Thomas
von der Ohe

Co-Founder, CEO

WHAT DRIVES ME

You come across an opportunity to positively impact societies around the globe maybe once in your lifetime. An opportunity to truly make a difference. Our unique approach to autonomous driving gives us this chance: redefining how people move in a better way. Building and shipping a product with this great team is what drives me day and night.

BACKGROUND

Launched Zoox’ first self-driving vehicle on public streets as leading Technical Program Manager in Silicon Valley, launched Amazon’s first Echo as leading Technical Program Manager on Device Software, Founded two (funded) mobility companies. M. Sc. Management Science and Engineering, Stanford University.

Fabrizio
Scelsi

Co-Founder, VP Engineering

WHAT DRIVES ME

Building products together with an amazing team based on cutting-edge technology to serve a greater purpose and solve problems – for the people, for our planet.

BACKGROUND

Manager of an engineering team in Silicon Valley to build autonomous shuttles, built teams and various mobility products: electric race cars, e-motorcycles, light electric vehicles, electric passenger vehicles, including one of the most successful electric delivery vehicles in Germany. RWTH Aachen, Imperial College London.

Bogdan
Djukic

Co-founder, Director Teledrive Experience

WHAT DRIVES ME

Vay is aiming to launch the first vehicle without a safety driver on public roads in Europe. This involves exciting engineering challenges, many of which have never been worked on before, ranging from autonomous vehicle technology, cybersecurity, backend, machine learning and safety-critical SW. Coming up with engineering solutions to these topics is something that I’m super excited to work on at Vay.

BACKGROUND

Team Lead at Microsoft, Senior Software Engineer at Skype. M. Sc. in Computer Science from Belgrade University.

Mariona
Bosch

Director of Engineering Operations

WHAT DRIVES ME

Working closely with people from different cultures and professional backgrounds (hardware, software, operations, etc.) gives me the chance to learn new ways of approaching projects, structuring teams, and setting up processes every day. The results of this incredible teamwork are hugely rewarding, and visible in each step of our product.

BACKGROUND

Part of the management circle at AUDI AG, responsible for the implementation of prototypes at early development stages of new products (innovation vehicles, concept and pre-series vehicles, show cars, design models, testing single parts, PoCs, 3D-printing)

Hans-Leo
Ross

Safety Advisor

WHAT DRIVES ME

All my professional life I have been working for the protection and safety of people and the environment. I want to further provide safe and user-friendly automation systems for our future mobility needs.

BACKGROUND

25+ years experience in system safety at Conti., Mando, Bosch. Led the VDA working group in Germany to create ISO 26262 and influenced worldwide safety standardization. Author of several text books on functional safety.

Justin
Spratt

VP - Business & Corporate Development

WHAT DRIVES ME

What drives me is to work on goals that have a big impact on society. Additionally, I wanted to work with the smartest and most innovative people in the tech world. That’s better at Vay than any other company I’ve spoken to recently.

BACKGROUND

Responsible for global strategic partnerships at Uber, where he focused on deals with automotive OEMs, vehicle fleet operators, vehicle battery technology companies and electrification infrastructure providers. Was CEO and chief growth officer at Quirk. Began his professional life at Morgan Stanley as a fixed income trader after studying economics and finance. Built the first startup incubator in Africa in 2002 and has been mentoring founders of technology startups for over ten years. He is an angel investor in software technology and holds board positions in some of these companies.

Anja
Rechsteiner

Director of Communications

WHAT DRIVES ME

What drives me is to start something from scratch and use all my experience to find the best way to communicate our exciting story. I believe my work can have an impact on how people feel about more sustainable transportation options.

BACKGROUND

Worked for 15 years in leading communication agencies such as fischerAppelt and Ketchum in Germany and the UK for various brands and companies from FMCG to travel to mobility. Holds an MBA in Communication & Leadership from Quadriga University as well as a Master degree in History, Sociology and Media & Art Studies from University of Constance.

Caleb
Varner

US General Manager

WHAT DRIVES ME

We’re close to letting users experience the Vay Magic for the first time in Las Vegas and I know that they are going to find it a compelling mix of great value powered by a super slick in-app experience. It’s awesome to have the opportunity to take this piece of underlying tech (remote driving) and build an experience around it that users will use, love and tell their friends about.

BACKGROUND

Co-founded and served as the Global General Manager of Uber Rent & Valet, a new mobility investment by Uber. Lead the Global Vehicles team at Uber, overseeing critical planning and P&L responsibilities. Built Uber’s vehicles business in Latin America from the ground and managed the customer-facing financial services business across Sub-Saharan Africa. Lead international financial services strategy engagements with the Boston Consulting Group for John Deere, focusing on regions like Brazil, Africa, and India. Owns a Masters of Business Administration of Duke University.

Christian
Hertlein

VP - Product Design and Brand

WHAT DRIVES ME

Building the future of mobility, which is sustainable and truly serving the needs of people, by creating a holistic experience, a relatable brand and shaping services that are going to make a difference to how we move within and between cities.

BACKGROUND

Head of Global Design at N26, Senior Lead Designer at IDEO, in-car interactions for Volkswagen.

David
Gossow

Senior Principal Software Engineer

WHAT DRIVES ME

After having worked in autonomous robotics research for a long time in the Silicon Valley, I am thrilled to be working at a company that is finally bringing this technology into people’s everyday lives.

BACKGROUND

Tech Lead at Google Tango in Mountain View, Research Engineer at Willow Garage, yoga instructor since 2018.

Johanna
Loomis

Lead Industrial Designer

WHAT DRIVES ME

What drives me at Vay is the enthusiasm and passion for a vision that is embedded in the company culture, and at the same time the strict discipline in its implementation.

BACKGROUND

Industrial Product Design Lead at TEAMS DESIGN GmbH for over six years, started as a Trainee in Shanghai City. Worked as Industrial and Product Designer at LOTHAR BOHM ASSOCIATES LIMITED, Lutz Herrmann Design, Indeed Innovation and Werksdesign.

Vladimir
Bilonenko

Director of Software Engineering

WHAT DRIVES ME

Helping engineers to do their best and most important work. Elegance in software. Bringing ideas from books to real life and from one domain to another. Going from A to B fast.

BACKGROUND

Software Generalist. Maps and Mobility Geek (Lon, Lat not Lat, Lon). High Load at Yandex, Geo Analytics and Last Mile at HERE Maps, Mobility Platform at Daimler. Conway’s Law Enthusiast.

ALINA
PRESTI

Teledriver

WHAT DRIVES ME

A car enthusiast, driven by cars, driving and technology.

BACKGROUND

Nursery school teacher. Driver at Skoda’s start-up Caredriver.

Stefano
Buzzanca

Head of Operations

WHAT DRIVES ME

What drives me at Vay is the magic. That daily feeling that every small step forward, every single improvement, every small success is a step towards the final goal: to create something unique that will change the lives of many.

BACKGROUND

His 20+ years of experience in various mobility companies make him a great leader and KPI driven operator at Vay. Launched and ran various mobility services in 16+ cities, focused on free-floating car-sharing.

Meet Kate Mulligan, Senior People Operations Manager

Hi everyone! My name is Kate Mulligan, and I’m in the People & Culture team at Vay. I recently celebrated my 1-year anniversary in this role, and I’m excited to share some of my experiences and insights with you. In this Inside Vay, I’ll be telling you about the challenges and great learnings I have experienced in my role and my vision for creating a psychologically safe and inclusive work environment that supports our employees’ growth and success.

What drives me day by day at Vay

On office days, I find it rewarding to interact face-to-face with my colleagues and build strong working relationships. I work particularly closely with Vay’s engineering team, helping to unite teams and leaders during the rapid growth phase at Vay. 

On remote days, I focus on more strategic projects, such as building, retaining and developing talent programs. While I miss the energy of the office on these days, I do appreciate the opportunity to work in a focused environment and to complete tasks without interruption.

I was drawn to work at Vay for multiple reasons. One of the most compelling factors was the company’s sustainable business model. As a pioneer in the teledriving industry in Germany, Vay is at the forefront of a new and exciting market, and it’s great to be a part of that. I appreciate that Vay has a small People team, which creates a more personal and supportive work environment. Our Director of People Katya Eckert, is amazing to collaborate with and learn from. She has created a safe space for us to voice our ideas and really thrive!  

I also appreciate Vay’s family-friendly policies. Vay makes it possible to balance work and family responsibilities by offering flexible work arrangements, which is very supportive. Vay understands the challenges that come with balancing work and family, and they make it possible to be influential in the company while also being present for your children.

The most critical projects within the People Team 

As my schedule changes from day to day, I have had the opportunity to learn and grow quickly in my role. The steep learning curve since I started has allowed me to develop new skills and take on new responsibilities.

Some of the larger projects we have worked on as a People Team in the past months have been,  implementing a new onboarding process, setting up the Vay Technology Poland Entity, building and developing Talent retention programs and kicking off our internal VayAcademy with a first pilot of internal Leadership Trainings. We work on all projects collaboratively as a People Team, which I really enjoy as we can get creative and use each other as great sparring partners to find the most suitable approach and strategy for Vay.  

A good onboarding process is the key to success!

While implementing our updated onboarding process, it was important for us to remember that onboarding is an ongoing process, and not just a one-time event. While the initial onboarding period may last a few days or weeks, new hires will continue to learn and grow in their role during their probation period and beyond. The People team continues to provide support and guidance to new employees during this time and ensure they are supported on their career path at Vay. During the Probation Review Period, Professional and Personal Development goals are created for all team members in conjunction with their lead. These goals will be the basis of employees’ career journey at Vay and are supported by our internal VayAcademy

One of the most challenging aspects about creating a well functioning onboarding process is to keep up with the rapid growth of Vay while maintaining a positive and supportive entry into the company for everybody. Managing the onboarding process for new employees has been challenging (in times of rapid growth) but an essential and fun task for us. By keeping the onboarding roadmap in mind, providing support and guidance, and recognizing that onboarding is an ongoing process, the People team can help ensure that new hires have a successful and fulfilling experience at Vay. 

Challenges are a part of the job

Throughout my career, I’ve learned that challenging situations can be some of the most valuable learning experiences, even if they’re extremely difficult. It’s important to approach these situations with empathy and understanding, but also keep in mind the business needs of the company.

What inspires me

One of the things that I enjoy most about my job is welcoming new employees to the team and being able to support the team to grow both personally and professionally on their career path. I love meeting people from all over the world from different backgrounds and supporting them as they embark on their journey with Vay and their new country of residence. It’s exciting to see how they experience the company and their new roles, and it’s rewarding to be a part of their journey.

Lastly, I strongly believe that pursuing hobbies and interests outside of work is crucial for a healthy work-life balance. Not only does it help relieve stress, but it also improves your overall well-being. Personally, I love to go running as it helps me switch off at the end of the day. I have successfully participated in two half marathons and am hoping to complete a marathon if I can make enough time for training soon. Reading and travelling also mean a lot to me and provide me the perfect time out. Spending time with my friends and family makes me realise what’s important in life (when I sometimes forget) and is also vital for me to rejuvenate after a hectic day. It’s important to prioritise these activities and make time for them in our busy lives. And who knows, pursuing these hobbies may even lead to new opportunities and experiences that we may have never imagined before. So go ahead and find your passion, and don’t forget to enjoy the journey! 

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