Sabine Eberharter
For nearly three decades, Sabine Eberharter has been helping shape delfort's journey of innovation. What began in 1996 as a role in sales administration evolved into a career spanning international markets, strategic business development, and innovation management. Today, as Innovation Manager, Research & Development at wattenspapier, she works at the intersection of creativity, collaboration, and performance, helping turn ideas into solutions that create value for customers and new opportunities for delfort.
Join us as Sabine reflects on what experiences shaped her and why curiosity remains one of the most important drivers of innovation.
Name
Sabine Eberharter
Position
Innovation Manager, Research & Development
Location
wattenspapier
team delfort since
2006
one-day job swap
works council representative
Career highlight
North Carolina
Looking back, how did your career at wattenspapier begin?
In 1996, I had just one exam left to finish my studies when I spotted a job ad for a sales administration role requiring Spanish and English. I applied, went to the interview and got the job. Actually, this year, I celebrate 30 years with wattenspapier and I remember well when delfort was born 20 years ago.
When I started my job, customer orders arrived by fax or even by letter and sorting out the details and sending back the confirmation could take days. Work moved more slowly, leaving more time for personal contact. Instead of sending emails, we simply walked over to our colleagues’ offices to talk.
Over the years, technology and digitalization have picked up pace. But one thing has not changed: the importance of strong relationships and teamwork.
From sales to innovation: how has your career evolved?
I started as a sales assistant, then became a key account manager for North and South America. I also spent a year at our sales office in North Carolina. Back in Austria, I worked closely with senior management on market intelligence and sales budget coordination for the tobacco business.
In 2009, after my maternity leave, a new door opened. delfort launched an innovation management program and offered me the newly created role of innovation manager at wattenspapier.
Curiosity is a key driver of innovation. It’s the spark that makes us ask questions and look beyond what we know. We explore market and technology trends, customer challenges and business opportunities. One search for new markets led us to the tea bag segment, now an important part of wattenspapier’s business.
Being close to customers and gaining first-hand insight into their challenges strengthened my belief that innovation starts with listening. The better we understand our customers, the better we can create solutions that truly add value.
What’s your most memorable experience from your career
This is definitely my year in North Carolina where I worked for the company’s sales office that took care of the US tobacco customers. Before I left for the US, my colleagues threw me a farewell party that I still remember today. Moments like that make delfort more than a workplace.
Living and working abroad gave me the chance to get to know a different culture, meet new people and polish my English. I learned many new things and saw our business from a different perspective. I came back with a broader outlook and lots of experience, both personally and professionally.
What keeps you motivated after all these years?
There’s always a new idea to explore, a product to develop, a market to discover or someone new to work with. That keeps me curious and motivated.
I enjoy that variety of my job and working with colleagues across departments and delfort locations. We find the best ideas when we bring different views to the table and work through solutions together.
Besides my role in innovation, I am on the editorial team of the Wattens employee newspaper, and I am part of the core team of the Women4Paper network at Wattens. I enjoy these activities because they bring me into contact with colleagues I might not otherwise work with. I like sharing stories in our newspaper or bringing people together through the network.
When I reflect on my journey at delfort, one phrase comes to mind: Fun. Speed. Profit. What makes it special is that it isn't just a motto, it's something we truly live every day. And that's what continues to motivate me to give my best.
How has delfort helped you learn and grow in your career?
I’ve had the chance to learn a lot at delfort, through training, but also simply by taking on new tasks. Being trusted to try something new means a lot to me. Even after all these years there’s still room for me to learn and develop. I also appreciate working for a family-owned company that looks ahead and invests in its people. For me, it’s about feeling settled without standing still.
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