THE POWER OF VALUES: TEAM CULTURE @ MUNICH ELECTRIFICATION
Team Culture at ME – The Secret Behind Our Success
Working well together as a team, and actively fostering this as a company, sounds obvious and should be a given. But that is not the case. So why is 'team culture' one of our core values? Without our people and the strong team they’ve built (and continue to build), Munich Electrification (ME) simply wouldn’t exist. ME is all about the team and the people!
But what makes a great team culture? It’s hard to grasp from the outside, so we’re giving you a behind-the-scenes look at what makes ME’s culture so special.
by Lisa Döllinger
THE SCIENCE BEHIND COMPANY CULTURE
Company culture has been widely studied in organizational psychology and business research. Edgar Schein, a pioneer in the field, defines organizational culture as "a pattern of shared basic assumptions that a group has learned as it solved its problems of external adaptation and internal integration." In other words, culture isn’t just about office perks or team-building events—it’s about the shared beliefs, values, and behaviors that define how a team operates.
Studies show that a strong company culture enhances employee engagement, productivity, and retention. Research by the Harvard Business Review suggests that organizations with high-trust cultures outperform their competitors in innovation, efficiency, and overall business success. At ME, our culture is built on trust, collaboration, and mutual respect, which directly impacts our ability to innovate in the field of electrification.
FINDING THE RIGHT FIT – BEYOND SKILLS
A great culture isn’t built overnight—it starts with hiring the right people. While technical skills matter, personality and cultural fit are just as crucial. Research in industrial-organizational psychology highlights that employees who align with company culture demonstrate higher job satisfaction and commitment, which ultimately benefits both the individual and the organization.
That’s why we take hiring seriously, with a multi-stage selection process where our team plays an active role in choosing new colleagues. We don’t just want talented people; we want people who want to work with us, grow with us, and make ME better.
DIVERSITY THAT HAPPENS NATURALLY
With over 45 nationalities on board, our team is as diverse as it gets—not because we hire for diversity, but because we simply choose the best people for the job. Geert Hofstede’s cultural dimensions theory provides valuable insights into how diversity shapes workplace interactions. His research identifies key dimensions such as individualism vs. collectivism, power distance, and uncertainty avoidance, all of which influence how teams collaborate and communicate. At ME, our diverse team brings together perspectives from cultures with varying degrees of hierarchy, risk tolerance, and teamwork approaches—creating an environment that is both dynamic and adaptable.
A diverse team performs better because they bring a broader range of perspectives and problem-solving approaches. A study published in the "Journal of Organizational Behavior" found that diverse teams foster more creativity and adaptability, both of which are essential for a company like ME that thrives on innovation.
This mix of cultures, languages, and perspectives fuels creativity and fosters a work environment built on openness, acceptance, and mutual respect—qualities that are priceless for any team, especially one that solves complex problems every day.
STEP INSIDE ME: MORE THAN JUST AN OFFICE
Anyone entering our offices for the first time will immediately notice one thing: lots of light, lots of plants, spacious rooms, tasteful furnishings, high-quality portafilter coffee machines, no individual offices, and open spaces where people gather to work, brainstorm, share ideas, or simply enjoy a coffee break together.
It may sound banal, but research supports the importance of workplace design in shaping company culture. Studies in environmental psychology show that open, well-lit spaces encourage collaboration and communication, leading to increased productivity and job satisfaction. We spend more time with our work colleagues than with our families and friends, so why not design a workplace that feels comfortable, friendly, and open?
FUELING COLLABORATION – LITERALLY
One of the biggest game-changers? Our in-house kitchen team that conjures up delicious vegetarian lunches for us every day in the company's own canteen—for free! We have all experienced the social bonds of a communal meal. Eating together has been linked to improved communication, stronger group cohesion, and a greater sense of belonging, according to research from Oxford University.
This means that at least once a day, the entire team comes together for something truly special: sharing a great meal 😊. This alone has had a huge impact on our team culture right from the start because togetherness (also) goes through the stomach.
MORE THAN JUST EVENTS – A CULTURE THAT’S LIVED
Team culture isn’t about throwing a Christmas party once a year (though we do love a good celebration). It’s about how we work together, how we support each other, and how we push each other to be better—every single day.
At ME, we foster psychological safety by encouraging open dialogue, active feedback, and a non-hierarchical structure where ideas matter more than titles. We take care of creating an environment where employees feel safe to take risks and express their ideas without fear of failure, because we know about the importance.
Our culture is the foundation on which we build trust, share ideas, and work together to achieve our goals. This makes us a strong, innovative, and collaborative unit—one that not only adapts to change but drives it.
MY PERSONAL PERSPECTIVE
Having been part of ME for more than five years, I’ve had the privilege of seeing our culture evolve and strengthen. It’s amazing to see so many different backgrounds, cultures, and personalities come together at ME—not just to work, but to truly collaborate, innovate, and form real friendships. What makes this place truly special is not just what we achieve together, but how we do it: as a strong team, in a supportive and inspiring community, and with a shared passion for what we do.
It’s not just about meetings and deadlines; it’s about the spontaneous coffee chats, the shared lunches, the after-work get-togethers, and the friendships that form along the way. We celebrate our wins, support each other through challenges, and always find time to have a laugh. Seeing ME grow and reach new milestones has been an incredible journey, and I’m proud to be part of it. Looking back, it’s clear that our culture isn’t just something we talk about; it’s something we live every day. And that’s what makes it special.
AT ME, CULTURE ISN’T JUST A BUZZWORD—IT’S THE DRIVING FORCE BEHIND OUR SUCCESS. IT’S WHAT MAKES US NOT JUST A COMPANY, BUT A TEAM. IT’S WHAT MAKES US WHO WE ARE.
Munich Electrification: Sales Team
