About me
Who am I?
I was born in London as the son of a diplomat and an art historian. Therefore, frequent relocations were preordained for me. I spent my childhood and youth in different countries, cultures, and educational systems. Building friendships was easy for me. However, maintaining those friendships, especially after moving to a new country or continent, was quite difficult. How could one keep a friendship alive if my friends and I no longer lived in the same place and could not maintain direct social contact?
During my studies at a French university (Grande École), I encountered the concept of a network for the first time in the form of an alumni association. At the beginning of my career with a leading German car manufacturer in the late 1990s, my employer advised me to build a network. It was deemed important for my personal development and career. I accepted this task but had no idea what I should actually do or how to successfully build a network. Over the coming years, I observed how individual colleagues formed targeted cliques and closer connections with others, and how these colleagues advanced their careers faster and more successfully than others through these networks. I also saw colleagues who had a much harder time establishing a network and were likely less successful in their careers because of it.
Later, while serving as Chief People Officer of the World Economic Forum, I experienced the art of networking firsthand. Most readers are probably most familiar with the WEF through its annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland. In my role I had the great fortune to witness for years how decision-makers from politics, business, academia, and civil society met to address geopolitical and socioeconomic issues and to find solutions. The World Economic Forum (WEF) provides an ideal framework for exchange.
Although the official events are reserved for top decision-makers, the personalities of the participants vary significantly. There are introverted as well as extroverted participants, "thinkers" as well as "doers," entrepreneurs, business leaders, politicians, scientists, individuals from Asia, Europe, Africa, or the American continent, young and old.
The purpose and value of exchange between individual decision-makers quickly became apparent to me; it was obvious. I admired the ease with which some individuals sought conversations with strangers and quickly found a basis for focused exchange.
Even though I was able to closely observe this lively exchange, I initially saw no system, no technique, no universally valid approach behind successful or unsuccessful networking. I asked myself whether networking could be learned or if the art of networking must be innate. Is networking only available to extroverted individuals, or can an introverted person also be successful at networking? I reflected on whether successful networking is only possible in a protected space (like the WEF) where a corresponding sense of well-being is provided or if successful networking can happen anywhere. Is there a universally applicable and transferable approach? Are there tips and tricks that can help anyone— even without any prior education—become a "professional networker"? These were questions that captivated me.
In recent years, I have had the opportunity to work professionally with thousands of individuals from every industry, function, and hierarchy. My clients came to me with all kinds of problems and questions, like ...
On top, I realized that nearly all 0f my clients felt a sense of insecurity or discomfort regarding the topic of networking. This feeling was often times amplified with a sense of reluctance or resistance. None of these individuals had learned about networking in school, at university, or from their employer. The topic of networking did not seem to be taught, systematically or practically. And yet—every one of us who has ever received the crucial insight to solve our own problem through a network contact knows about the potential and value of networking.
It is a personal commitment of mine to share the many tips and tricks that have proven useful, valuable, or even "game-changing" over the years in my work with the world. Because I deeply believe in the added value of networking, for the individual and for society at large.
Personal Bio
I was born in London as the son of a diplomat and an art historian. Therefore, frequent relocations were preordained for me. I spent my childhood and youth in different countries, cultures, and educational systems. Building friendships was easy for me. However, maintaining those friendships, especially after moving to a new country or continent, was quite difficult. How could one keep a friendship alive if my friends and I no longer lived in the same place and could not maintain direct social contact?
During my studies at a French university (Grande École), I encountered the concept of a network for the first time in the form of an alumni association. At the beginning of my career with a leading German car manufacturer in the late 1990s, my employer advised me to build a network. It was deemed important for my personal development and career. I accepted this task but had no idea what I should actually do or how to successfully build a network. Over the coming years, I observed how individual colleagues formed targeted cliques and closer connections with others, and how these colleagues advanced their careers faster and more successfully than others through these networks. I also saw colleagues who had a much harder time establishing a network and were likely less successful in their careers because of it.
Later, while serving as Chief People Officer of the World Economic Forum, I experienced the art of networking firsthand. Most readers are probably most familiar with the WEF through its annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland. In my role I had the great fortune to witness for years how decision-makers from politics, business, academia, and civil society met to address geopolitical and socioeconomic issues and to find solutions. The World Economic Forum (WEF) provides an ideal framework for exchange.
Although the official events are reserved for top decision-makers, the personalities of the participants vary significantly. There are introverted as well as extroverted participants, "thinkers" as well as "doers," entrepreneurs, business leaders, politicians, scientists, individuals from Asia, Europe, Africa, or the American continent, young and old.
The purpose and value of exchange between individual decision-makers quickly became apparent to me; it was obvious. I admired the ease with which some individuals sought conversations with strangers and quickly found a basis for focused exchange.
Even though I was able to closely observe this lively exchange, I initially saw no system, no technique, no universally valid approach behind successful or unsuccessful networking. I asked myself whether networking could be learned or if the art of networking must be innate. Is networking only available to extroverted individuals, or can an introverted person also be successful at networking? I reflected on whether successful networking is only possible in a protected space (like the WEF) where a corresponding sense of well-being is provided or if successful networking can happen anywhere. Is there a universally applicable and transferable approach? Are there tips and tricks that can help anyone— even without any prior education—become a "professional networker"? These were questions that captivated me.
In recent years, I have had the opportunity to work professionally with thousands of individuals from every industry, function, and hierarchy. My clients came to me with all kinds of problems and questions, like ...
- the successful manager who had lost his job after yet another restructuring at his employer and who had so far unsuccessfully been searching for the next job;
- the project manager who had been failing to launch a costly medical product in Latin America, hindered by the lack of financial resources in the local healthcare sector;
- the company that didn't know if or with whom it should enter into a cooperation on the way to sustainable value creation.
- and many more...
On top, I realized that nearly all 0f my clients felt a sense of insecurity or discomfort regarding the topic of networking. This feeling was often times amplified with a sense of reluctance or resistance. None of these individuals had learned about networking in school, at university, or from their employer. The topic of networking did not seem to be taught, systematically or practically. And yet—every one of us who has ever received the crucial insight to solve our own problem through a network contact knows about the potential and value of networking.
It is a personal commitment of mine to share the many tips and tricks that have proven useful, valuable, or even "game-changing" over the years in my work with the world. Because I deeply believe in the added value of networking, for the individual and for society at large.
Personal Bio
- Chief HR Officer of the World Economic Forum (2008-2013)
- Member of the Board of Management of Switzerland’s leading career consulting company (2016 -)
- Worked across various leadership roles at DaimlerChrysler in France, Germany, Vietnam, USA and China (1997-2008)
- Founder of CircularSociety AG, a boutique advisory company specialized in building networks and ecosystems to drive human and economic value
- Founder of Sqiyo AG (2020), a technology based knowledge ecosystem
- International keynote speaker, moderator, facilitator
- Recognized expert on networking, book author
- MBA in Entrepreneurship from HEC Paris
- Lived and worked in 8 countries on 3 continents; Swiss and German nationality
- Divorced, father of two amazing sons