Lina: Forever 001
There from day one: Lina Noah's 15-year journey at elio has been marked by commitment, change, and genuine passion. As Executive Assistant to the CEO & HR, she is not only the organizational backbone, but also an emotional constant—and a role model for new colleagues and customers alike. by Alicia Weigel
“If I could turn back time, I wouldn't do anything differently,” says Lina Noah, looking back with a proud smile on her 15 years at elio. As Executive Assistant to the CEO & HR, she is now one of the most important pillars of the company – and was also its very first employee. In the HR system, she still bears the number 001, a symbol of the fact that she has been at the heart of the company from the very beginning and remains the heart of elio to this day.
Lina has known founder Sascha Vorderstemann since her school days and began her career at elio immediately after completing her commercial training in 2010 – at that time as an assistant to the management. “When Sascha founded the GmbH, he said to me, ‘You're not working anywhere else but here.’” The transition from a two-man company to a GmbH was already noticeable and exciting back then. “I remember exactly how the two of us sat in the small office back then. Today, we have over 150 colleagues.” You can tell how proud that still makes her today.
Many roles in one person
From the very beginning, Lina took on many tasks—from accounting to telephone service, always stepping in wherever help was needed. “We were so small that we really did everything that needed to be done. That was sometimes exhausting, but also incredibly valuable.” As the first new colleagues joined, the structure grew. "In 2012, there were already six of us in Giessen, then we moved to Pohlheim. Sascha was often on the road, so I took on a lot of responsibility and learned a lot in the process."
In addition to her assistant duties, Lina also got to know other areas of the company and helped build them up. Among other things, she worked in marketing, where she discovered her love for event management, and also worked in project management. What was always important in this? Acquiring technical skills, for example in special design programs, and getting to know development processes in order to understand how everything fits together. “Only when you understand the technology can you explain to customers how their solutions will be implemented.” With a great deal of freedom and responsibility, she also supervised projects such as an animal accessories shop. This was her personal favorite project because she loves animals and looked after the shop almost as if it were her own.
Diversity instead of monotony
Back to the present: Your everyday life as Executive to the CEO & HR is anything but monotonous: “No two days are the same. In the morning, I plan my tasks, but as soon as I arrive at the office, there's someone at the door who needs assistance. Then there are meetings, and suddenly priorities change.” It is this diversity and dynamism that makes elio so appealing to her and motivates her every day.
What is particularly close to Lina's heart are the values that have been lived at elio from the very beginning: honesty and open communication. “The best way to get ahead is to talk to each other honestly. Misunderstandings can always be cleared up – problems only arise when you don't talk.” Sascha has exemplified this attitude from the very beginning.
For Lina, elio has long been more than just a job. “It's a home, a second family that I helped build. When I look back, I see how much time and heart and soul I've invested – that touches me deeply.” Anyone who knows Lina knows that she is tough, direct, and warm-hearted – someone who likes to get things done and always has an open ear for her colleagues.
elio's “mum”
You could therefore affectionately describe Lina as Elio's “mum.” At first glance, this sounds like caring – and that's exactly what it is. But there's more to it than that: Lina is the one who holds everything together, who listens, supports, and acts as a sparring partner for everyone. She knows the team's concerns, big and small, knows when frank words are needed, and isn't afraid to address problems head-on. Her fairness and directness are just as appreciated as her warmth.
Anyone who talks to Lina immediately senses that she lives for her job and for the people at elio. Without her, many things would not run so smoothly – she is the all-round genius who holds everything together in the background.
Personal moments and special experiences
The biggest moment in Lina's time at elio was not a major contract signing or milestone, but a very personal one: on her tenth anniversary, Sascha surprised her with a gift at the Christmas party – and actually managed to keep it a secret from her, which is otherwise almost impossible. Lina also remembers the go-live of a complex shop update: “We were all in the office late into the night, working together on the challenge and supporting each other.” Experiences like these bring people together and show how much Lina values team spirit.
As HR manager, Lina gives every new colleague the following advice: “Communication and honesty are essential. Especially when working remotely, it's better to pick up the phone than to let misunderstandings arise. And loyalty is the foundation on which we build here.” Her openness and commitment make her a key contact person for everyone – whether in the office or working remotely.
Looking to the future
For the future, Lina hopes that elio will continue to grow and develop over time—but above all, that the cohesion and values that define the company will always remain alive. For Lina, elio is not just a workplace, but a place where people are there for each other—and that is largely thanks to her.
