“Helping QBR see the big picture” – Nicole Defren from Klarna

Nicole Defren is Country Manager for Germany at Klarna. She is responsible for the further development and alignment of the German business and local strategy. Her focus is on working closely with merchants to understand their challenges and helping to solve them through Klarna’s range of payment and shopping services.

In the “5 things I can’t work without” series, Defren reveals what she personally needs in her everyday work to be successful. Overall, however, these 5 things have also become indispensable for living and working in today’s world, she says. “They help me and our teams stay connected, focused and relevant in an increasingly fast-paced environment.”

slack: Nothing works without Slack. The instant messaging service is the most important communication platform at Klarna. I am in daily contact with my team, work on joint projects and tasks – all via Slack. Klarna is active in 45 markets, to communicate with colleagues in Stockholm, London and New York, Slack is indispensable. Especially since I don’t even meet my German team – keyword remote work – in the office every day.

Flexibility at work: It is incredibly important to me that I can divide my work according to my needs. For example, I can decide whether I want to work at home or in the office. I can also determine my working hours myself. For example, if I work late into the evening (yes, that happens…), I take the time the next morning for a long walk through the forest with my wire-haired dachshund. So I start the day with a fresh head. In my opinion, this form of flexibility is extremely important because it contributes to higher productivity, job satisfaction and work-life balance, while at the same time reducing stress and the risk of burnout.

OKR: OKR stands for Objectives and Key Results, and they help me focus on what matters most, commit my team to common goals, and measure our progress. For me, they consist of an overarching goal and a series of intermediate goals. This is incredibly important for me to stay motivated.

QBR: Another pretty English acronym. In quarterly business reviews, we review our performance over the past quarter, set goals for the next quarter, and discuss strategies. In day-to-day work, small things often predominate. QBR help keep the big picture in mind. This is essential for the long-term success, trust and stability of a company.

New trends in social media: It is important for me to keep up to date with new trends in social media, such as Instagram and Tiktok. In this way, I am close to our users and recognize new opportunities for our corporate development. By knowing what is being discussed on social media, you can adapt your marketing strategies and stay ahead of the curve.