In Conversation with Lucas Brinkmann, Managing Director, DACH

(Header image captured by Raimar von Wienskowsky)

Earlier this year, we were thrilled to welcome Lucas Brinkmann to Pinterest as our new Managing Director, DACH. We sat down with Lucas to learn what drew him to Pinterest, what his interview experience was like, and what makes the DACH market and team so special.

The DACH region is one of Pinterest's key European markets. What intrigued you about the opportunity to join the team, and what excites you most about leading at this moment in time?

Pinterest is still a relatively young brand with so much opportunity. I love dynamics, growth and developing high-performance teams. I also have a lot of fun at work. Being in a dynamic environment where I could have fun felt super motivating to me. 

There’s also an investment in personal development that is supported by managers and our education systems. We’re a smaller company which means individual responsibility is higher and you can make a larger impact. As a member of the team, you have the opportunity to work with global brands that people love. 

With all of the positivity the company is reflecting to consumers as well as our business markets, Pinterest is the perfect place to be, and I thought it was the right time to join. 

How was your interview experience? 

When you apply to a company, your first look and view at the organization is critical. From my personal experience, Pinterest’s first look and feel for me was greater than great. That’s primarily because of the people involved. From the interviews, follow ups, and congratulations messages, every single contact was personalized and proved that Pinterest is a really cool company that I would love to work for. I stated that I like to have fun at work, and I genuinely had fun in my interviews. Each one was enjoyable and that made Pinterest very unique. 

Photo captured by Markus Mielek

How has the DACH market's relationship with Pinterest evolved, and where do you see the biggest untapped potential?

For me, the DACH market is special; I’ve worked in this region for more than 25 years. I have a very clear opinion: DACH is a powerhouse. It’s in the center of Europe with lots of economies, many different industries and fantastic brands that originated in the region. 

In my point of view, DACH is an investment case for Pinterest and there’s further potential to grow. With the number of clients, the specialisms, and DACH being a strong brand, there’s huge untapped potential. We’re excited to hire more people and continue working cross-functionally with our global teams.

What has surprised you most since joining Pinterest?

The short answer is the people and the positivity. There’s a lot of incredible individuals with fantastic personalities and strong backgrounds from different industries and companies. There’s a willingness to grow as a company and as a person as well. There’s so much openness to ask for feedback around growth and development. That makes working here very vibrant, and it’s something I haven’t experienced in that way before.

What commonalities and skills are important as a member of the team at Pinterest?

• Openness
• A commercial mindset with authenticity
• Analytical acumen and strong market knowledge
• Exceptional expertise
• Embracing AI 

If you could give one piece of advice to a candidate considering a role on the DACH team, what would it be?

It’s less advice and more of a promise. If you embrace speed and dynamics, this is what you get: an inspiring career at Pinterest. 

How are you currently using Pinterest to find inspiration? 

I save a lot of content around sailing, sailboats, and cars. I also recently explored a kitchen project which was really interesting. I wasn’t searching for a kitchen brand, but I knew I wanted to change our kitchen so I came to the platform with intent. Our taste graph immediately understood what I was looking for. I didn’t get Pins with red or purple kitchens, it showed me the classic color palettes that match my style. In terms of design, I wanted a kitchen with a hidden storage room and with that in mind, I found such great inspiration on Pinterest.