Regina Esslinger
Senior Director Human Resources (Co-leadership) @TOPTICA Photonics
Signup · Get unlimited contacts
WORK HISTORY
Senior Director Human Resources (Co-leadership) @TOPTICA Photonics
Scaling and transforming HR in a high-growth, technology-driven environment• Defined and executed the HR strategy during a high-growth phase, scaling the organisation from ~220 to 600+ employees globally and transforming HR into a modern, scalable and business-oriented function with clear governance and end-to-end processes.• Led HR digitalisation and system transformation, building a global best-of-breed HR IT architecture and successfully delivering payroll migration (DATEV → P&I LOGA), cloud transition (SaaS) and integration of companies entities.• Established HR controlling and analytics, including KPI frameworks, workforce and personnel cost planning, with full accountability for total personnel costs.• Designed and implemented leadership and people development initiatives, including a modular leadership training programme that promotes a shared understanding of leadership and supports long-term cooperation.• Led labour relations and restructuring measures, redesigning company-wide policies and supporting restructuring and short-time work initiatives, collaboration with new SE works council
EDUCATION
University of Konstanz
Diplom, Volkswirtschaftslehre
Trigon Entwicklungsberatung
Organisationsentwicklung (Master), systemische Organisationsentwicklung - Aufbaulehrgang
SKILLS
ABOUT REGINA ESSLINGER
Throughout my career, I have consistently initiated and shaped change — not because it was expected, but because I saw the opportunity to make organizations work better for people and for the business.I design and lead transformation in times of growth and change, combining strategic clarity with hands-on implementation. What characterizes my work is the ability to win people over for change — translating strategy into meaningful initiatives, building trust, and creating alignment across teams and leadership levels to achieve measurable, lasting outcomes.Alongside organizational development and cultural change, I bring solid experience in HR operations, services, governance, and scalable people processes. I work at the intersection of people, structure, and numbers, ensuring reliability, efficiency, and economic soundness even in dynamic environments — from HR transformation and digitalization to employer branding, recruiting, talent development and organizational design.Having worked in high-tech environments as a leader, consultant, and entrepreneur, I bring strong business acumen, financial awareness, and execution strength. I connect entrepreneurial thinking with structure, pragmatism, and sustainable implementation.Culture and values are central to my work. I believe in collaboration on eye level, purpose-driven leadership, and creating environments where people can contribute, grow, and take responsibility. For me, successful transformation is not only about systems and processes — it is about meaning, trust, and shared direction.I am driven by curiosity, innovation, and the conviction that organizations can be both high-performing and deeply human.
This profile is compiled from publicly available professional sources. Unifers is not affiliated with or endorsed by LinkedIn. Request removal of this profile.