Is there a secret to work-life balance? We asked Stefano, from Italy, passionate about football and his family,  about his tips for good work-life balance. Check it out! 

"My job is my life. When you spend 70% of your day at work, I believe that’s your life so it’s important to work in an exciting environment, with great people and great flexibility which allows you to balance work and life time. It’s good to have something else to do after, to help you change perspectives and leave your mind open."

"You really need to want it. So you need to work towards it. I like to work hard and to work a lot so I need to discipline myself to achieve a healthy balance. The other thing is to have an employer who is supporting and promoting it. Here in our office we have super flexible working hours and most important for me, I can work from home. I can combine both, spending time with my little son as well as taking care of my work and ensuring that I don’t miss out on anything."

Robert-Jan is half Dutch, half Austrian and has a way with languages and words. For a decade, he worked as a breaking news journalist for some of the world’s largest media organizations in Brussels, London and elsewhere. As Senior Manager Corporate Communications and PR at PUMA, he tells the many exciting stories the company has to offer.

Have a look and get Robert-Jans insights about challenges in changing careers. 

Lesley followed a dream, starting her career as a designer. Moving into development she began heading up teams and traveling the world. Then a job in the Netherlands focused on team building revealed her leadership abilities. "It was incredible to have the chance to recruit fresh graduates and help them learn and grow in their roles." At PUMA Lesley is taking mentorship to a whole new level with her belief that active listening builds a collaborative environment, solves problems efficiently, and helps team members grow.

"While working with PUMA I have had the chance to build on past experience while creating a global network of people who are dedicated to building a strong and exciting brand."

Having spent twenty years in IT while raising a family and living internationally, Martina, Manager of IT Controlling at PUMA, has faced her share of challenges. But "If you want something, there is always a way, "she says, and that has become her motto. Spending her free time on the open water, Martina enjoys the challenge of mastering the waves and understands the unpredictable nature of the sea. Her work experience in marketing, finance, accounting and eCommerce, have sharpened Martina's instincts further. But it's the daily practice of problem solving that has driven Martina to the top of her field, giving her confidence when facing the unexpected. With PUMA since 2012 she says, "It's exciting - the company is a major global player but somehow the job still feels personal." 

"You can't control the unexpected. When things go wrong simply find new ways to make them right. Problem solving is the best energy booster for you and your team."

"The biggest challenge I have faced is moving my wife and two daughters from the United States to Europe. We left our family and community behind to pursue new, international opportunities with PUMA. It is difficult and sometimes scary to be a foreigner in the new place you call home. Every day I had two goals: try not to get arrested and find the reason or beauty in things that are different. It did not take long to make new friends. Our third baby was born in Germany, which was intimidating when you don’t speak the same language as the hospital staff. Our comfort zone expanded with every passing week and new place we visited. We miss seeing people we love and familiar places but everyone agrees this was a great decision. What I didn’t realize was how much of the world I was missing and how exploring it and meeting people from different cultures would change me. This crazy international move has turned out to be the best thing for my career and our family."