This is me

Hi, my name is Phillip

and I love building exciting products. As an engineer I am very interested in all kinds of new technologies and the often overlooked techniques or behaviors to build great products. Observing these in daily business life is the basis of the newsletter.

I started my career in the automotive industry and I have worked in Germany and Mexico for Tier1 and Tier2 suppliers & for an OEM. I am currently the product owner for a B2B API called Vehicle Data Service.

I have four core beliefs that shape my daily professional life:

Pragmatism beats Dogma

I believe using pragmatic approaches can be extremely valuable compared to excessive reliance on strict rules and dogma. Rules and processes are there for a reason. Nevertheless, it can be necessary to adapt them to the situation at hand.

Honest communication is key

I believe honest and open communication is a huge driver to business success. Especially in fast paced environments effective communication skills and empathy are key.

Deliver value fast through decisive action

Most decisions can be reversed. I am therefore a great believer in the power of making quick decisions even if not all data is available instead of waiting for perfect information. This leads to fast delivery of value.

Have fun

Most importantly, I believe in having fun while working. In my experience being able to stay calm and having a sense of humor especially in times of high pressure lead to great team spirit, motivation, and exceptional results.

Experience

Product Owner Vehicle Data Service
Carfax Europe GmbH
Aug 2019 – present

Product Owner Business Intelligence
Carfax Europe GmbH
Apr 2021 – Jan 2022

Project Lead Make or Buy Savings
Robert Bosch Automotive Steering GmbH
Jun 2017 – Apr 2019

Scrum Master Rear Axle Steering
Robert Bosch Automotive Steering GmbH
Feb 2017 – May 2017

Project Purchasing Driver Assistance System
Robert Bosch GmbH
Sep 2015 – Feb 2017

Education

Deep Learning Specialization
Coursera – DeepLearning.AI
Aug 2021 – Nov 2021

Machine Learning
Coursera – Stanford
Aug 2020 – Jan 2021

M.Sc. Mechanical Engineering
Technical University Munich
Apr 2013 – Jun 2016

Master thesis at the Sociotechnical Systems Research Center
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Nov 2014 – Aug 2015

B.Sc. Mechanical Engineering & Management
Technical University Munich
Oct 2009 – Oct 2013

The Backlog is a biweekly newsletter about the undervalued and overlooked in modern product development. It covers product development, self organization, and productivity. I include methods, books, and write about my own experience.
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