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Why Relationship-Building Is Your Real Competitive Advantage
In a world obsessed with automation, metrics and efficiency, one thing still creates the biggest opportunities: Real #relationships . Whether you’re winning customers, entering new markets, leading teams or building strategic partnerships - relationships consistently outperform algorithms, ads and cold outreach. Here’s why: 🤝 1. #Trust moves faster than any sales cycle. People buy from people they trust. A strong relationship can shorten decisions from months to days. 🤝

Monika Jakubczyk
Nov 19, 20251 min read


🚫 The Cost of Invisibility: Why Great Technology Doesn’t Speak for Itself
In the world of #technology and #mobility , many companies still believe: “If the product is good, the market will notice.” But that rarely happens. Technology doesn’t win because it’s superior — it wins because it’s understood. What I see again and again in 20+ years of communications: Companies invest millions into development, but only a fraction into #positioning and #visibility . And then they wonder why competitors with weaker solutions are louder, more present —

Monika Jakubczyk
Nov 17, 20251 min read


🌎 Work–Life Balance Across Cultures
#WorkLifeBalance looks completely different depending on which side of the Atlantic you stand. In #Germany , it’s almost a philosophy: clear boundaries, real downtime, weekends that are truly sacred. In the #USA , life moves faster — energy, opportunity, momentum. Work and life blend, shift, stretch… and sometimes collide. Living and working between both cultures has taught me that #balance isn’t a fixed state — it’s a practice. Some weeks I lean into German structure. Othe

Monika Jakubczyk
Nov 14, 20251 min read


🤝Teamwork Across Borders: USA x Germany
Working between the #USA and #Germany has taught me that great #teamwork isn’t about everyone thinking the same way — it’s about balancing differences that complement each other. In the USA, teamwork thrives on energy, openness and initiative. People jump in quickly, brainstorm freely and value enthusiasm and optimism. “Let’s try it” often comes before “Let’s analyze it.” In Germany, teamwork shines through structure, depth and precision. Meetings are well-prepared, decisi

Monika Jakubczyk
Nov 13, 20251 min read


🚀 Building Brand Awareness in the USA — It’s More Than Just Publications
Raising a brand’s profile in a competitive market like the #USA isn’t just about landing articles — publications are only the tip of the iceberg. True #visibility comes from a carefully orchestrated mix of marketing and communications that build #credibility and tell a compelling story. Before the headlines appear, there’s a lot of groundwork: • #StrategicPlanning : Understanding the market, defining your narrative and identifying the right audiences. • #MediaEngage

Monika Jakubczyk
Nov 12, 20251 min read


The automotive industry speaks a global language — but the accents couldn’t be more different
In #Germany , #automotive is still synonymous with engineering excellence, precision and tradition. It’s about #heritage and #perfection . Cars are cultural icons — a reflection of quality and identity. In the #USA , automotive is about #freedom , #progress and #reinvention . It’s a symbol of movement — personal, social and technological. The industry celebrates boldness and innovation more than legacy. Both perspectives are powerful — and both matter. The future of mobili

Monika Jakubczyk
Nov 11, 20251 min read


Starting Over Again — and Why I Never Stopped Believing in Connection
When I founded #PilonPR , it wasn’t just about starting a business — it was about continuing a journey. A journey that began in Germany and found its purpose in #Detroit — at the crossroads of automotive, technology and innovation. After more than 20 years in international #communications , working across #Germany and #NorthAmerica , I saw the same pattern again and again: Great companies with great technology — but struggling to tell their story across cultures. That’s why

Monika Jakubczyk
Nov 11, 20252 min read


💬 What Sustainability Really Means in Automotive
I used to think #sustainability was only about CO₂, batteries and materials — about the next regulation, the next certification. But after working with so many passionate teams in the #automotive and tech world — engineers, designers, marketers, communicators — I’ve learned it’s also about #people . How we build, lead and communicate. Because sustainability isn’t only in the products we create — it’s in the culture we create around them. It’s in the way a company treats

Monika Jakubczyk
Nov 5, 20251 min read


🔉 The Most Impactful Brands Don’t Shout — They Speak with Meaning
Every day, we see companies trying to be heard: louder campaigns, flashier slogans, bigger promises. But noise isn’t the same as #impact and #visibility alone doesn’t create #trust . The #brands that truly make a difference are the ones that communicate with intention — that pause before they speak, that listen before they answer, that focus not just on what they sell, but on what they stand for. Especially in the #automotive and #mobility world, where innovation

Monika Jakubczyk
Oct 29, 20251 min read


Redefining Success in the Automotive World 🚗
For decades, #success in the #automotiveindustry was measured in numbers — #horsepower , #productionvolume , #efficiency . We celebrated speed, precision and power. Today, success looks different. It’s no longer just about how fast we move, but about how meaningfully we #connect — with customers, technology and society. 💡 #Innovation that’s human: #Technology that solves real problems and builds #trust . 🌿 #Progress that’s #sustainable : #Responsibility i

Monika Jakubczyk
Oct 28, 20251 min read


Turning Technology into Trust 🤝
One of my favorite parts of working in #marketingcommunications is helping #innovators tell their #story — not just through # features , but through # feelings. Recently, I spoke with a passionate team developing a smart Bluetooth solution for the #automotiveworld — technology built to solve a surprisingly simple, but universal pain: lost keys, lost time, lost trust. It’s a perfect reminder that #innovation doesn’t always start with something flashy. Sometimes, it begins with

Monika Jakubczyk
Oct 27, 20251 min read


💛 #Women in #Automotive — The Long Road and the View Ahead
When I first entered the #automotiveindustry , I didn’t see many women around me. In meetings, at tradeshows, in boardrooms — the faces were mostly male. At times, it felt lonely. You learn to navigate the dynamics, to find your place and to speak up — even when you’re the only different voice in the room. But along the way, I met incredible people — mentors, colleagues, leaders — women and men — who believed in #inclusion , #collaboration and new #perspectives . Becaus

Monika Jakubczyk
Oct 24, 20251 min read


Made in Germany — Growing in the U.S.
When I first moved from Germany to Detroit, I expected to find a different business culture — but I didn’t realize how different it would feel. In #Germany , #communication often starts with facts, structure and precision. We plan carefully, document thoroughly and build trust through consistency and performance. Every statement is backed by data. Every promise, delivered with care. In the #US , the rhythm is completely different. People lead with energy and possibility.

Monika Jakubczyk
Oct 23, 20251 min read


🔋Mobility Marketing 3.0: Communicating the Future of Transportation
The #mobility world is changing faster than ever. We’ve moved from hardware to #software , from products to #platforms and from engineering to #experience . #Cars today are no longer just machines — they’re connected #ecosystems on wheels. Yet many #brands still communicate as if horsepower were the only story to tell. 💡 #MobilityMarketing 3.0 is about redefining how we tell innovation stories: From product to #platform — highlight ecosystems, not just compone

Monika Jakubczyk
Oct 21, 20251 min read


Growing Up Between Two Worlds — and Two Languages 💬
At home, our two little ones (2️⃣ & 4️⃣) switch effortlessly between #German and #English — sometimes in the same sentence. 💡To them, it’s natural. To me, it’s a daily reminder of what true #communication across #cultures looks like: They don’t translate — they #connect . They don’t overthink tone — they #adapt . And somehow, both sides of their world make perfect sense together. 🌍 That same ability to bridge worlds is something I also value deeply in my professi

Monika Jakubczyk
Oct 16, 20251 min read


🌍 Expanding Across Borders: Is #MarketingCommunications — Nice-to-Have or Non-Negotiable?
For many #transatlantic businesses, #marketing & #PR are often treated as afterthoughts — something to “add later” once operations are running smoothly. 📣 But here’s the truth: Entering a new market without a clear marketing communications strategy is like showing up to a meeting without introducing yourself. If your #audience doesn’t understand who you are, why you’re here and what sets you apart — you’re #invisible . I’ve seen it firsthand: German businesses exp

Monika Jakubczyk
Oct 16, 20251 min read


🌎 Cultural Pitfalls That Can Make or Break a German Brand in the U.S.
When #German companies enter the #US market, the biggest challenge often isn’t product quality — it’s #communicationculture . German #brands are admired for precision, reliability and engineering excellence. In the US, business success often depends on connection, confidence and #storytelling . Here are a few cultural pitfalls that can make or break your US market entry: 1️⃣ Logic over Emotion: German marketing: “Here’s how it works.” US marketing: “Here’s why it mat

Monika Jakubczyk
Oct 15, 20251 min read


🚗 The Power of Automotive Suppliers – Lessons from Inside the Industry
When people think about the #automotiveindustry , they usually picture the big names — the #OEMs with their badges, commercials and global brands. But after spending two decades in this industry, one thing has always been clear to me: 👉 The real #innovation often happens behind the scenes — in the supplier network. #Suppliers are the quiet force behind mobility. They invent, design, test and produce the technologies that make #vehicles safer, smarter and more sustain

Monika Jakubczyk
Oct 15, 20252 min read


✨ Building Dreams, Taking Risks and Embracing Change
Life rarely unfolds in straight lines. For me, the journey from #Germany to the #US was full of twists, challenges and unexpected blessings. 🌎 I was transferred from #Kiekert Germany to the #US to build a marketing and communications unit. It was a thrilling opportunity — but also a step into the unknown. New culture, new responsibilities and a lot of pressure to deliver. Every day was a lesson in #resilience , #adaptability and #leadership . Then my personal life

Monika Jakubczyk
Oct 14, 20252 min read


⚡ Reflections from The Battery Show — Trends Shaping Transatlantic Innovation
Every year, #TheBattery Show in #Novi , Michigan feels like more than just a trade fair — it’s a snapshot of where the #future of #mobility is heading. This year, one message was clear: 🚀 #Innovation knows no borders — #collaboration makes it powerful. Here are a few #trends that stood out to me: 🔋 1. Europe meets America in #electrification . #German and European #suppliers are bringing precision engineering, while #US players are driving speed and scal

Monika Jakubczyk
Oct 14, 20251 min read
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