{"id":27490,"date":"2025-05-28T14:16:00","date_gmt":"2025-05-28T12:16:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rewe-group.com\/en\/?p=27490"},"modified":"2026-03-03T16:35:48","modified_gmt":"2026-03-03T15:35:48","slug":"as-an-agile-team-coach-i-benefit-from-my-work-as-a-pastor","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rewe-group.com\/en\/press-and-media\/newsroom\/stories\/as-an-agile-team-coach-i-benefit-from-my-work-as-a-pastor\/","title":{"rendered":"“As an Agile Team Coach, I benefit from my work as a pastor”"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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From construction machinery to the cash register and from there to the works council? Or from the church service to the digital office? These unusual paths are no exception at REWE Group. Career changers from non-food-related professions such as pastor or mechanic bring freshness, dynamism and new perspectives to our corporate culture. With their expertise from different professional fields, they are a great asset. They also bring with them the necessary qualities for a change, such as openness, flexibility and a willingness to learn – important skills in a transforming world of work.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Story<\/p>\n

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30 May 2025<\/p>\n

“I was used to stress”<\/h2> <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n <\/button>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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The desire for a career change eventually led youth pastor Raul Hamburger to REWE digital, where he now works as an agile team coach, guiding colleagues through agile processes and supporting them in their work. He can use his experience from his church ministry here: social skills, empathy and “being good with people”.<\/p>\n

It was always clear to me that I wanted to work as a theologian. My dream was to look after believing athletes who were too prominent or too involved to get involved in their church. I first studied sport, then theology – and then realized how much I would have to travel for this job. I already had a family at that point. So I changed my mind and worked as a youth pastor for 15 years. I really enjoyed working with young people, helping them to develop their personality and find their way. But it was always clear to me that 40 was the end of the road. My daughter would have been 15 by then and I didn’t want to be my own children’s youth pastor. <\/q><\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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About:<\/h2>

\n Raul Hamburger <\/p>\n\n

Scrum Master at REWE digital<\/p>\n \n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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In the last years of my ministry, we had an agile training in the church with the aim of developing a new vision for our church. I happened to have the role of Scrum Master in the project and I quickly realized the connection between this task and my job as a pastor, even though I didn’t have an IT background. A Scrum Master is responsible for supporting and guiding a team in the application of agile methods – similar to the way I supported and guided the young people in the church. As I was about to embark on a career change, I took some time to think about the next steps. And one morning I woke up and said to my wife: <\/q>Darling, the most pastoral job I can imagine in the private sector is that of a Scrum Master.”<\/p>\n

I attended training courses, gained certificates, got to know lots of people and then applied for suitable jobs in my professional networks: “Good morning, I’m a pastor, I know agility from the church, I’m now taking the plunge into IT.” The first response came after 20 minutes.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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We<\/span>nn<\/span> I can support people in this, even one step in their development, then that makes me happy.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n <\/div>\n

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Raul Hamburger, Scrum Master at REWE digital<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

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Raul Hamburger, Scrum Master at REWE digital<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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I must have had a total of 30 conversations because people found me so exotic. Some said: We can’t offer you the job, but we would like to get to know you because we find your transition from pastor to Scrum Master so exciting.<\/q> I talked to them a lot about values in agility, such as trust, transparency, courage and empathy. My guiding principle in these interviews was: If I can support people in taking even just one step in their development, then that makes me happy. Then I have the confidence to become a Scrum Master, even if I still have a lot to learn about IT.<\/q><\/p>\n

At REWE digital, we don’t call ourselves Scrum Masters, but Agile Team Coaches. That perhaps explains my role better: I am someone who supports a team in agile processes and ensures the team’s ability to deliver. The processes, communication and relationships with each other have to be in harmony so that we can deliver an app or a feature on time. We Agile Team Coaches are there for this harmony. I am lubricating oil and asphalt in one. I am successful when I help the team to learn. This is perhaps where I can contribute my greatest asset: I’m good with people.<\/p>\n

I benefit from my years of church work. Another thing we have in common: REWE Group lives its values and visions and I can contribute my values here. Another bonding factor is that I can combine work and family life well here for the first time. Unlike when I was a pastor, I now have regular working hours. I have weekends, time for family, friends, hobbies and camping. That’s a big gain for me.conversely, my new employer gets my experience for free, so to speak.<\/p>\n

Career changers bring a lot of experience with them. Experience from a different professional field, experience from many years of life, whether communication skills, flexibility, motivation or passion for something.this valuable treasure trove of experience is my soft skills, which I have developed over the years. These soft skills are important. I can learn everything else.”<\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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