Leadership lessons from 20 years of experience

1. The importance of a clear vision

Imagine you are in a thick fog. You can only see one step at a time, but the path remains blurred and unclear. This is what it feels like when you act as a leader without a clear vision. A vision is the compass that not only shows you the right course, but also navigates the entire team through the fog. My journey from the first days as a CEO to building and scaling companies has shown me that a vision is like a lighthouse in the darkness: it provides orientation and keeps everyone looking in the same direction. It's not just about achieving goals, it's about having a common goal that energizes everyone on the team.

Tip: Your vision should be so clear and memorable that every employee can identify with it and understand how their work contributes to a bigger picture. It must not only advance the company, but also the people who make it up.

2. Leadership by example

You are the pioneer who paves the way. Leading by example doesn't just mean sitting in an office and giving instructions, but taking on the role of an active pioneer. It means living the values ​​you preach yourself - day in and day out. I remember countless moments when I, as CEO, acted both in the background and in the foreground: from planning and implementing a new strategy to supporting my team in difficult times. This style of leadership creates trust and respect because it is authentic. Only when you achieve the standards you set yourself will your team really follow you.

Tip: Be the leader you would like to have as a mentor. Lead with integrity and authenticity by taking clear and decisive actions.

3. Make decisions, even if they are difficult

As a leader, you regularly find yourself at crossroads where there is no easy answer to the questions at hand. The choice is rarely black or white. It is often a matter of choosing the lesser of two evils or making decisions in a gray area. During my career as CEO, I often listened to my gut feeling - and also to the data that was available to me. But in the end, it was the bold decisions that made the difference, even when they changed the direction of a company forever. It is in moments like these that you realize that decisions not only affect the success of a company, but also the lives of the people involved in it.

Tip: Make decisions quickly and decisively, but be willing to learn from mistakes. This doesn't mean you have to be right all the time, but it does mean moving forward even when the path is uncertain.

4. Building strong teams

A company is only as strong as its team. You can create the best strategies, but without the right people working with you to achieve that goal, it's all for nothing. I've learned that true leadership isn't about making the best decisions alone, but about creating a team that executes those decisions together. The people on your team need to feel valued, and it's your job as a leader to give them the tools and confidence to perform at their best.

Tip: Build a team that works together and where everyone feels like they are contributing. Promote not only technical skills, but also team spirit and personal development.

5. Communication as the key to success

Communication is like the lifeblood of a company - it pumps vital information through every department and team member. In my experience, communication has often been the difference between a project that went smoothly and one that ran into trouble. Openness, clarity and regular updates are crucial, especially during difficult times when uncertainty and misunderstanding can easily arise. I've seen how transparent dialogue builds trust and course corrects before problems become too big.

Tip: Establish a culture of open communication. Promote dialogue and ensure that everyone is heard, especially in times of crisis. Only through constant exchange can you identify problems early and find solutions.

6. Continuous learning and adaptability

If you stop learning, you stop growing. I never believed that you would ever know everything or have all the answers. Leadership is a constant process of learning and adapting. Especially in the fast-moving fields I worked in, such as technology and marketing, I constantly had to face new challenges. There are always new tools, new methods and, above all, new people to learn from. But even in difficult times, I learned how important it is to remain flexible and to make adjustments when the course requires it.

Tip: Be a lifelong learner. Be open to new ideas and always remain curious, even if you have already achieved success. This is the only way to remain relevant as a leader.

7. Take responsibility, including for mistakes

Taking responsibility means not only celebrating success, but also being there for the tough moments. As a leader, it's easy to shift the blame onto others, but true strength is shown when you take responsibility even when mistakes happen. I've often experienced that mistakes aren't the end of the world, but can be the beginning of a better solution. By being open and admitting mistakes, I've gained the trust of my teams and laid the foundation for future success.

Tip: Own your mistakes. They are not a defeat, but a valuable source of growth and improvement.

8. Long-term planning and sustainable growth

Companies that only look for short-term gains often overlook the huge potential that sustainable growth offers. Throughout my career, I have always been careful to develop strategies that will still be viable in 5, 10 or 20 years. Instead of looking for quick wins, I focused on a long-term vision in everything I did, from brand consolidation to launching new business lines. Sustainability was never just a buzzword, but a practice that was incorporated into every decision.

Tip: Always think in longer time periods. Consider that real growth in a company is not only achieved through short-term successes, but through sustainable decisions.

Conclusion:

Leadership is not a one-time event, but a journey that involves constant adaptation, courage and a willingness to learn. The lessons I have learned over two decades have shaped me not only as a leader, but also as a person. Leadership is not just about managing a company - it is the constant pursuit of improvement, fostering trust and developing people and ideas that will move the company forward in the long term.