Munich, Bavaria, Germany
I'm building a company on my own — with AI and no-code tools, no team, no funding. After 15 years in consulting (BCG), corporate strategy (ProSiebenSat.1), and private equity (platform build-up, post-merger integration, operating model design), I left to test a question: can one person build and run an entire business using AI? I write here about what that looks like in practice — the decisions, the tools, the mistakes, and what AI can and can't do when you're the only one responsible for the outcome.
𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐎𝐫𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐳𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥/𝐂𝐨𝐫𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭: • Build-up of Luqom Group Holding structure • Fostering buy & build M&A approach across Luqom Group • Definition of various value creation initiatives 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐄𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭/𝐃𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: • Cost saving initiatives, corporate reorganizations and restructurings incl. change management measures • Digitization of entire (manual) HR/People processes, introduction of digital tool landscape • Introduction of automated people solution desk (ticket system) and establishment of agile way of working 𝐏𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞, 𝐂𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 & 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬: • Development of corporate culture (purpose, core values, BHAG) • Development of own corporate websites (corporate.lampenwelt.com; luqom.com) and implementation of own intranet • Development of inhouse trainings (esp. for leadership level) • Development of employer branding (EVP: ignite your inner fire and light up the world) • Introduction of communication and collaboration formats 𝐒𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 • Build-up and lead of sustainability function across the entire Luqom Group (develop sustainability strategy & targets, develop and implement sustainability initiatives, compose CO2 footprint calculation, write sustainability progress report, introduce policies such as supplier code of conduct)
Top Management Consulting & Advisory | Interim Management
𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐜 𝐛𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠: Rolling 5 year strategy/P&L planning and steering; definition and break-down into targets as well as strategic & operational measures for all businesses and functions 𝐎𝐫𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐳𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭: Project lead and PMO of large-scale corporate reorganizations and restructurings incl. change management measures to accelerate digital transformation of the traditional media&entertainment business 𝐃𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: Driving digital transformation of traditional media&entertainment business in various projects (e.g. multichannel strategy, OTT product development, data initiatives, AR/VR opportunities) 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭: Project lead of several operational and business development projects incl. steering of C-level as well as cross-functional and cross-company teams (up to 45 involved units/>150 employees from various functions) 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐨𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐳𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: Optimization of processes and automation of workflows (e.g. introduction of tools & services, data initiatives) 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭 𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭: M&A target/strategic partner and market screening & assessment (in collaboration with investment banks) 𝐓𝐨𝐩 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: Daily C-level and top leadership interaction with regular attendance in Board meetings to foster business decisions 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: Regular Capital Markets (e.g. Q-Calls, Capital Markets Day) and executive/supervisory board communication 𝐓𝐞𝐚𝐦 𝐝𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐲: Build-up of innovation management team and processes to foster consumer centricity (e.g. design thinking, agile work methods); Transformation of (linear) consumer insights team into consumer centric (multi-platform) consulting team and establishment of Personas
At BCG, I conducted and led transformative projects focused on strategy, operational efficiency, and digital transformation: 𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 & 𝗘𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 Enhanced production efficiency for automotive OEMs by optimizing body shop and manufacturing processes, focusing on proactive maintenance and process improvements. 𝗣𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 & 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗹𝘆 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗶𝗻: Executed cost-saving initiatives in purchasing and supply chain management, including a $1 billion initiative for a global mining group. 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗰 𝗣𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗼 𝗢𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗶𝘇𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Reassessed business portfolios for global corporations, including private equity, a truck OEM and a mining giant, aligning their strategies for growth and efficiency. 𝗦𝗮𝗹𝗲𝘀 & 𝗢𝗿𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘇𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁: Restructured and realigned sales strategies and organizations for technology and consumer goods companies, aligning operations with market demands, implementing performance metrics and driving cross-functional collaboration 𝗗𝗶𝗴𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻/𝗙𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲-𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗴: Developed and implemented digital transformation strategies, particularly in e-commerce, for consumer goods companies to adapt to changing customer behaviors.