Meet our newest WOL Coach: Christian Böhmer
Chris somehow manages to surprise me each time we meet. In our first call it was when I described a feature of something I was working on and he told me: “Germans hate that.” And we both laughed at cultural differences between Americans and Germans when it comes to direct feedback and compliments.
The next time was during a deep dive he requested on “why WOL works.” He wanted to understand the psychology underpinning the different methods. We spent an hour going through theory and practice and I was amazed at his sharp insights and pointed questions, and how quickly he generated new ideas for WOL applications.
So I knew he has a big brain. But it was in our first in-person meeting in Hamburg that I learned he has a big heart too, and I could see how much he cares about people. In his words, he “wants people to live happy lives within a strong community” and envisions WOL being part of making that happen.
I am very much looking forward to what other surprises Chris has in store for me. I know he will be an excellent WOL Coach, and I can’t wait to see what we do together.
Note: For each new WOL Coach, I ask three questions so you can get to know them and what drives them. You can also visit Chris’s WOL Coach profile on workingoutloud.com. Or connect with him on LinkedIn or at christian@helloagile.de.
1. Please share 5 facts about you so people get to know you.
I love traveling the world, whether with my backpack or in the camper van I built myself. So far, I've explored around 70 countries in depth and met countless new people, perspectives, dishes, and places along the way.
I'm an introvert, which means I draw my energy from within. To recharge, I regularly spend time alone—hiking, going to the sauna, or simply walking through nature.
I was a pirate hunter. Literally. During my time with the German Navy, I was stationed abroad on the battle ship "Bremen" to catch pirates on the open sea.
While studying Economic Geography in Heidelberg, I was CEO of the university's student-run consultancy, leading more than 70 active members and a network of 400 alumni.
I love learning, and I believe that my (future) network is the single greatest lever I have for discovering new perspectives, challenges, people, and ideas.
2. What positive difference do you aspire to make?
I want people to live happy lives within a strong community. To that end, I work on shaping the world of work so that people can grow and thrive through it. At the same time, I support individuals on a personal level through advice and coaching.
3. Why WOL?
I love Working Out Loud because it moves people to act and take ownership of their own path. It pulls us out of the "someone else will handle it" mindset and into an "I can do this" attitude. WOL does this by weaving together networking, community, and self-efficacy in a remarkably smart way. On top of that, I love WOL because it fits any situation and any size of organization—from a single person looking to start something new, to a global company aiming to transform its culture collaboratively.
