Partner manager at maxcluster

Find out in this interview what drives him - and why communication is the key to partnership for him.

Who are you and what makes you special?

I'm Jan, 36 years old and I live in Delbrück. Why Delbrück? I feel at home in the region and simply have everything I need here. I appreciate the people here, they are simply no-bullshit people. They suit me because I'm also pretty straightforward and up for any kind of fun. I just like being around people, have lots of friends and need people around me for maximum communication. I'm in various clubs, but I find it totally boring if I only meet like-minded people or even worse, narrow-minded people. I'm interested in people and am super curious about everyone and everything and like to inspire people to broaden their horizons.

To broaden my horizons and for the few things I can't find here in East Westphalia, I go traveling - mainly to Asia. I like the culture there, which is simply completely different from that in Europe. However, others wouldn't necessarily describe my travels as a vacation, because I like hassle and stress - if a room booking is canceled on the spot, I'm on top form 🙂. You'll never find me in a travel agency, I just find that too boring. Just like beach time. When it's on my wife's agenda, I prefer to go diving.

I have now also transferred my hobby to Germany and am currently expanding my existing diving licenses with a few special courses, such as navigation.

When I'm not underwater, I try to make my house as smart as possible. I don't rely on ready-made solutions, but try to find workarounds using simple means - often by repurposing things. For example, I have put together a complete (and complex) energy management system that checks electricity consumption and controls heat pumps and other consumers as required.

How did you come to maxcluster?

My uncle, who lived next door to us, has an IT background and I got my first computer when I was 13. Perhaps a bit unusual at that age, but I had no desire to play games at all. Instead, I built a website for my school class using PHP-Nuke and a web space (preferably free of charge). One of the next steps was a site for party photos and then I gradually set up websites for other companies, e.g. with Joomla, and of course had my first contact with hosting.

I basically had a small business, made good money as a student and was able to put my entrepreneurial genes to good use. In the end, however, I decided to take the traditional route of training after school: Secondary commercial school in the field of media informatics, the so-called “laptop class”. At the same time, I always worked at the checkout in a technology retail store, so I also learned how to sell.

After my apprenticeship, I was then headhunted by a large car dealership in the retail sector, where I mainly looked after major, commercial and fleet customers. It was quite exciting, but after a while I was more interested in advising end customers and went to a car dealership in Delbrück for ten years.

However, I was still doing IT on the side the whole time and when I no longer felt like working in cars, I specifically looked for a job in IT. I actually only wrote two applications - and after an interview at maxcluster, I started there straight away.

I started in technical consulting, but when they were looking for a partner manager to get agencies excited about the then new partner program, I was immediately convinced. Since then, my colleague Markus and I have been responsible for looking after our constantly growing partner base and convincing new agencies to join maxcluster.

What is special about your work?

The great creative freedom. Of course there is a basic strategy and we develop measures together as a team, but how I then implement these “talking points” is up to me. I can set the priorities as I see fit and am given the freedom I need to support our partners well.

Although as Partner Manager I am no longer actually part of Technical Consulting, I am not only physically connected to my colleagues. Every now and then I get to play fireman and provide assistance to our partners and then it's good to have all the technical information. When in doubt, I then get involved myself, which the partners also sometimes expect.

Apart from that, I keep in regular contact with the partners - by phone, e-mail and also at events. Thankfully, my good memory for faces and names helps me with the latter in particular, as it can sometimes be a challenge with so many agencies and contacts.

I have now built up very good relationships with the partners. We know what we have in each other, work together in the same direction and, above all, value our open communication.

My aim is to have this kind of relationship with all partners and I also see myself as an aggregator of information. From the information I receive in discussions (which of course remain confidential in detail), I then derive measures with my colleagues that are helpful for everyone. In this way, we can ensure that all agencies benefit from best practices and become more successful.

What has been the most exciting project so far?

Definitely the development of the partner program and the first partner day in 2023.

At the beginning, maxcluster didn't have a defined, systematic partner program. In just three months in 2022, we then launched a program that offers added value for all participants and goes beyond the mere distribution of commissions. The program will of course continue to include commissions, which are staggered according to level, but also many marketing assets that support the partners. Above all, however, we want to use our support to enable agencies to increase sales, but also to optimally support their customers, which was a real mindset shift for many.

And then, shortly after the program was established, my expectations were exceeded once again: the first Partner Day with over 40 agencies who came to our then new office in Paderborn. I saw many partners there live for the first time, which was simply fantastic. Above all, the Partner Day was (and is) not a sales event with the usual bullshit bingo, but aims to offer participants real added value in the form of presentations, workshops and networking opportunities.

Of course, both the program and the Partner Day continue to develop, so you can't really call it a project anymore. But for me, the early days were particularly exciting.

What does your perfect working day look like?

I've already said that I always need people around me - so working from home is really, really rare in my calendar. I like to come into the office in the morning and put my favorite sandwich, a sesame bagel with turkey, on my plate. Then I quickly head to the coffee machine, because I already have my daily meeting with my Partner Manager colleague Markus at 9 a.m. to bring us up to date.

I then open all the tickets that have been received to get an overview, prioritize them and work through them if there is a need for action. Then there are various appointments, both internal and external, with interested parties or partners that I have in my calendar. And I'm usually in contact with at least two to three partners on different channels.

But what really makes a day perfect is when I can solve a problem for someone, be it a colleague, customer or partner. And if I haven't done the same thing as the day before.

How does it feel to be part of the maxcluster team?

Very good. I particularly like the direct access to people. If you need to solve a problem, you can explain it quickly and get immediate support.

How satisfied are you with the technology and equipment?

What can I say? Linux is available, as it should be 😉. That's actually important for me, as I also use it at home and I've acquired a few Linux skills over the years.

Other than that, however, I have few requirements. Although, the three monitors I have really have to be.

And of course I also think the restaurant is great and use it for breakfast, especially in the morning.

What would you not want to do without?

The network of partners. I simply like the open and honest exchange, solving problems together and the opportunity to turn the discussions into productive measures and thus create added value for everyone.

And of course my colleagues from Technical Consulting. We are simply a good bunch 🙂.

Published on 27.03.2025 | Partner Manager at maxcluster | NM