Since joining GATX Rail Europe as Chief Human Resources Officer, Stephanie Luftensteiner has spent her first 100 days getting to know the company from the inside out—from workshops to boardrooms, from conversations to first impressions. What follows is her perspective on the journey so far.

Hi, I’m Stephanie Luftensteiner, and stepping into this role has been both energizing and grounding, particularly because our industry plays a vital role in shaping a more sustainable future for Europe. Now, as I reflect on my first 100 days, two words keep coming to mind: strong substance. I’ve experienced what makes this company truly special: it’s our deep technical expertise, our clear sense of purpose, and my colleagues who care deeply about what they do. Their openness and shared ambition have set a strong foundation for collaboration and alignment.

Listening First: Culture Lives in Conversation
I started this role with one goal in mind: to listen carefully. Over the past weeks, I’ve met colleagues across all our eleven locations. In the maintenance shops, in offices, in workshops, and in one-on-one conversations. These exchanges have helped me understand how much pride our teams take in their work and how important safety, quality, and reliability are to our culture.
I’ve also heard a recurring theme: the need for an even stronger, non-virtual connection across teams, clearer communication, and more visibility into how we evolve as an organization. Together with my team, we understand that we have a clear role to play as a facilitator and as a partner in making this happen.

Building Relationships Before Rolling Out Strategy
I believe that any lasting change starts with trust. That’s why I’ve taken time to build relationships, understand how things work today, and invite open conversations about the future before defining or launching anything new. My focus is on developing an HR function that is practical, forward-looking, and embedded in the business. For me, that starts with understanding people and context, which in my opinion aligns perfectly with our company value: Together we achieve more.

Clarity, Not Complexity
What stands out most at GATX is the strong sense of responsibility, hands-on expertise, and pride in delivering high-quality results. My role as CHRO is to help build on these strengths by fostering a culture where talent thrives, where people are empowered to grow, and where employees are clear and aligned on our long-term goals. The strategic HR roadmap we are building is taking shape, and I look forward to sharing more in the coming months. For now, I’m proud of the groundwork we’ve laid—not as an endpoint, but as the starting point for our commitment to be a sustainable, people-centered organization.

If you’re passionate about shaping the future of rail and sustainable transportation together with us, look at our open positions on the GATX Rail Europe career page. Your journey could start here.