“No harm in trying things out”

At 32, Philipp Greiner has already implemented numerous IT projects. Although he comes from a family of IT entrepreneurs, he is not a coder — he actually has a degree in business administration. Since joining MAN five years ago, Greiner has worked in a variety of roles, creating the best possible environment to develop new software solutions for telematics and transport management together with his project teams. For example, he advanced the development of a tool designed by TRATON’s digital brand RIO that allows carriers to keep an eye on their estimated time of arrival at the loading dock.

If there is one thing that stands Philipp Greiner in good stead at his current job as an Engineering Manager, it is his talent for bringing people together. As part of the MAN Digital Hub in Lisbon, he leads an international team of front- and back-end developers, product owners, and UX designers who use agile processes to develop new IT solutions — working closely together with their Munich colleagues.

Within this role, Philipp Greiner also draws on his past experience, namely the time he spent working in Singapore and Australia. And since the MAN Digital Hub is part of an important Volkswagen software unit, Greiner maintains close ties with colleagues across the entire Group. For Greiner, one element is fundamental: “We have to keep an open mind — there is no harm in trying things out. There’s nothing worse than being fixated on just getting from A to B.”

Communication also plays an important role in Philipp Greiner’s personal life. Chatting about the best gin and tonic combination, spending an informal evening with friends in a beer garden, or in his role as President of the alumni association at his old alma mater, the ESB Business School in Reutlingen — Greiner is exceptionally skilled at networking. When asked about his passion, he does not think twice about the answer: “Without a doubt: constantly meeting new, exciting people and talking to them openly.”