Germany
When teammates become friends
Stevan and Martin both work at BASF in Ludwigshafen – but in very different fields. Martin moved to Ludwigshafen to undertake an apprenticeship as a lab technician, and now works in Analytics. Stevan grew up almost next door to the site in Ludwigshafen and works in Digitalization at Industrial IoT. But they did not meet in the lab or the office – they met while gaming.
Connected through gaming
“The #basfgaming initiative asked whether anyone wanted to join a BASF team,” remembers Stevan, looking back at how it all began.
Today the team is made up of multiple colleagues – and a friendship that has grown from it.
On the same wavelength – in gaming and at work
Right from the very first games, it was clear:
The two got on well. “We have a similar sense of humor, find the same things funny and get annoyed about the same things,” says Martin.
Gaming offers more than just fun.
Many of the skills learned in gaming are also useful at work. “Communication, teamwork and dealing with errors – all soft skills that are just as important in gaming as they are at work,” both say emphatically.
“If it hadn’t been for the #basfgaming initiative, we probably never would have met.”
More than just a shared hobby
Now, the team also meets up in real life, attending Gamescom together or meeting up before events. Stefan and Martin also see each other regularly for a meal or to game together.
For them, one thing is certain:“If it hadn’t been for the #basfgaming initiative, we probably never would have met,” says Stevan. “And I’m sure we wouldn’t be such close friends now.”
From gaming teammates to friends
For both, their story shows that BASF can give rise to more than just collaboration. “We spend most of the day at work,” says Stevan. That makes it all the better when real friendships are formed. “The fact that we work in the same company creates an additional connection,” says Martin.
Gaming together, connected at work
Initiatives like #basfgaming bring people from different divisions together. Stevan and Martin show how a shared passion can turn into a connection that goes far beyond the workplace.
In the full interview, Stevan and Martin tell us how they got to know one another through gaming and what makes teamwork so important not just in gaming, but in the workplace.
Want to know more?
Find out more about the #basfgaming initiative and career opportunities at BASF.
