25 years, one company, many roles: Marianka Stickel shares how she moved from executive assistant to HR at Serviceware - and why she never left. Some careers can’t be summed up in a single sentence. Marianka Stickel has been with Serviceware for 25 years. She started as an executive assistant, watched the company grow from ten to over 450 employees - and today, in HR, she’s responsible for ensuring that new colleagues at Serviceware feel just as welcome as she did back then.
When Marianka thinks back to her first day at Serviceware, the memory is still surprisingly vivid. Her actual contact person wasn’t there; at first, the only person in the office was the company’s sole developer - who didn’t quite know what to do with the new colleague at first. And then it all began:
“Eventually, the other colleagues trickled in and took me under their wing,” she says - and because CeBIT was just around the corner, she dove right into trade show preparations.
At the time, Serviceware was a team of ten to fifteen people and had just moved into its new offices on Bahnhofstraße in Bad Camberg, the company’s former headquarters. Everyone worked together- practically everyone - and spent not only their work hours but also their lunch breaks together.
During that time, Marianka, as an executive assistant for sales and marketing, had a wide range of responsibilities: appointments, travel, presentations, customer orders - and trade shows time and again, where she actively approached visitors instead of just waiting around like other exhibitors. “From 9 a.m. until just before 6 p.m. - that’s incredibly exhausting,” she says, “yet in the evenings, the whole team would wander through the trade show halls together. For us, the motto was: work hard, party harder.”
Today, Serviceware employs over 420 people. Marianka cites the integration of helpLine in 2003 as the most significant turning point: the moment when several new locations were suddenly added and departments began to take on a more structured form. She sums up what has changed since then succinctly: “One big team has become many small ones. But what has remained is the camaraderie and the family-like atmosphere.”
What is she most proud of? Of having helped shape this journey from a small company to an internationally successful player - and that Serviceware has maintained a culture of mutual respect and direct communication along the way.
After a few years, Marianka decided to study business administration while working. She based her thesis on “Ergonomics in the Workplace” directly on practical examples from Serviceware. The company supported her with more flexible working hours, especially during exam periods. Still, juggling both wasn’t easy: “My personal life took a back seat, and I had fewer social contacts. I’d still do it all over again, though. Because no one can take away the fact that I graduated successfully.”
The real turning point came when her HR colleague at the time left the company. Instead of waiting, Marianka took the initiative herself: “I’ve always been interested in HR. After all, I majored in human resources during my studies. So it was only natural to seize the opportunity.” She sums up what gave her the courage to make a complete career change in one word: “Trust!” The fact that she was able to initiate this change herself is, to this day, a natural part of the company culture for her: “From the very beginning, Serviceware has promoted the professional development of its employees, with the initiative coming from the employees themselves.”
Still, the transition didn’t go entirely smoothly: Marianka initially took on a dual role because a replacement for her old position hadn’t been found yet, and she became pregnant shortly thereafter. She didn’t feel truly settled until her return in 2013, as part of a small, well-coordinated HR team.
Her advice to anyone considering an internal move: “If not now, then when! I’ve never heard of such a commitment being viewed negatively.”
A lot has happened in her personal life over the past 25 years as well, including the birth of Marianka’s two sons. What helped her most during this time was the trust placed in her: “Serviceware is like a big family. It’s a give-and-take. Especially when the kids were small or during the pandemic, I was able to organize my work schedule very flexibly.”
This principle also shapes her current work in HR: “For me, HR means creating the right conditions so that employees can thrive and Serviceware can be successful. It’s about trust, appreciation, and an eye for individual needs.” Her own story helps her make sense of developments and guide change with a long-term perspective. She explains that what gives her the most energy is respectful dialogue with employees and managers.
There have been opportunities to leave - including just recently. Nevertheless, Marianka has consciously chosen to stay at Serviceware every time: “For me, it’s not just about the work itself, but above all about the team and the people I work with. I’ve had the privilege of witnessing how a small ‘sneaker team’ has grown into a successful company. This emotional connection and the desire to help shape the company’s future were the deciding factors.”
She sums up what loyalty means to her as follows:
“To me, loyalty means mutual trust, appreciation, reliability, and openness. When people feel seen and that they can make a difference together, a bond is formed that goes far beyond the day-to-day work - I’d say that applies perfectly to Serviceware.”
When asked who she would recommend to apply at Serviceware, Marianka has a clear idea. People who are a particularly good fit are those who:
enjoy working in a team and taking on responsibility
are open to change and curious about new things
contribute their own ideas and want to actively help shape the company
“Take the plunge and get to know Serviceware,” she says. “If you want to take on responsibility and help shape change, you’ll find an environment here where you can contribute and grow.”
Staying with one employer for 25 years has become rare. And that’s exactly why it’s worth taking a closer look at what sustains this connection: trust, genuine opportunities for growth, and a team that sticks together, even as the company grows. Looking ahead, Marianka hopes to continue helping shape change - and that Serviceware will stay true to its values while remaining open to new ideas.