Think sustainably, act responsibly

How has a Carinthian family business been able to develop into a model international company in 125 years? Fromme-Knoch: The entrepreneurial courage of our founding brothers Philipp and Gottlieb Knoch to leave the trodden path and to identify and build on future developments laid the foundation for our family business. It was recognized early on that, aside from economic success, taking social responsibility is one of the core elements of entrepreneurship. This gene for further development and an assumption of responsibility was always successfully handed down to following generations and remains with us today. Over time, it became increasingly important to adapt quickly to new circumstances, to think ahead and to take on a pioneering role – these attributes still allow us to be successful today. Today the group employs 2,800 people in 21 countries. Is there a common denominator that unites so many people around the world? Fromme-Knoch: The most important prerequisite for our sustainable success is an open, curious and goal-oriented attitude that drives the owners and managers, and motivates employees to grow together to meet the challenges of tomorrow. Respectful and supportive collaboration is as natural to us as the highest priority of environmental and safety issues. All this combines to make us one big Wietersdorfer family. Together, we have molded this self- image into six central values that unite us and guide our employees in their daily work. Is there a specific key to success for industrial companies in times of climate change and digitization? Ziegenfuß: Our company has existed for more than 100 years and each period brings its changes. As a family business, we have experienced many events, such as the industrial revolution, major wars, economic upturns, as well as economic and financial crises. In my view, the key to success in the past was always to combine the experience of the older generation with the innovative spirit of the younger generation. The digital revolution is in full swing, and it is for my generation to use this change to leave a livable environment AN INNOVATIVE ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT, THE INTERACTION OF YOUNG AND OLD AND A POSITIVE VIEW OF THE FUTURE HAVE MADE THE WIETERSDORFER GROUP A GLOBAL ENTITY. THEIR SUCCESS IS BASED ON A COMMON SET OF VALUES PASSED ON FROM ONE GENERATION TO THE NEXT AND TAKEN FROM AUSTRIA TO THE WORLD. CHRISTINA FROMME-KNOCH AND BERTRAM ZIEGENFUSS EXPLAIN WHAT SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT OVER 125 YEARS OF COMPANY HISTORY MEANS. SUSTAINABLY BASED ON VALUES WIETERSDORFER | THINK SUSTAINABLY ACT RESPONSIBLY