Anja Söger – Consulting services

anja-soeger

What sets me apart

A passion for development combined with creativity and purpose

What sets my work apart

I have worked for over 20 years as an organisational consultant and trainer for organisations in the non-profit and for-profit sectors in Germany and abroad.

With my experience, my knowledge and strong commitment, I support my clients in designing bespoke and innovative strategies and developing pragmatic and creative solutions to organisational challenges.

My special skill lies in fostering cooperation and trust, analysing situations rapidly and accurately, and generating impetus for development.

Innovation and learning have to be internalised by the participants if these are to be sustainable and effective. For this reason, I pay special attention to getting the right “fit” between people and sustainable organisational processes.

One of my strengths lies in bringing all stakeholders on board and motivating them to work together constructively.

With my academic background in ethnology, business administration and Islamic studies, it is important for me to design processes that are both (organisationally and) culturally sensitive and efficient.

My professional qualifications

I completed a four-year professional development course as a systemic organisational consultant at the Institute for Human Resources Consulting, Organisational Development and Supervision (IPOS) in Friedberg, Germany (2010-2014)..
In 2008-2009, I undertook further training in Systemic Competency in Change Processes at the Institute for Systemic Consultancy (ISB) in Wiesloch, Germany.
As part of my postgraduate studies, I was trained to perform specialist and management tasks in bilateral and multilateral international cooperation and in project management at the Centre for Rural Development (SLE) of Humboldt University in Berlin in 2000.
In 1999, I completed my studies in Cultural Anthropology, Middle Eastern Studies and Business Administration (Magister Artium with Summa cum Laude) at Albert Ludwigs University in Freiburg, Germany.

For you, this means

Internationality with passion

For thirty years I have been working throughout the world, commuting between assignments in Germany and Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Africa. Internationality is my passion – perhaps a legacy of my Hanseatic origins. Development cooperation is my home base. I have worked for several years in Egypt, Thailand, India and in many other countries in sub-Saharan Africa, Asia and Europe. In recent years I have also worked extensively for organisations and enterprises in Germany.

Culture is my speciality

I’m interested in people, in their individual qualities and in what makes them able to cooperate with each other – both in organisations and cultures. As an ethnologist, student of Islam and graduate of business administration, I understand how culture and values can influence work processes and the different ways people perceive productive cooperation.

Courage and mindfulness in change processes

I have always had a thirst for adventure. So it’s no surprise that my research took me to the Libyan desert, where I studied the economic activity of the Bedouins. One finding was that the transition from a nomadic to a settled way of life coupled with a new livelihood was leading to a shift in gender roles. In organisations too, major changes have the potential to affect existing and future power relations, and these should therefore be taken into account in responsible and careful planning processes.

Creativity, innovation and awareness of tradition

I enjoy being creative – I paint and I draw. One of my hobbies is restoring old pieces of furniture, using my creativity to produce something modern. In my work too, I like to adopt innovative and structurally creative methods – in consultation with my clients. These methods add an element of fun and inspiration to any planning process. Why do we always have to start again from scratch in organisations instead of taking existing structures and transforming them into something modern?

A feeling for the right tempo

I love nature. I am drawn both to the sea and the mountains for the inspiration and calmness they bring me. Strength lies in peace and a slower pace of life. This strength is essential for change processes. It is the wellspring of creative processes. I therefore make a special point of integrating elements of calmness, strength and slow movement in my work.