Who is Helga Ellul?
I’m the former CEO of Playmobil Malta for over 40 years, a mother of two and a grandmother of five.
What is your greatest achievement?
Managing to have a professional career but also managing to have a family.
How did you manage to find a work-life balance?
I used to be very disciplined. During the week, it was work trying always to be home in the evening but during the weekends it was family time. Still till today, my phone is off on a Friday and back on Monday morning.
What leadership skills do you find most useful?
Leadership is based on human values. You need to seek the right talent with the right attitude, motivate them to create empowerment but you also need to be business minded and knowing where you want to go. Ultimately the people element is a very important one.
How do you make sure that projects are delivered on time?
You must have a proper project plan with timeframes and knowing exactly what you want to achieve. That’s where discipline comes in and where everybody in the team uses time properly.
How did you adapt to the Maltese culture?
I had to adapt. I”m German by birth. It’s a different culture and you must try and get the best of this Maltese culture. The Mediterranean culture is a bit more emotional. Whilst in Germany we would criticise, factually, and it’s not taken personally, in Malta it’s different because emotions come over. But I find this positive too – you can motivate people.
What is a leadership challenge that you overcame?
When I came to Malta, I was coming more to do the administration and then in 1982 I became the CEo of Playmobil Malta. At first it wasn’t easy for me, since the task was also of a technical nature, but you learn to listen to your expert, find the right ones and then lead them together.
Another challenge was when I became the President of the Malta Chamber of Commerce, which required me to focus on the national economy, but it was a nice challenge that I enjoyed.
What was your biggest challenge?
My greatest challenge was when I was constructing the Suncrest Hotel in Qawra, Malta. Way back in 1986, it was by far the largest private investment and the largest hotel on the island. My target was to finish it off within a one year, but I encountered huge challenges from the local authorities. At that time, I had no idea how to manage government bureaucracy. I was always on site, putting in more than 16 hours of work daily, but through sheer determination and perseverance, I manager, yet it wasn’t easy. That was, by far, the biggest challenge I encountered.
What makes Playmobil a success story?
We had a beautiful product which you could easily adapt and the whole philosophy behind it which was encouraging youngsters to use their own imagination – it was educational rather than just a product for children to play with.
Children recognised that and love it for that. We created an image of a learning company, and we go the best talent. I listened a lot to my people and walked the talk. Every morning, I walked the shop floor, and was the last one out in the evening.
It’s amazing how much talent you ahve in your workforce if you let it come out.
How would you handle conflict between employees?
You must be fair and correct and hear both sides and find out what was the underlying issue of the conflict. If you can clarify these underlying issues, you can then find a solution. You must also tell people to learn how to compromise – as we can’t have it always our way.
But then sometimes you do have difficult employees who do not fit in, and it would be est for those employees, and the organisation, that they move on.
A word of advice to who is about to embark on a managerial career
Listen to your people. Choose the right people who have the right attitude.
In leadership you must be consistent, fair, open and explain your decisions.
How would you like to be remembered?
Hopefully remembered by my children for bring them up the right way and that I helped people to find their own potential.
