Drawn to assisting organisations to manage change as a means of enhancing product development outcomes, Principal Lecturer & Consultant, Digital Products & Platforms, Dorothee also has a green thumb, recharges her batteries through nature walks and could possibly beat you at a video game!
Read the scoop below to find out more:
1. Hi Dorothee! Please tell us about your professional background.
I have been in the software development industry for around 15 years now. After coming to Singapore in 2013 to join fashion & lifestyle startup ZALORA, I spent almost a decade there building and scaling products hands-on across B2C and B2B, setting up the UX team and eventually leading the consumer product portfolio end-to-end. It has been a great chance to develop insights and expertise across a large range of consumer, business and technology challenges.
Prior to this, I had left my native Germany for Spain where I spent a few years in the fun world of video games at Electronic Arts; I led part of the Quality Assurance for smart phone and social casual games there when this market was first emerging.
2. Share more about the modules/courses which you teach at NUS-ISS.
I currently teach Digital Product Delivery, a course focused on equipping product practitioners with a deeper understanding of the technical side of product development, including key technical concepts and practices for continuous improvement in their planning and release processes. The idea is ultimately to enable better collaboration in product management through enabling more conversations, empathy and understanding of the technical challenges and implications.
3. Why did you choose to teach at NUS-ISS?
Over time, I have become increasingly focused on organisational change as a means of enhancing product development outcomes, and I am particularly drawn to assisting other organisations in tackling these same challenges. For me, NUS-ISS represents a tremendous opportunity to do just that. Thanks to its close ties to industry, I am able to make meaningful contributions based on my own experiences, while also benefiting from the vast collective knowledge of my peers. This dynamic is an immensely humbling and invaluable learning experience for me.
4. What do you enjoy most about your work?
What I find most rewarding as a Product Manager is collaborating with my team to create products users love because it improves an aspect of their lives. With my course portfolio now serving as my product, what I enjoy most is seeing any positive outcomes that our courses may provide for our students. Whether it's helping them navigate their daily challenges or facilitating their growth in their careers, such as breaking into product management, it's immensely fulfilling to see our courses make a difference. Moreover, I enjoy the opportunity to engage with students and learn from their perspectives, as this helps us to continuously improve our courses.
5. How do you keep up with the industry?
Staying connected with the local and global product community is crucial, and I'm fortunate to have former colleagues and friends who always enjoy a chat about the latest developments. To keep abreast of emerging trends, I've recently started listening to podcasts during my daily commute, which is an easy-going way to stay informed. Current favourites include Lenny's product podcast, which is both entertaining and informative, and Masters of Scale, an entrepreneurial podcast and treasure trove of diverse insights. Additionally, I subscribe to several newsletters that deliver bite-sized updates throughout the week, making them more easily digestible.
6. What are your favourite activities when you are not working?
I love spending a lot of time outdoors, exploring new places by walking, hiking, or running - it's my way of recharging my batteries. Here's a snapshot of me hiking through the Macritchie TreeTop Walk in Singapore. Other great hiking spots I would recommend in Singapore are Bukit Timah Hill and the new Rifle Range Nature Park. If you are in Germany, don't miss the Black Forest Biosphere Reserve, UNESCO World Heritage Site.
During the pandemic, I also started growing vegetables and herbs on my balcony using hydroponics, which does not require the use of soil. It’s more space efficient and I do not need to worry about repotting. Although initially, my aim was only to supply my cooking needs, I have come to genuinely appreciate tending to my little garden and experimenting with various fruits, veggies and herbs.
If you are looking to start growing your own garden, I have found herbs and leafy greens the easiest to grow. Adding fresh herbs like basil, mint and dill instantly brightens any dish and I love that I can whip up a batch of homemade pesto any time. Chillies and tomatoes are also pretty straightforward to grow if your balcony gets enough sun light. Pictured right, a snapshot of my little garden.
7.Tell us something about yourself that very few people know.
Not many people know that I used to play video games professionally. My very first job at Electronic Arts was to test video games to ensure their quality of translation into German and compliance to publisher requirements. It meant “being at work” was a literal eight hours of playing games. While it could be stressful with strict deadlines with huge games to cover, I loved the creative environment and culture around it and have very fond memories. It also taught me orientation to detail, diligence, when to take risk and owning those decisions. Overall a time I wouldn’t want to miss!