Volo Summit 2025: A career without a template
A day full of exchange, honesty and the realisation that there is no one path into the communications industry - but many good ones, characterised by detours, coincidences, courage and the will to find your own place.
This year, Deutsche Telekom had the honour of hosting this year's Volo Summit of the Young Minds 4 Comms (YM4C) network. And yes - it really did feel like a summit. Because our day was not just an informal get-together, but an exchange between volunteers from different companies who all share a passion for communication. In other words, just like a ‘real’ summit - only with croissants instead of crisis diplomacy.
Career paths as individual as we are
What initially sounded like a classic career event with career advice and CV tips was in fact the complete opposite. As soon as we got to know the other volunteers (admittedly, we girls were clearly in the majority), it became clear that communication careers today are rarely straightforward. And they don't have to be. So: a career without a template - this was the unspoken thought that ran through all our conversations and impulses of the day. While some jumped straight into a traineeship after graduating, others deliberately chose a ‘diversion’: first an agency, then a master's degree, a year abroad or one more internship in order to find their feet.
Volo is not just Volo
But how did we actually spend our summit? At the official kick-off, it quickly became clear that this wasn't about PowerPoint battles, but about encounters at eye level. Moderated by Deutsche Telekom volunteer Jana, an atmosphere was created in which everyone was able to contribute directly - regardless of their previous path or concrete plans for the future. While some were already on the home stretch of their Volo, others had only been with the company for a few days.
However, we all benefited equally from each other. The short presentations by our Volo colleagues from Siemens, Beiersdorf and OTTO made it clear that not all Volos are the same. What did I learn from the first block? We all shape communication, and that's what connects us. But we differ in perspective and pace. Some Volos' day-to-day work revolves around brands, e-commerce or consumers, while we telcos focus on topics such as digitalisation or network expansion. Our values at Telekom created a sense of belonging that went far beyond our own team. We created an environment in which different perspectives were welcome. This is exactly what brings us closer to our goal: to be the best team. And our guests at the Volo Summit also felt this spirit.
The courage to communicate - first-hand insights
However, it wasn't just us Volos who had our say, but also real professionals: Head of Communications Philipp Schindera welcomed the junior staff. Stephanie Tönjes and Karim Cheranti showed how social media works at Telekom and where there is room for creative freedom. They talked about our in-house expertise, agile collaboration and, above all, how important courage is in digital communication: courageous ideas, courageous content and courageous decisions. And if a piece of content flops, it's a lesson for the future. Stephanie Tönjes put it in a nutshell: ‘Don't just build a network, use it.’ A statement that fitted the day well. After all, careers are not built in a quiet room, but through dialogue.
AI in communication - a tool, not a replacement
Another presentation by Alexander Derno, also from Corporate Communications at Deutsche Telekom, was dedicated to the question: ‘Comms & AI - a curse or a blessing?’ The discussion focussed on the opportunities that AI offers us today to enrich our work, simplify processes and generate content. But it cannot (yet) feel, guide and scrutinise, so three important findings remain: AI is here to stay. We need to embrace it and learn to work with it wisely. And: anyone who communicates needs more than data, so empathy, attitude and context remain irreplaceable.
Perspectives instead of patent remedies
In the afternoon, we came together in small groups to openly discuss our fears, questions and approaches. What if my plan doesn't work out? How do I know what's right? There were many answers to these questions, but they were all different. Because just as differently as each and every one of us came to the Volo, just as differently does each and every one of us imagine the path afterwards.
But if you keep an open mind and ask questions, you will find one thing above all else in addition to clarity: perspectives. And that's what Thomas Lüdeke from PRCC Personalberatung and Johannes Maisack, who started out as a trainee at Deutsche Telekom and is now a manager, showed us at the end. In the coffee talk, the two spoke about career decision-making paths and the realisation that a career is not a sprint or a master plan. Rather, a career is the sum of many decisions and is never linear. And that's a good thing, because every diversions, no matter how small or large, can ultimately be an upgrade - professionally, personally or personally. It's not the fastest route that counts, but the one that suits you. A career without a template.
Get more information about Corporate Communications Traineeship at Deutsche Telekom.
