Being a Corporate Key Account Manager

Could you please introduce yourself? 

My name is Franziska Tackman, I was born in Rostock, Germany and I’ve been living in Berlin for 8 years. I joined Urban Sports Club almost 2 years ago as a Corporate Account Manager responsible for South Germany. I now work as a Corporate Key Account Manager, taking care of our strategically important clients in Germany and planning our Corporate WorkOUT Events. I help our clients leverage their partnership with Urban Sports Club to:

1.     Improve employer branding 

2.     Boost employee health and happiness 

3.     Promote team building 

What motivated you to join Urban Sports Club? 

After 10 years working in real estate, I needed a fresh start. I chose a vibrant, fast-paced, creative environment over suits and routine and haven’t regretted it yet.

A member myself since 2015, Urban Sports Club’s innovative and flexible concept convinced me right from the start. As a former athlete, my life has been shaped by sports since childhood. With Urban Sports Club, I regularly practice yoga, boulder, or join boot camps. In the summer I can swim, canoe, or do cryotherapy, and, in the winter, sauna or do reiki. 

My ambition to share this enthusiasm for our product with as many people as possible and create something great together motivated me to join Urban Sports Club in 2018.

What motivates you now? 

I’m motivated by the vision of a pan-European sports network that gives each individual a huge selection of possibilities to stay healthy and happy. Urban Sports Club offers its members a daily invitation to step out of their comfort zone and discover new talents and passions. In the words of Fred DeVito, “If it doesn’t challenge you, it doesn’t change you.” 

Since we partner with venues across Europe, we also allow our members to get to know their home city and stay active when they travel. The diverse range of sports helps change people’s habits and open up new opportunities in their life. It’s this ability to truly impact members that I find motivating. 

Tell us about your team. 

I’m part of the Corporate Account Management team and our mission is to revolutionize traditional Corporate Sports by fostering an awareness of the importance of employee health and fitness. 

My colleagues and I support companies and their employees at every step in the implementation of Urban Sports Club. Through targeted marketing measures, kick-offs, and health days we help our clients not only offer another benefit, but also improve their employees’ health and activity.

What is the most rewarding aspect of your role? 

For me personally, the most valuable moments of my work are the health or WorkOut Days at our customers’ sites. During our health days, I get to interact with people individually, learn their life stories and, in return, share my experience with them about how sports help me stay mentally and physically fit. Together, we look at which sports and partners are perfectly suited to their new beginning. 

When people feel seen and understood, it can lead to small miracles. I love when we rekindle the sparkle in people’s eyes, for example, through a motivating workout with our amazing trainers.

My goal is to make sport a joyful experience for everyone again. After one day with us on site, I would like people to go home happy, satisfied and motivated to pack their sports gear and take that good feeling with them to the training. It’s very rewarding to have a positive impact on the lives of others through my work.

Describe your daily routine.

I start most days with a run followed by a home-made juice and a good read before I head to work. 

At the office, my days are usually very diverse with tasks ranging from customer service and consulting, over to B2B marketing and event management, and up to strategic alignment on our Corporate Key Accounts. Hence, multitasking, communication, and creativity are essential – whether between departments, in my own team, or with our customers.

An important part of my work is building long-term relationships with our clients based on trust, openness, loyalty, and reliability. What matters most is that our customers think of us as all-around fitness and health experts.

A typical day might look like this: 

Once at the office, I check emails, prioritize my tasks, and make first phone calls with new clients. I then create an individualized communication strategy, followed by talking to Partner Management and venues to organize a corporate health day. In the afternoon, I’ll generate marketing campaigns and finish the day with various conference calls. Besides that, it’s always smart to schedule some time for unforeseen challenges as well.

If I’m running a kick-off event or health day at a customer’s site, my day is more active. Sometimes we even travel within Germany and different cities to help people create their perfect WorkOut Life Balance. That’s one of my favorite parts about the job we do. I not only get to know new people and places, but am also able to connect with my colleagues in other branches by having a chat or doing sports together. Despite Urban Sports Club’s rapid growth, our team spirit is still alive and celebrated.

What are the key principles that shape how your team works together?

1. Every new idea is welcomed and will be discussed openly in the team.
2. You work  independently and are responsible for yourself. Everyone can contribute her or his individual talents and is valued for them. 
3. There are many different ways to reach your goals. Diversity is our strength and creates the best possible output for the team and our company.

What piece of advice would you share with someone interested in joining the Corporate Account Management team at Urban Sports Club? 

We want to get people excited about the world of sports — so be motivated, authentic, empathetic, able to think ahead, and a fast worker.  

What do you enjoy most about working at Urban Sports Club? 

There are many aspects I enjoy about working for Urban Sports Club, but the most important is our can-do mentality. With our passion, creativity, and diversity, we find a solution to all challenges that come our way. I also love the variety in my daily work, the international environment, and, of course, our lovely office dogs who brighten up our office and help everyone unwind on a busy day.

Beyond that, I’m grateful for the trust my employer has placed in me and the flexibility I’m offered, allowing me to establish my own WorkOut Life Balance.

Urban Sports Club culture is all about people, ownership, and supporting one another. As both a company and product, Urban Sports Club is a means for diminishing prejudices and fostering friendships that go beyond national borders, because, above all, we are stronger together.

Interested in working alongside Franziska to inspire people to lead an active and healthy life? Apply to join our team.