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Ronja (Lars) Wilkening

CTO

Ronja Wilkening
Erfurt, Germany

Experience

Jan 2013 - Mar 2024
11 years 3 months
Erfurt, Germany

CTO

plazz AG

  • Thanks to my ambitions to develop further in the field of project management and my part-time M.B.A. studies, I was able to take on increasing responsibility in an expanding company. The size of my area of responsibility grew to a team of 20, with whom I managed to establish a leading event platform on the German market.

  • As a result, a second product was developed, which, in addition to the event sector, was also dedicated to the increasing demand for internal company communication tools in the form of a social intranet. When developing these solutions, modern architectures were implemented in the front ends, back ends and the infrastructure.

  • During my work, various teams were established for the development of the current generation of products, including Mobile App Development, Web Development, Backend/API, Quality Assurance and DevOps.

  • In my responsibility for software development, I alternated between the roles of Scrum Master and Product Owner, working closely with the growing development teams. As part of product management, I made key architectural decisions and developed a roadmap and the resulting product backlog.

  • In addition to the topics directly related to software development, I also took care of the department's internal IT, data protection and information security. Under my leadership, an information security management system was implemented that was certified according to VDA ISA (TISAX) and later ISO27001.

Aug 2011 - Dec 2012
1 year 5 months
Erfurt, Germany

Software Developer

plazz AG

  • In the first few years of my work as an iOS developer, I was able to gain broad experience through various projects. Game development allowed me to create entertaining applications and deepened my understanding of interactive games on iOS platforms.

  • Another project focused on event solutions, which helped me expand my software skills in the context of live events and interactive experiences. The focus here was on integrating mobile applications into event processes and creating impressive user experiences.

  • Another focus was on IoT development, where I dealt with the integration of software into physical devices and the networking of IoT devices. This not only deepened my technical skills, but also my expertise in the dynamically developing IoT area.

  • Particularly noteworthy is the international IoT project, in which several international teams from different companies were involved in a Scrum of Scrum. In my role as Product Owner Proxy, I ensured communication with the other teams and the client. This task required not only technical know-how, but also project management and intercultural communication skills.

  • These diverse projects sharpened my skills as a software developer and enabled me to act not only technically, but also as an effective project manager and communicator. Each project deepened my profile as an expert and my enthusiasm for innovative technologies.

Oct 2010 - Mar 2013
2 years 6 months

Mobile App Development

Freelance

  • During my studies and following my seamless transition into full-time employment, I demonstrated my expertise in freelance and part-time work by successfully carrying out customer projects for various clients. In this context, I have accompanied and implemented various app development projects of different types.

  • My work spanned a variety of areas, from entertainment apps to complex projects that required hardware connectivity. A particularly outstanding example is the successful implementation of a project in which I not only developed an app, but also implemented the hardware connection and the associated communication protocol for a credit card reader.

  • The challenges of this project have significantly expanded my skills in system integration and the development of efficient communication protocols. The successful implementation not only shows my technical competence, but also my ability to handle complex requirements in a structured and targeted manner.

  • The range of my freelance and part-time projects reflects my versatility and interest in various technological challenges. These experiences not only sharpened my practical skills in app development and hardware integration, but also strengthened my ability to successfully coordinate and implement projects under real-world conditions.

Nov 2009 - Mar 2011
1 year 5 months
Weimar, Germany

Student Assistant

Bauhaus University

  • During my academic training, I took on a committed role in various projects, which allowed me to deepen my knowledge and skills in different areas. An outstanding example of this is my active participation in the organization of an important conference, where I was not only able to demonstrate my organizational skills, but also gained valuable insights into the structured design of events.

  • At the same time, I expanded my expertise at the Chair of Virtual Realities by working intensively on the development of a hardware-related system for the simultaneous operation of depth cameras. This project allowed me to deepen my knowledge of spatial sensing and image processing technologies, allowing me to contribute to research in the field of virtual realities.

  • Another significant aspect of my studies was my role as a tutor for the Programming Languages and Software Design course. In this position, I not only had the opportunity to consolidate my in-depth understanding of the subject matter, but also to develop my teaching skills. Passing on my knowledge to subsequent cohorts of the course enabled me to have a positive impact on the learning community and support the next generation of students in their academic careers.

  • In summary, through my active participation in projects, my organizational skills in organizing conferences, my technological expertise at the Chair of Virtual Realities and my pedagogical role as a tutor, I have developed a comprehensive and versatile profile that reflects my passion for the field as well as my contribution to the academic community.

Summary

My positive attitude is very difficult to dampen and allows me to keep a close focus on my goals and to effectively achieve the desired results with my team.

I am a person who is characterized by a strong focus. This allows me to pursue my tasks and goals with a clear direction. My good self- and team-organization skills help me to work efficiently both independently and in a team and to successfully overcome challenges.

A constantly positive mindset accompanies me through all situations in life. Even in challenging situations, I actively look for solutions and always find an optimistic perspective. This basic attitude is not only my personal strength, but also contributes to the positive atmosphere in the team.

My pronounced resilience and resistance to stress are further cornerstones of my personality. I don't see setbacks and stressful situations as insurmountable obstacles, but rather as opportunities to grow. In hectic moments, I stay calm and keep a clear head, which enables me to act effectively and purposefully.

The ability to reflect and classify other people's perspectives also sets me apart. This not only promotes a deeper understanding of those around me, but also makes it easier to work together as a team. I manage conflict situations well by respecting different perspectives and seeking constructive solutions.

Overall, I embody a balanced mix of focus, positive mindset, self- and team-organization skills, resilience, stress resistance and empathetic conflict management. These characteristics form the foundation of my personality and shape how I successfully deal with professional and personal challenges.

Skills

  • Agile Leadership
  • Saas
  • Lean Development
  • Iac
  • Strategic Management
  • Ci/cd
  • Product Management
  • Ism, Dpm

Languages

German
Native
English
Advanced
French
Elementary

Education

Nov 2013 - Dec 2018

IU International University

Master of Business Administration · Master of Business Administration · Bad Honnef, Germany

Oct 2007 - Sep 2011

Bauhaus University

Bachelor of Science · Media Systems · Weimar, Germany

Oct 2004 - Sep 2007

Technical University of Dresden

Diploma, incomplete · Media Informatics · Dresden, Germany

Certifications & licenses

English Lean Development IaC

French (Basics) Strategic Management CI/CD

German Agile Leadership SaaS

Product Management ISM, DPM

Profile

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Frequently asked questions

Do you have questions? Here you can find further information.

Where is Ronja based?

Ronja is based in Erfurt, Germany and can operate in on-site, hybrid, and remote work models.

What languages does Ronja speak?

Ronja speaks the following languages: German (Native), English (Advanced), French (Elementary).

How many years of experience does Ronja have?

Ronja has at least 14 years of experience. During this time, Ronja has worked in at least 4 different roles and for 3 different companies. The average length of individual experience is 3 years and 7 months. Note that Ronja may not have shared all experience and actually has more experience.

What roles would Ronja be best suited for?

Based on recent experience, Ronja would be well-suited for roles such as: CTO, Software Developer, Mobile App Development.

What is Ronja's latest experience?

Ronja's most recent position is CTO at plazz AG.

What companies has Ronja worked for in recent years?

In recent years, Ronja has worked for plazz AG.

Which industries is Ronja most experienced in?

Ronja is most experienced in industries like Information Technology (IT) and Education.

Which business areas is Ronja most experienced in?

Ronja is most experienced in business areas like Information Technology (IT), Project Management, and Product Development. Ronja also has some experience in Research and Development (R&D).

Which industries has Ronja worked in recently?

Ronja has recently worked in industries like Information Technology (IT).

Which business areas has Ronja worked in recently?

Ronja has recently worked in business areas like Information Technology (IT), Product Development, and Project Management.

What is Ronja's education?

Ronja holds a Doctorate in Media Informatics from Technical University of Dresden, a Master in Master of Business Administration from IU International University and a Bachelor in Media Systems from Bauhaus University.

Does Ronja have any certificates?

Ronja has 4 certificates. Among them, these include: English Lean Development IaC, French (Basics) Strategic Management CI/CD, and German Agile Leadership SaaS.

What is the availability of Ronja?

Ronja is immediately available full-time for suitable projects.

What is the rate of Ronja?

Ronja's rate depends on the specific project requirements. Please use the Meet button on the profile to schedule a meeting and discuss the details.

How to hire Ronja?

To hire Ronja, click the Meet button on the profile to request a meeting and discuss your project needs.

Average rates for similar positions

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Market avg: 740-900 €
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