18 Sep Inside: Havas Germany
In honor of the upcoming dmexco conference, as well as Oktoberfest, we stepped into Havas Germany for a look at great work, employee empowerment, and cultural celebrations.
The Mag: In three words, how would you describe your office culture?
Havas Germany: Hands-on. Open. Together.
The Mag: What makes Havas Germany a great place to work?
Havas Germany: We set a strong emphasis on the engagement of our employees. If anyone raises and wants to push a topic forward (be it in a business or creative context) we offer support and encouragement instead of stop signs. We trust our folks and empower them the best we can.
The face of business is changing rapidly, so we push for continuous exchange between our people. We have established different formats around that. The “Havas Newschool” offers people a chance to present and educate their colleagues on any topic they think is important. And they learn how to present that way. The “Creative Lunch” every two weeks is a great occasion for people to come together for lunch and watch six different 10-minute presentations from the creative teams on their current work. A great way to learn about the different projects and workflows around the agency. And to show pride for everyday work. Finally, “Havas100” is an idea challenge aiming to generate 100 fascinating ideas over one year, fueling the creative output beyond the daily business.
The Mag: What recent client work is most talked about around the office?
Havas Germany: Current works of pride include the launch campaign for Scholls Electronic Nail Care System. It was the first integrated RB campaign that was developed in Düsseldorf, It had a heavy focus on digital assets and activations and proved a big success so far. Another one is our “Klick, Klick” campaign for Paypal, celebrating how easy it is to pay online with PayPal. Finally. our “Impress yourself” campaign for Peugeot Germany with a strong digital focus, establishing a storytelling approach on a dedicated content platform.
The Mag: How is your office celebrating Oktoberfest this year and/or what have you done in past years?
Havas Germany: As the Oktoberfest (or “Wiesn,” as the locals say) is a mainly Bavarian tradition, so the place to be around that time of the year is our Munich office. And that´s also because the Oktoberfest venue is just 200 meters away from the office front door. So there is no escape: Oktoberfest is becoming a part of everyday agency life, something you visit to grab some food during your lunch break or for having a beer with colleagues in the evening. And there is a special “Agency Wiesn“ event every year. Munich’s agency scene meets in one of the huge tents, with everyone dressed up in “Tracht“ (that’s traditional Bavarian clothes: Dirndls for the ladies, Lederhosen for the gents). And then: Have a beer. Eat a Händl (grilled chicken) or Ochsenfetzen (chopped beef). Have more beer. Dance on beer tables. Get another beer. Start over.
