Johannes Goos’ passion for communication helped guide his career path. This journey began after he completed his postgraduate studies and landed in the world of project management, where he accumulated valuable knowledge and first-hand experience. First, he cut his teeth in the automotive industry, learning the ins and outs of traditional project management. Later, he joined a tech startup in Munich, Germany, and he soon realized that agile work was paramount to meeting the many demands and expectations of his new role. The lessons he learned would prove to be beneficial when he made his next career move.
“After years in the startup environment, combined with experiences from the automotive corporate world, I brought a wealth of experience from both realms to support our partners at Publicis Sapient on their journey,” he says.
Today, Goos is a senior associate in agile program management at Publicis Sapient, a global digital business transformation consultancy. He closely collaborates and strategizes with colleagues, internal teams, and external stakeholders to deliver innovative, creative solutions.
Here, Goos shares what he’s responsible for in his role, how Publicis Sapient supports professional growth, and the best advice for those actively seeking a career in digital business transformation consulting.
What attracted you to Publicis Sapient, and how did you know the company would be a good fit?
During my interview, I found it remarkable that, alongside assessing my technical skills, there was a genuine interest in whether I would align with the company’s culture. Publicis Sapient recognizes that transformation begins with the individual—this applies to our clients as well as our colleagues who guide clients along their transformation journey. I noticed that the company prides itself on an inclusive culture of collaboration and openness. This openness is crucial to gather a broad range of perspectives during the innovation and exploration phases, helping to solve our clients’ problems and challenges effectively.
What are you responsible for as a senior associate, and why does this work excite you?
The responsibilities of a senior associate vary depending on their area of expertise. As a program manager, I’m tasked with ensuring the success of my team, which primarily includes my client contact and Publicis Sapient colleagues from various disciplines. My role involves orchestrating our skills to achieve project success in terms of time, quality, and budget. Agility plays a key role; it’s imperative to learn from previous sprints or iterations to become more efficient. This work fascinates me because there is no single way to assist the team. I see myself as a servant leader, focusing on the interests and well-being of the team members as well as leading and making decisions together.
What do you like best about your work as a program manager? How has your role evolved or grown since joining the company?
What intrigues me the most about my role is the opportunity to learn something new in every project. This applies to our clients from various industries or project goals, and especially to my global colleagues who are experts in strategy, product, experience, engineering, data, and AI.
With each project, I absorb knowledge from colleagues across diverse areas. I get to learn a lot, both professionally and personally, which is invaluable to me. Over time, I’ve become more familiar with our capabilities, allowing me to streamline our resources and bring them together more effectively for our clients.
What’s been one of your biggest accomplishments, and how did the company culture set you up for success?
What I’m particularly proud of is receiving the Core Value award in the Inclusive Collaboration category. Colleagues can nominate their peers for outstanding achievements, and once a quarter the winners are announced. It was gratifying to see that my approach as a servant leader was recognized by my team and that we could solve challenges together. It meant the world to me that my support was valued.
How does Publicis Sapient encourage and support professional growth? What learning and development opportunities are available to employees?
Publicis Sapient provides a variety of learning opportunities to keep up with technological trends and expand one’s potential. Once a month, our Germany office can engage in an Unleashed day to pursue a personal interest unrelated to our projects. For example, I spent my last Unleashed day diving into the art of prompt engineering.
Additionally, numerous remote and in-office training sessions are offered every month. Notably, our internal trainings on the Scrum Agile Framework (SAFe) context stand out, with great internal trainers introducing us to agile frameworks within hierarchical organizations. I also take advantage of our subscriptions to delve into new literature.
My advice to every colleague is: Be yourself! Our core values embrace diversity and facilitate collaboration regardless of one’s background or professional skills.
Notably, there are many ways to get involved in various programs. This year, I was accepted into the Next Generation Leadership team, which is an international group that’s chosen for its commitment and impact. Members work on creative solutions and collaborate with the global leadership team to improve the organization. It offers a unique chance for personal and professional development.
What are your hobbies and passions outside of work?
I’m into sports, and I enjoy working out or going for runs. I also like to ski in the mountains near Munich or relax by the lake with my girlfriend.
You’re based in Munich, Germany. What’s your favorite place in the city to find inspiration and nurture your creativity?
I communicate a lot in my daily life, so I seek quiet on my days off in Munich. When I have a lot of time, I visit the lakes near Munich. Water is a very calming, grounding element for me. Or I head to the northern part of the English Garden to cool off in the Eisbach in summer. Often, you can also find me at the Viktualienmarkt (a daily food market), where I stock up on delicacies for a picnic by the Isar River.
