Sarah Belaid, Author at Atolls

Julie’s internship to global account manager journey at Atolls is a story of growth, trust, and saying yes to unexpected opportunities.

Her path wasn’t carefully mapped out. When her original internship offer from another company was cancelled just weeks before she was due to start, it could have been a major setback. Instead, it turned into something better, and entirely unexpected. A former manager shared her CV on LinkedIn, where it caught the eye of a recruiter at Atolls. Although the team wasn’t actively hiring interns at the time, her profile stood out so much that they created a role for her.

Starting the Internship to Full-Time Global Account Manager Journey

From day one, Julie was given real responsibility. Unlike many internships focused on shadowing or admin work, hers included owning partner relationships. She felt part of the team immediately, trusted by her manager, given clear expectations, and encouraged to learn by doing. This early trust helped her build confidence and sharpen her skills. It also laid the foundation for what would become a long-term journey at Atolls.

A Pause in the Journey: From Internship to Full-Time at Atolls

Before fully committing to a job, Julie had one goal left: to travel. When the team offered her a full-time role, she was nervous about asking for time off. But instead of hesitation, she found understanding.

Her manager offered a fixed-term contract until her departure and signed her return offer before she left. That flexibility made her feel genuinely valued, as a person, not just an employee.

Returning to Atolls: Continuing the Journey as an Account Manager

Coming back from extended travel was an adjustment. Julie returned to a full-time role in a newly merged team, with new dynamics and responsibilities. Adapting took time, but she found her rhythm again.

She’s since transitioned to a global role, working beyond the German market and managing relationships with internationally recognized brands. She thrives on the challenge of hitting ambitious goals and values the international scope of her work, not to mention the team spirit that makes it all the more rewarding.

Why Atolls Was the Right Place to Grow

Julie has worked in other environments, but Atolls stands out. She highlights its flexibility, international culture, and strong team spirit. She felt trusted early on, supported during personal decisions, and consistently challenged to grow.

Now part of a broader team, Julie brings the same curiosity and ownership she started with, only now with years of experience behind her.

Advice for Anyone Starting Their Internship Journey

Julie encourages others to explore internships or entry-level roles at Atolls. The experience is real, with meaningful tasks, learning opportunities, and support at every step. Her journey proves what’s possible when a company invests in people and believes in long-term growth.

Ready to Write Your Own Story?

Julie has worked in other environments, but Atolls stands out. She highlights its flexibility, international culture, and strong team spirit. She felt trusted early, supported during personal decisions, and consistently challenged to grow.

At Atolls, we don’t just hire for the job, we invest in the journey.

If you’re looking for a place where you can grow, feel supported, and be challenged in the best way, check out our open positions. One conversation can change everything.

Antonia Marino, Senior Director of Engineering at Global Savings Group, exemplifies innovative engineering and leadership. Her journey with GSG, stretching over four years, is a testament to the company’s commitment to growth, technological advancement, and a supportive work culture.

Climbing the Ladder: Antonia Marino on Career Growth at GSG

In her role, Antonia oversees four teams, showcasing her skills in tech team management and handling all systems and processes related to creating, managing, and distributing the best offers and discounts to GSG’s customers. Reflecting on her career progression, Antonia shares, “Joining GSG as an Engineering Manager was the start of an incredibly enriching journey. Here, I engaged in challenging tasks that pushed my boundaries in product development and team leadership.” This dedication to nurturing talent is mirrored in GSG’s Employee Development Programs.

Leading GSG’s Backend System Modernization

Antonia recalls the pivotal greenfield project that marked a milestone in her career: “Leading the modernization of our entire backend system was not only challenging but deeply fulfilling. It allowed me to delve into new technologies, transitioning from legacy to cutting-edge platforms.” Her story echoes the innovative spirit celebrated in GSG’s Technology and Innovation Initiatives.

A Culture of Diversity in Tech and Support: Antonia’s Perspective

Antonia shares her thoughts on the work culture at GSG: “I am consistently thrilled when reflecting on the incredible and talented individuals with whom I collaborate.” She adds, “GSG boasts a highly international and inclusive work environment, fostering a supportive culture that values diverse backgrounds.” Her experience during challenging times reinforces her view of GSG: “During global crises, such as the Corona pandemic and various conflicts, the company demonstrated genuine concern for the well-being of its employees and their families.

Be Inspired by Antonia Marino’s Journey: Discover Engineering Career Opportunities at GSG

Antonia Marino’s career at Global Savings Group is a source of inspiration, demonstrating the profound impact of innovation, leadership, and a supportive workplace culture. Her journey underscores the opportunities for professional growth and personal fulfillment available in the tech industry at GSG.

If you find yourself inspired by Antonia’s story and wish to be part of a team that values creativity, collaboration, and continuous learning, we invite you to explore the possibilities with us. Discover your next career opportunity and contribute to our ongoing success in the digital savings platform industry by visiting GSG’s Career Opportunities. Join us in shaping the future of digital savings and consumer experiences.

Looking into GSG customer innovation in action? Christer Damm, Senior Director of Engineering at Global Savings Group, has helped shape the company’s evolution from voucher platforms to advanced cashback solutions. His leadership is instrumental in improving customer experiences across multiple GSG products.

Engineering Leadership Across Multiple Products

Christer leads engineering efforts for several flagship products, including iGraal and Shoop (both web and mobile), as well as GSG’s cashback-enabled browser extensions and gift cards. He also sets technical guidelines and acts as a stabilizing force during high-pressure situations.

Notably, many of the products under his guidance were recently recognized at the German Bonus Awards, a reflection of the engineering team’s strong performance.

Adapting from Vouchers to Cashback

Christer began his career at GSG working on voucher sites such as coupons.com and dailymail.co.uk/best-buys. However, as the business evolved, so did his role. He transitioned into cashback product leadership, helping the team adjust systems, workflows, and priorities to support this new model.

This evolution also allowed him to implement incident post-mortems as part of GSG’s broader incident management framework, something that has added transparency and learning opportunities across teams.

Promoting a T-Shaped Engineering Mindset

One of Christer’s proudest achievements has been championing a T-Shaped engineering mindset across the company. This approach encourages engineers to deepen their expertise while still contributing across functions.

As a result, the team saw improvements in both efficiency and collaboration, while reducing frustration caused by siloed ownership or unclear responsibilities.

Fostering Flexibility and Collaboration

Christer is also a strong advocate of GSG’s flexible and inclusive culture. Whether team members are remote, hybrid, or in-office, his priority is creating a space where collaboration can thrive.

He continues to invest in team-building, communication tools, and rituals that foster connection, even across borders.

Join GSG’s Innovation Journey

Christer Damm’s story reflects what’s possible at GSG: career growth, meaningful impact, and the freedom to innovate. If you’re inspired by GSG’s customer innovation journey and want to work at a place where engineering and product truly shape the user experience, check out our open roles.

Looking to learn more about the GSG talent acquisition strategy? In this Q&A, Maria Wurzer (Head of Talent) and Jose Delgado (Team Lead Talent Acquisition) share how our global team attracts, develops, and empowers people, all while building a workplace defined by flexibility, growth, and innovation.

How Do We Attract Top Talent in a Competitive Market?

“We collaborate with all teams to identify their specific hiring needs. Our international reach allows us to look beyond our office locations, which adds to the fact that we have over 65 nationalities at GSG in our 14 offices worldwide at the moment. We work on creating a flexible working environment, allowing us to accommodate our employees personal needs with the GSG Flex Policy. We are also enhancing our Employer Branding initiatives to ensure increased visibility for GSG in the next months and years – something that we have not focused on in the past with the company growing mainly through mergers and acquisitions in the last years.” – Maria Wurzer

What Makes a Career Journey at GSG Exciting?

“We still have plenty of ‘greenfield’ areas within GSG where you might have an opportunity to create things from scratch or re-design and evolve the existing processes or bigger areas. If you are after seeing higher impact from your work, you would be right here! The opportunities for professional growth are robust in our dynamic, fast-moving environment. GSG provides a platform for innovation, out-of-the-box thinking, and career growth, offering an exciting journey for professionals.” – Maria Wurzer

What Kind of Candidates Does The Hiring Team Look For?

“We value accountability, autonomy and diversity and seek results-oriented, creative, and pragmatic individuals. Understanding, believing in, and being passionate about our mission is a must.

Diversity, a getting-things-done attitude, and alignment with GSG’s mission are the key traits that we seek in our future colleagues.” – Jose Delgado

What is the Hiring Process Like at GSG?

“Our hiring process focuses on the candidates’ experiences and vision. Our assessments evaluate the thinking process rather than the final result.The hiring process at GSG is designed to be transparent, engaging, and fair, providing every candidate with an opportunity to showcase their potential.” – Jose Delgado

What Learning and Development Opportunities Does P&C Offer?

“We have recently launched an internal hiring framework for employees to explore career opportunities within the company not only in their teams but across the board. We are also developing more shaped learning programs to support employee growth and company needs. There will be many more launches for learning and development specifically in the next months in the form of online and E-learning training, workshops etc.” – Maria Wurzer

What Future Projects are on the Horizon at GSG?

“We’re looking forward to more robust learning & development and leadership programs, and clearer career paths. Efficiency and automation of processes as well as effective application of AI are also on our radar. Additionally, we are now in the process of merging with Pepper.com – The World’s Largest Deal Community, another great company to learn from, and are defining together our Company Values, Operating Model and Culture we want to continue building.” – Maria Wurzer & Jose Delgado

How Does GSG Recognise and Reward Hard Work?

“We have a performance-based culture with top performers who are recognized in their compensation reviews. Recognition also occurs at the company/department/team level. We acknowledge and reward hard work and dedication through various recognition mechanisms, including Kudos comms via company wide Slack channels, gift vouchers, team celebrations etc.” – Maria Wurzer

How Does Talent Acquisition Fit into GSG’s People and Culture Objectives?

“Talent Acquisition is a key component of our comprehensive Talent strategy, as it is instrumental in attracting skilled professionals for the continuous success of the company. The Talent Acquisition team at GSG plays a pivotal role in attracting and hiring talent that aligns with the company’s culture and values.” – Maria Wurzer & Jose Delgado

Keen on exploring opportunities at GSG? Check out the current job openings and apply now for a rewarding career journey!