Progress is the result of change

The first transformation is already happening before the topic of the day becomes an actual item on the agenda. Von Greifswald in Berlin prettifies itself for the seventh FAST & FORWARD networking event by FIEGE. The former railroad depot changes on this early Thursday morning in no time into the perfect venue for an exchange of ideas, presentations, and debates. A few more chairs here, some flowers there, touching up the stage set and one final sound check before everything is set and ready. The motto: The Transformation Journey: From Vision to Customer Value.

Felix Fiege, who runs the fifth-generation family business together with his cousin, Jens Fiege as Co-CEO, starts off on stage together with Kati Wilmsmeier, Executive Director Marketing & Communications at FIEGE. “We are living through a time where there are many trouble spots around the world. We are faced with a new reality which will produce many challenges that we will need to overcome together”, says Felix Fiege in his welcoming address. It is therefore imperative to actively deal with change rather than simply let it happen. Transformation is a topic that is not only crucial, but inevitable. And there is more: “We wish to utilise today to promote an open and honest exchange, to gather ideas, and to be inspired. For this reason, we see FAST & FORWARD most and for all as a networking and exchange platform that brings together smart minds from a range of fields and sectors, in order to facilitate a broader view on things.”

Someone who can report on many challenges and opportunities of transformation is Prof. Marcel Fratzscher. The President of the German Institute for Economic Research (DIW Berlin), political advisor, author, columnist and professor of macroeconomics at Humboldt University of Berlin holds the first keynote on this day which, next to further presentations, also offers panel discussions, hands-on sessions and start-up pitches for the FAST & FORWARD attendants. Fratzscher speaks of “three major transformations of our time.” In his own words: “We are living through a phase where we need to set a pivotal course since here in Germany, we are faced with three decisive transformations that we need to master fast and more importantly, all at the same time.” Therefore, transformation is not so much a topic that can wait – because the competitiveness of Germany and of German enterprises is at stake. His plea: “We need to want to head into the future!”

The three major transformations of our time according to Fratzscher are: globalisation has changed (“We need diversification, we need to set ourselves up more broadly”); ecological and digital transformation (“We need to move faster for central technologies and in relation to sustainability); as well as social transformation. Especially the last point is the biggest lever according to the economist when thinking up a successful economic future. Society needs less pessimism and clearly much more optimism. After all: “Reality is better than the mood in Germany would like us to believe.”

There are solid arguments in favour of being much more optimistic, Fratzscher thinks. Germany is one of the world’s richest and most successful economies. “By international standards, we have great strengths – our government institutions are notably excellent; we have a strong rule of law; a resilient and long-term centred economic structure and moreover, there is a strong sense of solidarity and civil society.” However, Germany’s greatest strength lies in the diversity and its people. The decisive mission is therefore to “merge these different factors and make them work for us.”

After Fratzscher, Philip Hitschler-Becker takes to the stage. The CEO of Hitschies, a confectionary company, is familiar with what transformation means. He has been radically turning around his own, almost 100-year-old family business from Cologne since 2017, shaping it into a glamourous, digital candy brand. His motto: if you don’t move with the time, you will be removed over time. Hitschler-Becker demonstrates in his keynote how seriously he takes this statement. In his own words: “Restraint has never brought anyone forward.” And: “Success is composed of three words: just do it!” For this reason, he thinks and fills his role as CEO differently to how his predecessors at Hitschies did. He no longer has time for e-mail correspondence; instead, he has much time for social media, the 37-year-old explains. “Here at Hitschies, CEO stands for: Creator, Entrepreneur and On the Road – and I truly believe: when you fail to polarise and digitalise, you lose out.”

To make sure that this never happens, Henrike Luszick, CEO at Bridgemaker, brought a toolbox for the transformation of mid-sized enterprises with her to Berlin for her keynote. For companies, it is about “scooping up innovation dividends”, she says. To achieve this, it is vital to grow continuously, to diversify one’s own business and to tap technology as a helper. “Anything and everything that can be automated should be automated – with support from strong partners”, she says. Ultimately, transformation will only work as a joint effort, which is why it is about “boosting one’s own strengths and overcoming the remainder with help.”

Solving challenges with the help of new technologies – that is what the final keynote of the day by Dr. Alexander Mrozek was all about. The title: how medium-sized enterprises may become AI’s biggest winners. The CEO of Oetker Digital sees artificial intelligence as a major opportunity for companies to question themselves: what is the role of our company and our employees? Are they more on the receiving end of AI? Or are they actively using it themselves? Either way, what has become a highly simplified access to AI tools provides for the opportunity to bring many more people than before in contact with artificial intelligence – which therefore also presents a major opportunity for enterprises to grow further.

“AI multiplies the human brain. Therein lies its huge potential, if only in relation to the shortage of specialists”, Mrozek says. The fundamental issue is for AI tools to be not only useful but also easy to use to create the incentive to accept help from AI. “What is needed for this in any case are strong co-operations because medium-sized enterprises are not able to develop the tools they need all by themselves.” A further important argument: people must always remain the focal point when it comes to technological progress, because: “In the end, it’s people who always make the difference. Which is why this is about building a stage for people with the help of AI and allowing them to become the heroes.”

Jens Fiege summarises the final impetus of many valuable ones gained during the seventh FAST & FORWARD like this in his concluding talk with Sarah Schimmelpfennig, Executive Director Marketing & Communications at FIEGE: “My mind is filled with thoughts and ideas. It was a very exciting day which will hopefully give not only me, but especially our invitees and clients much to take home. A huge thank you to all the speakers for being so frank. We heard inspiring presentations and plenty of thought-provoking ideas which we will use to continue our work.” What remains is “that we embrace change and must remain optimistic.” Also, that it is possible to achieve a lot with a smaller budget when having the courage to take new and creative paths. “The realisation I take from this essentially is that we should continue to ask ourselves one question time and again: how do we ensure that, as an enterprise, we remain prepared to re-invent ourselves time and again? Because that is our very duty when wishing to pave the way for long-term and sustained success.”