Michael was deep in thought as he embarked on his morning drive to the university where he would attend his first-ever Computer Science lecture. His daily commute took him along the country roads of Ostalb, entering the town of Oberkochen about halfway through. The blue logos adorning the massive factory walls of ZEISS came into his field of vision on the right. But it wasn’t a view that particularly impressed him. “I wouldn’t fit in at such a traditional company,” he thought to himself with certainty. Past its sell-by date. “I’m not one to wear suits.”
He was clear where his next journey would take him: a semester abroad in Palo Alto. Silicon Valley. Arriving in the Mecca of digital innovation, he felt like he’d found his professional home. Here, he’d be able to help shape the transformation. This was at a time when startups were turning one industry after another on their heads – because they listened to customers and their needs. Focused on solving problems. That’s exactly what Michael wanted, too – that’s his strength: listening to end-user requirements, taking them seriously and addressing them. He hasn’t changed today.