Meet Jil Schwarz, Senior Legal Counsel at Camunda

At Camunda, we are very intentional with how we build our culture, because we know our people and our culture are central to everything we do. It’s what makes us who we are and fuels our creativity and productivity. 

In this “Meet a Camundi” series, we’ll be introducing you to some of the people who help make Camunda an amazing place to work (and an amazing product to use). We hope that sharing these stories with you will help give you a sense of how we do things here and what it means to be a Camundi.

Questions

What is your name and your role at Camunda?

My name is Jil, and I am the senior privacy counsel at Camunda. My work focuses on privacy management, the coordination of data protection strategies, and ensuring adherence to export regulations, and trademark strategies. I’m currently branching out to handle some really interesting compliance topics, in particular how we deliver our ESG commitments.

What experiences have shaped your career and led you to where you are today?

I arrived at my legal career after taking a detour through studying international economics, all driven by burning questions I had as a student: how does the world work, and what drives it? A pivotal moment was when I was working at the German Embassy in Vienna, where a presentation on digitization and data captured my imagination and got me totally hooked on a career path toward this dynamic field of law.

How did you learn about Camunda, and what motivated you to join the team?

I was yearning for a more team-oriented role when I found Camunda. The opportunity seemed absolutely what I wanted: working in my chosen field, in Berlin, and joining what seemed (and has proved) to be an exciting and growing company. The prospect of engaging with cutting-edge issues from a legal standpoint made Camunda an irresistible opportunity for me.

What excites you the most about your work?

I thrive on translating complex legal jargon into practical, actionable advice for the teams I partner with. The ever-evolving nature of technology and regulation keeps me constantly engaged and excited about the work I do. It’s a bit like legal alchemy—always challenging but never dull.

As a fully remote company, Camunda has spent a lot of care creating an intentional remote culture, but “remote culture” can mean a lot of things. What does the remote culture of Camunda mean to you?

For me, Camunda’s remote culture is a celebration of diversity and freedom. It allows us to work with brilliant people from all over the globe, bringing rich cultural backgrounds together. It also signifies the importance of honing social skills to foster connections with colleagues through virtual platforms—this takes some learning! I cherish this diverse atmosphere deeply and would not want to trade it. 

What is a project or idea you’ve worked on at Camunda that you’re particularly proud of?

The opportunity to develop myself at Camunda across a range of projects has been a personal highlight. From my start as a junior giving advice on data protection to leading the team that ensured our compliance with global sanctions and human rights rules to now directly supporting teams across our organization to deliver their complex projects within the law.

In all of these, I have driven early adoption of automation, for example using Camunda’s own process automation product and AI tools to ensure that we work in a lean and efficient way. The diversity of this work, from engaging with customer legal teams, internal teams, or authorities to building our data protection or trademark strategy or supporting in audits and certifications is a thrilling blend of leadership, legal acumen, and technology.

Is there a woman—whether in tech, history, or your personal life—who has inspired you in your career?

My mother, a lawyer in a male-dominated company, shaped my approach to life and work—despite my teenage fears of “becoming just like her!” She inspired me in my core principles of fairness, diligence, and kindness as well as embracing challenges with a quiet “Okay…let’s see about this…” and a little smile.

Can you share something about your personal life that colleagues may not know about you?

I’m a bit of a dabbler with a passion for everything from painting, literature, politics, singing, music and dancing to outdoor adventures. I’m also environmentally conscious and embrace the German stereotype—so yes, I’m the one who relishes wearing functional outdoor gear—zippable pants included!

Is there anything else you’d like to share?

I’m truly happy in my role at Camunda and about the flexibility of remote work, the diverse culture, and the innovation. Being part of the wave Camunda is surfing is incredibly fulfilling. The supportive culture and my colleagues’ camaraderie make this a special place to be. I’m excited to be a part of our journey.

Learn more about careers at Camunda

We want to thank Jil for sharing her story, and we hope you found it as interesting and valuable as we did!

Stay tuned for more stories from our incredible team members in the “Meet a Camundi” series. Camunda is growing fast and on a mission to find the very best talent in the world. Check out our careers page and jobs page and join us to impact the future of process orchestration with Camunda!