Therese Stahr
What has been the most rewarding part of your career with Trelleborg so far?
Growing from a local site role to a broader business unit perspective has been the most rewarding part of my career. At the beginning, I learned about facility operations, cost drivers and daily challenges on the shop floor.
When my scope expanded to a global level, I started working with multiple sites to align key performance indicators, improve processes and support operational decision-making across the business. I am motivated every day by seeing how local improvements create a global impact.
How has your role at Trelleborg changed or developed over time?
I started my career at Trelleborg as a Senior Controller at our facility in Velten, Germany, focusing on local activities like cost monitoring, variance analysis and monthly reporting. As my team gained trust in my expertise, my role evolved. I began actively driving improvements in cost transparency, process standardization and operational performance, becoming a sparring partner for local management.
This expansion led to my promotion to Business Unit Operations Controller. Today, I coordinate financial and operational topics across multiple locations, harmonizing processes and ensuring consistent standards. My role developed from a local financial controller into a global operations controlling function that combines financial expertise, operational understanding and cross-site collaboration.
How has being part of a global team influenced your work and personal growth?
A culturally diverse team holds incredible value for my professional and personal development. Working with colleagues from different countries broadens how I think about problems, solutions and decision-making, strengthening my ability to look beyond local viewpoints. I learned that challenges look very different depending on regional realities, which makes me more thoughtful and pragmatic.
On a personal level, this exposure to diverse working styles and mindsets has increased my cultural awareness, openness and emotional intelligence. I have become more adaptable, patient and appreciative of different approaches to leadership and collaboration. The trust and openness within our global team also encourage me to share knowledge, ask questions and continuously learn from others.
Overall, working in a global team has made my role far more impactful and rewarding. It has helped me grow from a strong local controller into a more holistic, globally minded partner for the business, while shaping me into a more reflective and adaptable professional.
As Trelleborg continues to grow, what opportunities have you discovered for your own development?
As Trelleborg grows, I have discovered valuable opportunities for both professional and personal development. Moving from a local role to a business unit level position has required me to prioritize more consciously, focusing on impact, clarity and sustainable ways of working rather than constant availability. This shift has strengthened my ability to manage complexity while maintaining a healthy work-life balance.
Working across cultures and sites has also reinforced the importance of seeing the person behind every role and result. Understanding individual perspectives, workloads and motivations has become a key part of how I collaborate. For my own development, this has meant growing in empathy, communication and self-reflection. I now recognize that long-term performance is closely tied to well-being, trust and balance for myself and for the teams I work with.
In what ways do you feel your role at Trelleborg allows you to shape the future of industry?
I contribute to a more transparent, efficient and sustainable future for our industry. My work in operations controlling supports data-driven decisions, standardized processes and performance transparency across our facilities. This helps our operations become more resilient and forward-looking.
We balance cost, quality and delivery while continuously improving. Beyond numbers and KPIs, I help our teams make decisions with a long-term perspective that prioritizes responsible resource use and the people behind the performance. By connecting operational excellence with a strong human focus, I help shape a business that is competitive, sustainable and people-centered.
Describe a time you felt truly inspired by your colleagues or the work we do here.
My direct manager during my time as a Controller in Velten played a decisive role in shaping how I work and think, and this experience is one of the most inspiring of my time at Trelleborg. He combines exceptional technical expertise with a genuine focus on the person behind the role. What inspired me most was not only his deep knowledge but also his commitment to actively sharing it, encouraging questions and leading with trust rather than control.
He consistently demonstrated that strong performance and human-centric leadership are not opposites. Feeling trusted, supported and challenged all at once motivated me to take ownership, grow beyond my comfort zone and continuously develop. His authentic approach earned my loyalty, not because he expected it, but because he fostered it.
Even today, that foundation continues to shape my understanding of leadership, collaboration and what it truly means to work successfully together. That experience strongly influences how I collaborate with colleagues and approach my role within Trelleborg.
