Women Leaders at ImmoScout24: Janine Horn, Head of Sales for Acquisition and New Business

What's your position at the company and how would you explain what you do to your grandparents?

I work as Head of Sales for Acquisition and New Business at ImmoScout24. My teams and I focus on the different fields of a general business development and new acquisition of customers in the digital world of real estate marketing. This might sound a bit bulky therefore I would always simplify our main focus on matching regional realtors with homeowners.  

The process of digitalisation challenges our daily work continuously. Hence we need to adapt the ways to address homeowners seeking for information concerning the sale of their homes and bringing them back to the table with the expert – the realtor.

What energises you about your work?

I work with great people who are challenging themselves and their ways of working and thinking every day. The team is an awesome mix of different personalities and they like questioning ideas and cheering each other on. That creates an energetic environment which encourages me to go the extra mile. 

How has your work changed as a result of the Covid 19 pandemic?

The previous question underlines how important it is for me to work in a team. The changes and challenges with juggling all the Zoom meetings, new daily structures and onboardings or feedback flows for those in home office have been quite a thrill. It took a few weeks to find a good balance and be able to support each other as a team using new routines like short daily morning and end of the day calls. We created a new approach to keep in touch, share high- and lowlights and still celebrate our success. 

What is your leadership style?

I strongly believe in trust as the basis of working together and in specific enablement of my team members to top it off. 

I understand leadership as a task to provide a good understanding of the working tracks and vision. I explain decisions clearly and listen to ideas and solution proposals of everyone around me. This balance promotes the best results – personally and economically. In addition, I always try to go to work in a good mood which is indispensable to set an example and create an engaging atmosphere.  

As a female leader you are a role model to others. Who's your role model?

It is hard for me to name just one inspiring woman here. I love listening to, reading about and dealing with unusual and loud opinion leaders. The list starts with Madonna (back in my youth), Charlotte Roche, Sarah Kuttner, Dunja Hayali and it doesn´t end with Judith Butler. These inspiring women are totally different characters but they all come with a message straight from their brilliant minds and hearts.  

Is there any advice you would want to give to other women?

Don’t think about if and when and who…just do it and lean in. It is better to know that you should have done something differently in retrospective and to learn from it than never trying or speaking up in the first place.