A day with Jil (Unicorn Workspaces Sprinkenhof)

April 6, 2022

A little bit about Jil: Jil is the Regional Manager at Unicorn Sprinkenhof in Hamburg, the den mother of the users there and the MacGyver of the space. Whether she’s helping out in the team’s office, whipping up a terrific coffee or having a little chat at the counter, she’s always there and happy to lend an ear to all.

It’s 8 a.m. Are you already wide awake, or still in a deep sleep?

I’m definitely a night owl – when the alarm goes off at eight it sometimes pulls me out of the depths of the dream world. So definitely a night owl! My first steps after getting up lead me directly to my pour over coffee filter. There’s a good reason why the espresso machine in our space is called “Jesus -The Lifesaver”.

It’s 10 a.m. and you’re in the middle of a productive phase. What’s essential for you to be productive?

I’d be lost without the Reminders app on my iPhone. Besides that, I love all kinds of to-do lists – or better still, working through the tasks and checking them off the list. The best part comes at the end of the day: to have everything finished on the list and then triumphantly toss it into the wastepaper basket.

It’s 11 o’clock, your first meeting is about to start. In meetings: what’s important for you, what makes them successful?

A successful meeting is one that’s well prepared, with a defined topic and a clear framework, although sometimes a brief chat can be quicker and more effective. As a Unicorn satellite location situated in Hamburg, it’s always nice to see and hear from the Unicorn employees at other locations.

It’s 1 p.m. and your stomach is growling. What do you do? Have a muesli bar and go out for a jog? Are you rather a stay-in-at-the-office type, or do you need to get out and get some fresh air?

I’m addicted to carrots with tahini sauce, it’s the perfect snack! But I don’t take a real lunch break, that’s probably due to my being in the food service industry.

It’s 2 p.m. and a new company is moving into their space at Unicorn Sprinkenhof. What tips would you give the newcomers about the area?

A stone’s throw away we have the Elbe river and the Speicherstadt, Hamburg’s historical warehouse district – which for me, even after years of being here – is still wonderful to see. If the weather’s good, I’d recommend grabbing a snack from “Oren Ishii” to enjoy while sitting on the riverfront. Or for a more sophisticated flair: atop the Plaza of the Elbphilharmonie concert hall.

It’s 4 p.m. and you have a meeting with the press. They want to know more about you as a person. Has anyone in particular influenced you? Do you have a role model?

I am Club Unicorn’s Plant & Coffee Consultant. So if you have any questions about food and drink – just ask! My life lesson is: you can’t be faster than work. After many years of working in food service, catering and banquets, there’s nothing that can make me lose my cool quickly.

It’s 6 p.m., is the workday coming to an end or just getting started?

I love networking and making new contacts. And I’m happy to have friends or family over for a home cooked meal, because I enjoy taking care of my guests.

It’s 10 p.m. and you finally have time for yourself! Are you a series addict? A music lover, bookworm or binging podcast listener?

Oh, all of the above – especially for thrillers or documentaries! There’s nothing better than listening to a great podcast while you’re baking, cooking, or giving your plants a little TLC. So that’s why I have a recommendation for each category –
podcast: Cui Bono: WTF happened to Ken Jebsen
book: Unorthodox by Deborah Feldmann
series: Don’t f*** with cats