MUNICH

Before Ruth joined Apple Munich, she had no idea that so many people were working there. “It wasn’t until I actually started at Apple that I discovered how many different teams we had and how our teams had expanded, especially for my specific area of work. This was such a welcome surprise.”

From the beginning, Ruth knew how important her team’s work was for Apple — and for hundreds of millions of customers. “Within silicon chip development, our team’s focus is on improving iPhone battery life. We help people stream their favorite shows, play their favorite games, and have longer conversations with friends and family. It’s satisfying to know that our work has such a real-world effect.”

She attributes their achievements to the ability of everyone — her Munich team and their counterparts in other Apple locations — to focus on the best outcome, regardless of where an idea comes from. “We share solutions with Cupertino. They share solutions with us. It’s a cooperative mindset, because we know that it takes all of us to deliver the best iPhone experience ever.”

As much as she loves the work she’s doing, Ruth is happy to talk up Munich itself. “You can immerse yourself in city life, with all the entertainment, culture, and sports you’d expect, yet also experience all kinds of nature in the very same day. The Bavarian Alps are close enough that sometimes I take half a day to go skiing, then work in the afternoon.”

Although Ruth’s Apple network was small when she first arrived, she’s formed connections with colleagues on campus, in Cupertino and at other locations. “I feel grateful to work with people who take technical challenges so seriously. There’s so much energy behind the work we’re doing here — and not only the battery power.”

Mike first fell in love with Germany’s culture while living there after grad school. Later, in his role for Apple in Cupertino, he travelled there often and it still had a hold on him. That’s why he didn’t hesitate when offered the chance to relocate to Apple Munich and lead a new Hardware Engineering team.

The team helps great product features become great customer experiences. “Simply put, we build the tech that calibrates the tech.” As an engineer, he can get more specific: “We create precision instrumentation and optical metrology solutions to calibrate devices. That gives customers an experience that’s as reliable as it is wonderful, whether they’re watching a movie on their iPad, working out with Apple Watch or using FaceTime on their iPhone.”

As Apple Munich continues to expand, Mike has seen it become more diverse in both its range of roles and its people. “Apple Munich is international, with people here from over 50 countries. We’ve lived different experiences and we’re proud of our different identities, yet we all belong here because, well, just look at what we create together.”

Mike has been inspired by the growth of Apple’s Diversity Network Associations (DNAs), employee-driven groups who offer networking opportunities, career guidance and cultural celebrations. “As a member of the Pride@Apple and Black@Apple DNAs, I’ve experienced another level of belonging — community within our Apple community. I think what DNAs do for us here is kind of magical.”

Mike’s expertise brought him to Apple, and the inclusive culture is one of the reasons he’s here years later. “That’s how we do it at Apple. We’re making products people love to use, and I think we do that by making it a place where people love to work.”

Camila has always approached new challenges with determination, whether joining Peru’s national under-20 soccer team when she was 17 or pursuing her engineering degree in Germany. So when she joined Apple Munich as a radio frequency systems engineer, she was ready to overcome any obstacle in her path.

“Back in university, my sister and I were used to being among the few women in our engineering classes. But after we both joined Apple, we saw more and more women in this field and in leadership roles too. So I’ve seen great examples of how women here lead. With their technical expertise, yes, but especially with their people skills, knowing how to truly motivate teams. That’s been pretty inspiring, because it’s kind of like recognising yourself in a mirror — it’s made it easier to imagine myself growing into a senior leadership role here.”

For Camila, imagining the career ahead is just the first step in planning for it. With that in mind, she’s also been expanding her network at Apple. “My manager has been playing such an important role — always introducing me to people, and helping me make connections here in Germany and in the United States as well.”

Human connections are important in anyone’s career and especially for Camila’s: in addition to developing her professional network, she’s developing Apple technology for the 5G network, helping millions of iPhone customers connect with each other. “Those human conversations are what’s driving me. We create better and better cellular technology, but the reason we do it is to bring people together.”


When Greg started at Apple, he was managing various partner relationships for the silicon engineering group in Cupertino. “It was a really good experience, gaining deep knowledge in that part of our business. Then Apple began expanding the European Silicon Design Centre in Munich, the city where I did my master’s, so building a team here felt like an amazing opportunity.”

“At first, the new team consisted of two people — including me — but we soon began attracting engineering talent from all over Europe. Now we have over 100 people on that team and more than 2,000 engineers in total in Munich.” As Greg manages the expansion strategy, he’s also returned to his craft. “I’ve kind of gone back to my roots. It’s rewarding to be more hands-on with the silicon. Every chip is 100 percent Apple, so we have more control and more freedom to innovate. That’s super motivating.” Now, with the expanding state-of-the-art research facilities, he’s sure there are more opportunities than ever for everyone.

“We have a culture of innovation, and new ideas can come from the bottom up or any other direction, because expertise is respected and expected. We think of ourselves as experts leading experts. New engineers are often surprised that managers at every level here have such deep expertise in the tech itself, with many years of experience in the field. It really raises the bar. It makes us better engineers. And when your manager and even your manager’s manager really understand your area of work, they know the challenges. They recognize your effort and they share their ideas. It really feels like you’re in it together.”

Greg and his family are in it together, too. “At first, when we all moved to Munich, my young kids didn’t know what to expect, but they’ve loved it ever since. It’s a great experience. And a wonderful place to grow.”