125 Years of Stories: What Long-Standing Employees Say About Burda

Staying with one company for decades is not something to take for granted. That's what makes it special that this year we got to celebrate 125 colleagues for 10, 20, 25, 30, and 40 years of service.
We spoke with some of them about what connects them to the company and why they've stayed loyal to Burda for so many years.

More Than a Workplace

For many of the anniversary honorees, Burda is far more than just an employer.

Ute Geisenberger, an Order Manager at Burda for 40 years, describes the company as fair and reliable: "I've now worked here for practically most of my life. I've always really valued the overall package of family and career."

Barbara Beh started as an intern 30 years ago and is now Editor-in-Chief at Lisa Wohnen & Dekorieren. Her connection to Burda goes back to her youth: "My first point of contact with Burda was Burda Moden, which is how I got into sewing as a teenager."

Markus Hoeschen, Head of IT Infrastructure, has also been with the company for 25 years: "Burda is much more than just a magazine publisher. Burda is a family business that has managed to bring tradition and technology together while never losing sight of the people who work here."

Moments That Stay With You

Spending many years at a company means gathering not just experience, but memories too. Ute recalls an encounter with the publisher at an event in Munich. When she greeted him with the words "Best wishes from Fessenbach!", it turned into a longer conversation about her hometown.

Emanuel Rohr also has a special memory tied to his start at Burda – his first SchmuDo: "I came into the office and a colleague said: 'Emanuel, you don't need to work today.' I could already hear the Guggemusik and understood: okay, SchmuDo is a very special day."

Why People Stay

Exciting work, good collaboration, mutual appreciation, and opportunities for growth – these themes run through many of our conversations with this year's honorees.

Bernd Jebing, a System Engineer for 30 years, puts it simply: "My dear colleagues have become like a big family."

Their long-standing loyalty is also a sign of trust. People stay where they feel valued, have room to shape their work, and feel they can make a real impact.

We say thank you to all the anniversary honorees who have enriched Burda for so many years with their work, their personalities, and their loyalty.