SMG Jahrbuch 2015/16

I am convinced that the digital
opportunities ahead will enable
us to re-invent business models
in ways that are not only good
for business, but also good for
society.
How did you
become what you
are today ?
I guess it is always a combination of
ambition and luck. My parents have
always tried to inspire me to do
my best all the time and to always
learn. You could say that this forms
a level of ambition in a person. As
such I have always been very ambitious
in school – and in my professional
life. However my ambition
was never to achieve a certain title.
It was always about doing my best
and making an impact in whatever
I do. I believe it is important to be
ambitious as a leader. I normally say
that leadership is about « Dreams
and Details ». « Dreams » because
a leader has to inspire people to
achieve goals that seem impossible,
but are in fact achievable. And
« Details » because without attention
to the right details, the dreams
will only stay dreams and never
materialize. In addition to ambitions, luck plays an important role. Being
at the right place at the right time, and taking on new challenges when
they appear, is a key element of forming a career. I don’t believe much
in career planning. However I do believe that if you work hard, have
ambitions and always try to make an impact, you can increase likelihood
of « good luck ». I had a lot of luck in my career – some of which was
based on other people believing in me, and giving me the opportunity.
So in many ways I have to thank my parents and many of my mentors
for giving me the opportunities I had.
Geschichtern // SMG Jahrbuch 2015
9