Blacklane

Jenny Warnke (32), Head of Engineering

What precisely is your job in your company?

I am a Head of Engineering at Blacklane. Blacklane is a Berlin-based company that offers professional chauffeur and airport concierge services worldwide.

The chauffeur service is exactly what the name suggests: our customers are driven safely to their home or place of work. In turn, the airport concierge service offers many benefits at the airport. For example, you receive lounge access or have a concierge take you through the airport. This helps you find your way around unfamiliar airports and can save time if you are in a hurry. Our philosophy at Blacklane is all about giving our customers peace of mind. They should always be able to travel without any concerns.

I am responsible for six teams at our company. The teams consist of front-end and back-end developers, QA engineers, designers and product managers. We all work together to achieve the best results for our customers. For instance, we are responsible for the functionality and appearance of our website and iOS or Android apps.

Meetings and coaching sessions account for most of my day-to-day work. We get together to complete tasks and produce results. My main concern is to ensure that all of my colleagues on the team are able to grow and enjoy their work. I help them to find their own path at Blacklane. That’s what I’m here for.

What do you find fascinating about this profession?

I am always fascinated by working with people and having to come up with new solutions. Additionally, life is never boring at Blacklane. I face new challenges every day. The corporate culture adheres to the principle of creating a workplace where you can have fun, grow and feel safe. That’s the way I see things, too. I enjoy supporting and motivating my colleagues. 

Why did you choose this job at a Berlin-based company?

I originally come from a place close to Berlin, although I studied in the west of Germany and also worked there for many years. At some point, homesickness got the better of me and I moved to Berlin.

Berlin is cosmopolitan. I can find everything I need here. For example, I love culture, architecture and history. Berlin has so much to offer and there are always new things to discover. That’s why I live and work here.