Behind the Scenes - Interview with Michael Kensy

Michael Kensy

Position:
Lead Software Engineer
Deputy Teamlead of the Brand Control Team
Mental Health Coach

With empower since February 2011

Hello Michael, it's great to have you here. 😊
Tell us, what is your role at empower?

"As the title suggests, I develop software and optimize our solutions as part of the Brand Control Team. As a Lead Software Engineer, my role involves more than just writing code; it includes guiding the team with my experience. Additionally, I am a training supervisor and currently mentor two trainees."

How did you first hear about empower?

"In 2010, I had just finished my studies in Business Informatics when a headhunter informed me about an open position at a startup in Cologne. Since I love programming, I was immediately interested. That same day, Stephan called and invited me for an interview. The conversation with him and Fabian was incredibly relaxed, and I liked both of them right away. I received an offer to work as a developer and architect for empower® Slides and decided to join empower (then known as Made in Office) despite having another offer from a large IT corporation. It’s a decision I’ve never regretted."

Has your work changed over time? If so, how?

"Absolutely. Not only has my work changed, but the entire company has become more professional and developed significantly. I progressed from an Associate to a Senior and then to a Lead Software Engineer. From 2018 to 2021, I was the team lead of the former empower Docs, Mails, and Sheets Teams. During the restructuring from our former product approach to our current solution approach, I voluntarily stepped down from the team lead position in the Brand Control Team because I reduced my hours to work part-time as a coach."

That sounds interesting. Tell us more about your work as a coach.

"On the side, I work as a coming-out coach, supporting homosexual individuals in Cologne. I completed two coaching certifications. Since coaching sometimes borders on psychotherapy, I obtained a license as a non-medical practitioner for psychotherapy and completed training in cognitive behavioral therapy to continue supporting people even if they have a psychological disorder. Recently, I also started studying psychology, and I incorporate this knowledge into my coaching."

You also oversee the empower Mental Health Program, correct? What does that entail?

"Yes. Based on my training, I proposed offering our monthly empower Academies on both technical and psychological topics. The empower Academy is open to all employees and features interesting contributions from staff on various skills relevant to the workplace. The initial talks on psychological topics were so well received that we launched an internal coaching program at empower. The pilot project with three people was very successful, leading to the official launch of the program in mid-2023."

Can you tell us what you particularly enjoy about working at empower? 💙

"The people. It might sound cliché, but it’s true. While the IT industry offers countless opportunities for further advancement, the human aspect here is exceptional, making me not want to leave the company. The company is modern, and I really like my colleagues. The feel-good factor is especially important to me."

What, in your opinion, makes empower a special employer?

"The company is not rigid and remains very flexible despite our growth. We have a young, agile character that I really like. At the same time, we work at a very high professional level. This is a great combination that I truly appreciate."

Let's play Either...Or...! Michael, what would you choose? 😄

Mountains or sea? "Sea." 🌊
Android or iPhone? "iPhone."
Dog or cat? "Cat." 🐈
Ketchup or mayo? "Mayo."
Calling or chatting? "Chatting."
Early bird or night owl? "Early bird."
Nutella with or without butter? "With butter."