m travelling alone with my kids.
I think women, on the other hand, often struggle with the fact that they are perceived as less capable. After all, they are already mothers. The bottom line is that life as a working dad is much easier than that of a working mum. When I’m travelling by train with my kids, without my wife, I definitely stand out. ‘Wow, a father travelling by train alone with his 3 kids.’ I don’t think a woman is ever seen like that. And the special thing about it is that it is mainly women who give men credits for it.
What role does your team at MEININGER play in supporting your work-life balance? How does MEININGER Hotels support employees with kids?
We enjoy a great deal of individual freedom in our team. We take the needs of each individual into consideration and trust each other. In our case, this leads to a very relaxed and open atmosphere and a high level of effectiveness at the same time.
Above all, this gives me the flexibility I mentioned earlier. If we didn’t have this flexibility, I would have to reduce my working hours, which I don’t want to do. MEININGER and my team help me to do my work, which I really enjoy doing, when I have the time to concentrate on it.
Has becoming a father changed how you approach work or leadership?
Oh yes, it has. Work has now become a kind of necessary balance. It feels good to switch on the computer and immerse myself in this ‘other world’ outside the family. At the same time, it has also given me a healthy distance and taken away my doggedness. I have the feeling that I can see things more clearly and make more objective judgements. And since then I’ve had an inner peace that I didn’t have before. I can now better analyse and tackle the challenges that arise from obstacles at work or challenging people as a manager.
What do you think makes MEININGER Hotels a great workplace, not just for parents but for employees in general?
I think we have a very good interpersonal relationship. There is good interaction within the teams and I think the majority of employees feel very comfortable. We are super diverse and come from all over the world. In the Change & Technology team, for example, I am the only person out of 17 who was born in Germany.
What are you most proud of, both in your role at MEININGER Hotels and as a dad?
I am sure that my team makes a huge difference at MEININGER. My team helps to realise things that would previously have been a huge problem and chaos. We help the other departments without having an advantage ourselves. We support departments in finding out what they want in the first place and then, of course, in realising it. And with the kids, it’s somehow exactly the same. I try to help my kids recognise their wishes and then make them a reality. And no matter how cheesy it sounds, I’m just proud of everything my kids do.
Thanks for sharing your insights, Sebastian!
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