The Delivery - An Inside Zalando podcast

Antonis Vasilopoulos, Head of Product Assortment and Steering at Partner Tech, joins Janine to discuss how he and his team use data to shape the way we shop online.

He explains the complex processes that helps manage the Zalando assortment, estimate future demand, and even sales trends as well as the tools and algorithms used to help deliver maximum impact for brands.

Antonis’ three “Pieces of Me” start a conversation that covers everything from changing market conditions in the e-commerce landscape, to a 30 year old guitar pick, to the impact of hiring on workplace culture.

To find out more about jobs at Zalando head to jobs.zalando.com

Morten Grubak, VP of Creative Direction, joins Janine in the studio to discuss creativity in business, his career and Zalando’s brand refresh.

Janine and Morten cover everything, from the importance of a confident brand identity, the role of technology in fashion, to Morten’s passion for innovative digital solutions. They also delve into the thinking and process behind changing the face of the organisation.

His three Pieces of Me include a collaboration between Jean-Michel Basquiat and Andy Warhol, a remarkable app helping to preserve cultural heritage in Ukraine and the new Zalando logo.

To find out more about careers at Zalando like Morten’s, visit jobs.zalando.com.

Heike Lari, Director of Partner Consultancy at ZMS, joins Janine in the studio to explore the dynamic world of Zalando Marketing Services (ZMS), from storytelling in marketing to the future of customer engagement.

Heike explains the objective  of ZMS, helping brands connect with their audience, and delves into how ZMS continually adapts to the changing landscape of e-commerce, from live streaming fashion influencers to personalised events that foster meaningful customer connections.

Janine and Heike cover the diverse aims that brands have in partnering with ZMS as well as the importance of personalisation in reaching the right audience. They explore how unique shopping experiences can elevate brand engagement and discuss the strategies ZMS uses to stay ahead in a competitive market.
Heike’s “Pieces of Me” include a notepad containing a personal memento and a trophy with an important backstory.

To find out more about careers like Heike’s at Zalando, visit jobs.zalando.com.

Dorothee Schönfeld, Director of Outlets and Overstocks at Zalando, joins Janine in the studio to share her career journey and her role in shaping Zalando’s outlet store experience.

First up, Dorothee takes us through the philosophy behind Zalando’s outlets; from building stores that redefine the outlet shopping experience, embracing  the unique characteristics of each store location and creating a customer experience that resonates with diverse shoppers. 

She also runs through the complexities of opening new stores, explaining the data-driven approach used to strategically select store locations and the connection between the physical stores and Zalando’s online fashion store.

Dorothee’s three “Pieces of Me” include a miniature model of Cologne Cathedral, a beloved book that she recommends to everyone, and a reminder of the key leadership lessons of her career thus far.

To find out more about careers like Dorothee’s at Zalando, visit jobs.zalando.com

Peter Török, Employer Branding Manager at Zalando, joins Janine to celebrate the second anniversary of Pieces of Me with a deep dive into Zalando’s employer branding and recruitment.
First up, Peter talks us through his own recent journey to Zalando, from Budapest to Berlin, explaining the Zalando recruitment process for anyone considering following in his footsteps. He covers the first interviews, navigating the welcome days and the help available from the relocation support team.
The conversation then delves into the vital role employer branding plays in attracting top talent and shaping the company’s reputation.
Peter’s three “Pieces of Me” include an iconic blue bag that we all know and love, a personalised, unauthorised goodbye gift from his last job and a reminder of his crash course at Zalando’s outlet stores
To find out more about careers like Peter's at Zalando, visit jobs.zalando.com.

Jan Muellender is a Senior Vendor Manager at Zalando and he joins Janine in the studio to explain exactly what that entails and how it’s his responsibility to build strong strategic partnerships that help the organisation thrive.

Jan breaks down why the role of Senior Vendor Manager is essential within organisations, like Zalando, that have a major focus on innovative use of tech. His focus includes managing relationships with tech providers and providing feed back to those companies to help them develop and improve their services.

Jan’s three “Pieces of Me” include a moment from a fishing trip with his son an a meaningful keepsake from a spur-of-the-moment decision to take a job in China; a move that taught him both resilience and the capacity to improvise.

To find out more about careers like Jan's at Zalando, visit jobs.zalando.com.

Gloria Rupprecht, Director of Product Design for Propositions at Zalando, sits down with Janine to discuss her role in creating memorable and distinct e-commerce experiences for customers. 

Gloria explains the evolution of e-commerce in 2024; how different propositions - from beauty, to sports to technology - each require a distinct and tailored design to enhance the shopping experience. Each category has different challenges and requires different solutions. She also touches on the close-knit design community at Zalando and the culture of sharing knowledge.

Gloria’s three Pieces of Me: include jewellery from her grandmother and a pair of scissors that symbolise a pivotal moment in her career. And the conversation covers everything from the importance of following your passion and finding joy in your work to tips on valuable resources for your career.

To find out more about careers like Gloria's at Zalando, visit jobs.zalando.com

Romy Richter, Senior Partnership Excellence Manager at zStudios, joins Janine to share her career journey and explain the thinking, inspiration and processes behind Zalando photo shoots.

Romy covers styling the models, shooting the articles, and the challenges faced during shoots, including the sheer volume of content that her team needs to create. Romy also explains how the use of AI is transforming the process behind fashion and lifestyle images.

The conversation moves on to cover how keeping an open mind when approaching your career can mean opportunities for growth and development, especially at Zalando, and Romy’s three “Pieces of Me” cover her love for Hawaii, volleyball and most of all family.

To find out more about careers like Romy’s at Zalando, visit jobs.zalando.com.

Lutz Enders, Senior Tech Consultant in the Workplace Innovation and Product Team at Zalando, joins Janine in the studio to discuss the transformative role of AI tools for modern careers.

First up, Lutz explains that carefully tailoring the right AI solutions for different job functions is key to significantly boost productivity within organisations.

His insights are crucial for anyone looking to understand the evolving work landscape and AI innovation.

Lutz and Janine delve into his unique career journey, from studying art history and the history of the Middle Ages and then moving to the fast-paced startup culture at Zalando.

Lutz’s “Pieces of Me” reflect on a diverse career including, AI, Medieval Art and car mechanics to the all-important family pizza. 

To find out more about careers like Lutz's at Zalando, visit jobs.zalando.com

Oliver Ruebenkamp, Senior Lead, Event Management, at Zalando, joins Janine in the studio to discuss his pivotal role in planning and creating a huge range of events at Zalando.

First up, Oliver explains the responsibilities of his team, from organising internal workshops and all-hands meetings to coordinating external influencer marketing events. This peek behind the scenes of large-scale gatherings shows the value of both meticulous planning and being prepared to forget the plan and embrace improvisation.

Oliver and Janine then dive into the Summer of Sports events, Zalando engagement projects aimed at bringing colleagues together. Oliver shares the lessons he’s learned orchestrating these events, from always having a back-up location reserved to why the leadership team should always work as bar-staff.

Oliver’s three “Pieces of Me” include his trusty tennis racket, a nod to his lead, Alex Goertzen, who has been a significant influence in his career, but controversially, not his dogs.

To find out more about careers like Oliver's at Zalando visit jobs.zalando.com.