25 Years at Axonlab: An Interview with Tamara Hensel on her career and favorite products

Tamara Hensel has been an integral part of the Axonlab team for 25 years. She is responsible for the Care Business Unit in Switzerland and is a member of the Executive Board. On the occasion of her anniversary, she gave us a little insight into her long career at Axonlab. She talks about her beginnings, her development within the company and her favourite products. Last but not least, we learn about a special talent she has in addition to her successful job. We hope you enjoy reading the interview!

What was your motivation for choosing Axonlab 25 years ago?

As it was my very first job after my PhD in neurobiology, I came across Axonlab when I was looking for a job because of the name!!! I thought Axonlab was also into neurobiology (laughs). But I thought the job as "Sales AD whole Switzerland" (responsible for all products at that time with 50% diagnostics for doctors and 50% life science in universities) would be very exciting. And then the founders of Axonlab, Roland Steger and Bruno Suter, took me out for a delicious meal at the Casino Baden during my second job interview - I was fully motivated to start in this exciting, nice company :-)

How have you developed during this time and what changes have you experienced?

I was lucky enough to develop, experience and accompany the incredible growth of the Axonlab company and to be involved in its success. In terms of job development, I continued with product management (parallel to the sales tasks). I was soon allowed to take over the manufacturer ARKRAY, then build up a sales team, found the Care Business Unit, and so on.

What do you appreciate most about working at Axonlab?

The variety, the challenge and the team spirit (both within the management as well as in our own teams or in cross-border cooperation). Even if there can be "tough moments", we always try to take the opportunities.

Do you have a project or an experience that has stayed in your memory?

Soooo many..., but one was certainly special: Roland Steger and I were looking for a new product and came across a manufacturer of a "needle disposer" after blood collection (the needle was pushed into a heating block and burnt directly to ash). We visited the manufacturer/CEO at his home (somewhere in eastern Switzerland, a villa...) for further discussion and after a coffee and discussing business, we were also allowed to see his collection, which he was keen to show us! We were led into basement rooms and I found myself face to face with a huge - really huge - weapons collection!!! Incredible material and ammunition, including a rocket firing system. We quickly left and did not include this product, i.e. the "needle destroyer", in our assortment.

Which is your favourite Axonlab product and why?

Phew, a difficult question. We always have exciting products, and that also changes. At the moment perhaps our Hemoscreen, because for me it represents the further development of the POC¹ idea in a very demanding subject such as blood cell analysis with intact cells. But we have so many great, promising products and technologies in our hands - and that as a distributor - I am always proud of that.

What advice would you give to someone who has just started at Axonlab?

Take the time and relax to first get to know the company and how it "works" and don't expect to know everything quickly or to understand the variety of products. But contribute from the start with full enthusiasm and motivation, then you will certainly experience joy and success at Axonlab.

What special talent do you have that most people don't know about you?

When I get hold of a piece of meat to roast/cook, 99% of the time I manage to conjure up a juicy, tender menu :-). Or I like to take over construction management and work with craftsmen.  In the case of renovations, I have also been allowed to take over the renovations for colleagues, including the selection of materials and coordination of work on the construction site.

You can give a "you-are-a-great-colleague" award to a coworker at Axonlab. Who would you give this award to and why?

To be honest, I can't give this to just one person... Various team members here are constantly performing "daily tasks/actions" that deserve such awards! Everyone in his or her own context and sphere of influence - I am always most pleased when, in the case of challenging issues, such as the delivery bottlenecks, solutions are suggested from different departments and ways of "surviving" the situation are found together.

Many thanks Tamara! We look forward to many more successful years!

 

 

¹ _{POC = Point of Care}