Between Bits and Beats: A conversation with Katja about her role as Product Owner and her musical hobby

In the tech world, there are many interesting stories about people who stand out for their passion and commitment. Today we have the special opportunity to meet Katja, a great personality who works as a Product Owner at oraya.

With a long-standing career at oraya as a product owner and a degree in International Design, Katja has an impressive background that helps her successfully communicate products and concepts. Her passion for innovation and creative solutions drives her to increase customer and business value. In addition to her professional activities, Katja finds fulfillment in singing in a band. But what are the similarities between her roles as a product owner and singer?

In our interview, we will ask Katja this very question and get an insight into her innovative world as a Product Owner - learn more about her experiences, challenges and professional goals at oraya and how she balances her passions. 

Be excited and let Katja's inspiring story and her commitment to innovation and music inspire you!

Question 1: How has your extensive experience as a product owner at oraya shaped your professional development and what highlights or challenges have you experienced during this time?

Katja Hapke: As a Product Owner at oraya, I have undergone significant professional development over the course of my many years of experience. My job as a product owner is to create added value for our customers and for the company by developing goals and concepts and putting the company vision into action. In doing so, it is essential to consider the needs of different target groups and to avoid product overlaps. In my role as product owner I am constantly confronted with product requirements where the different conditions and target groups have to be considered in order to create a long-term advantage for our customers and oraya as a company.

My studies in International Design have shaped my mindset and approach in my role as a Product Owner. Through my studies, I have learned to visualize products and concepts in my mind and to communicate these visualizations clearly to my colleagues and stakeholders. This skill has helped me create clear communication and a better understanding of our products and their potential.

Furthermore, in my position the development of innovations is a central aspect of my work. My goal is not only to consider the requests and goals of our customers, but also to analyze the technical possibilities in order to implement new or optimized product features. To meet the ever-present challenges, I regularly take time to think creatively and focus on specific problems. These thought processes help me develop innovative solutions and find new ways to continuously optimize our products.

During my professional development as a product owner at oraya, there were also some highlights. One of them was the successful launch of our existing products oraya insights and copio analytics, in which I was and still am significantly involved.  It is fulfilling to see how my work and collaboration with my team have contributed to bringing innovative and customer-focused products to market. These successes motivate me every day to continue improving my skills as a product owner and to work on future projects.

Question 2: In addition to being a successful product owner, you are also a passionate singer in a band. Are there any similarities between your profession and singing? How do these two passions influence each other?

Katja Hapke: There are definitely similarities between my job as a product owner and singing in the band. Singing is a hobby for me, where I can switch off and simply give in to my feelings. It is a passion that brings me a lot of joy.

A commonality between the two fields is the feedback from the clients and the audience. When I sing on stage, it's an incredibly fulfilling feeling when the audience sings or dances along, showing that they enjoy the performance as much as I do. This motivates me to keep doing my best.

It's similar in my role as a product owner at oraya. When our customers react to our products, whether positively or negatively, it brings me joy to see how our work is having an impact. Customer feedback is very valuable to me, as it helps us to continuously optimize our products and better meet the needs of our customers.

Of course, customers may also raise critical issues that we may need to improve. It is similar when singing on stage. It can happen that there is little to no reaction or even negative feedback. In such moments, it is important to persevere and still give my best. No matter what feedback I receive, whether singing or in my role as Product Owner, I always try to analyze my performances and our products to learn from them and become even better the next time.

My experiences, both singing and in my position as Product Owner have taught me the importance of listening to feedback, being open to improvement and continuously growing. Both in my personal life and in my professional role, I strive to use my experiences and the feedback from those around me for my personal and professional growth.

Question 3: As a woman in tech, you've certainly gained unique experiences and perspectives. How would you evaluate the role of women in the tech world and what tips would you give to other women who aspire to a similar career?

Katja Hapke: As a woman in the tech industry, I have indeed gained unique experiences and perspectives. Although the tech industry is still heavily dominated by men, I was lucky enough to never feel disadvantaged or less acknowledged. On the contrary, I was always supported and encouraged by my male colleagues to take on new challenges and develop in new roles. This positive support has given me a lot of confidence and allowed me to grow in my role without feeling like I was losing my individuality in any way.

I think that the role of women in the tech world is just as important and valuable as that of men. Women, just like men, bring a diversity of perspectives and ideas that can help develop innovative solutions and move the tech industry forward. It is critical that women in tech have a work environment where they can be themselves and have the opportunity to make their skills and accomplishments visible. In doing so, they should quietly trust their intuition and not let stereotypes or doubts hold them back.

Question 4: oraya as a startup is subject to continuous dynamics. Could you give us some insight into what's coming up in Product Management in the near future? Are there any exciting projects we can look forward to?

Katja Hapke: In the near future, our department, Product Management, has exciting projects and initiatives coming up. There are currently many exciting developments at oraya.

First of all, we are looking forward to welcoming new faces to oraya, including in Product Management. The reinforcement of new colleagues will help us to achieve our goals even better and to further improve our products.

One exciting project we are particularly looking forward to is the upcoming launch of our new product, oraya compass. Compared to our previous pricing and market monitoring technologies, oraya compass offers a self-service technology. We are proud to soon start the test phase with oraya compass and to make our new product available to our cooperation partners from different industries. In this way, we want to experience the customer benefits of the product in practice and receive valuable feedback from the testers. This feedback will help us to further optimize oraya compass and adapt it to the needs of our customers. We are committed to providing our customers with the greatest possible benefit and look forward to working with them on our mission.

It is an exciting time for us in Product Management and the oraya team in general, as we actively work to develop innovative solutions and offer even better products to our customers. We are excited about the challenges ahead and look forward to continuing to push our products and impact the market with innovative solutions.

Question 5: What are your professional goals and visions for your career at oraya? 

Katja Hapke: My goals and visions for my professional career at oraya are diverse. On the one hand, I strive for continuous professional development and growth. I want to constantly expand my professional and technical knowledge in order to be able to drive new projects and develop innovative solutions. It is important to me to continuously expand my skills and expertise in order to grow both individually and within my team.

Furthermore, I have a clear vision for our oraya products. My goal is to create the best possible added value for a wide range of industries. I want to ensure that our products not only meet the needs of our customers, but also provide them with a real competitive advantage. I want to develop innovative solutions that help companies work more efficiently, make better decisions and increase their success.

Not only do I have a vision for myself personally, but also for oraya as a company. I want oraya to be recognized worldwide as a key player in the market. Our company should be known and appreciated worldwide for its customer-oriented technologies and innovative solutions. My vision is to position oraya as a leader in the technology industry.

oraya will continue to innovate and help shape the future of the IT industry. This interview is a reflection of our shared experiences and the remarkable journey of the team members. We hope this personal insight into the oraya team has given you a better understanding of our company's values, ambitions and commitment.