In conversation with Victoria Völker, who is fostering a sense of togetherness at GFaI
Cycling challenges, community clean-ups, corporate relay races and darts tournaments. These are but some of the activities at GFaI – Society for the Promotion of Applied Computer Science e. V. aimed at actively encouraging motivation and fostering a sense of community among the 150 employees. They are organised by an Event Innovators team led by executive management officer Victoria Völker.
Adlershof Journal: How did these community activities at GFaI start out?
Victoria Völker: There was already an established tradition when I joined the institute in 2017. The team of the Image Processing / Industrial Applications department would host regular bowling tournaments as well as volleyball and badminton sessions. As someone who enjoys sports, I thought it was fantastic and put together GFaI's first team for Berlin's annual City Cycling campaign. The response was so positive, and the team spirit so strong, that a group of enthusiastic colleagues from both research and administration decided to organise further opportunities for people to connect outside their day-to-day work.
Which activities were you able to establish?
This year marked the ninth time we took part in the three-week City Cycling campaign, with up to 60 colleagues. We coordinate after-work tours and finish each season with a barbecue. We've even encouraged people to get on a bike who had never really cycled before. We also introduced the informal networking format GFaI4Talk. Our Christmas and spring festivals have become the stuff of legends. Initially, all these activities were organised exclusively by our Event Innovators team. We soon realised, however, that we weren’t reaching all our colleagues. Today, responsibility for organising our monthly events rotates between the different research departments.
... who help generate new ideas?
Yes, activities now range from public screenings of sporting events and film afternoons to community clean-ups, bowling evenings, games nights and Mario Kart tournaments. Different activities appeal to different people, depending on their interests. The important thing is maintaining a healthy balance between work and leisure. We want to get people away from their desks and, ideally, encourage them to be active and support their health at the same time. These events are also a wonderful opportunity for new colleagues to build connections and settle into the organisation more quickly. I really enjoy having a part in all this.
Why is company culture so important to you?
I lead our admin staff, including Office Management, Finance and Human Resources, and as executive management officer I'm effectively the right-hand person to the institute's directorate. Creating a workplace built on trust is very important to me. I want colleagues to enjoy working at GFaI and to feel motivated in what they do. Our work focuses on research and development in applied computer science, and that depends on creative collaboration built on trust, both within teams and across departments.
What do you enjoy doing in your free time, when you're not spending it with the GFaI team?
Sport is a huge part of my life. I love CrossFit and obstacle course racing, and I regularly take part in competitions, which gives me the chance to combine it with another passion of mine: travel. I've competed in races in Malta and England as well as the Marathon des Sables, the desert ultramarathon held in the Moroccan Sahara in 2023. That takes a lot of preparation, so I train regularly. I'm also a very curious person. I enjoy stand-up comedy and science slams, and I recently visited Berlin's Carnival of Cultures for the first time. I loved the open, joyful atmosphere.
Peggy Mory for Adlershof Journal