Nicole Schönthaler

When I think back to my beginnings, my journey automatically takes me back to my mother’s office. Even as a child, I was allowed to help out—sorting papers, distributing mail, pressing buttons—and I thought the fax machine was the coolest thing ever. That feeling of being part of something already shaped me back then, even if I was not yet fully aware of it.

Still, my path was not mapped out from the very beginning. Precisely because it is a family business, it was important to me for a long time to keep all my options open. I wanted to understand how other companies operate, get to know different structures, and find my own path—free from expectations.

During my school years, I completed summer internships at the company and, at the time, mainly saw them as a curious look behind the scenes. After finishing my studies, I started in the back office in 2012—initially without a grand plan, but with openness, a willingness to learn, and the desire to grow.

With each passing year, it became clearer to me that more was waiting for me here than “just a job.” It was not simply the familiarity of the family business that made me stay, but the feeling of purpose, trust, and the opportunity to help shape things. The responsibility, the close relationships with the people, and the opportunity to truly make a difference became increasingly important to me.

At some point, I realized that my passion lies exactly here. In 2023, I finally took over as Head of Purchasing—a step that was not just a career move for me, but a conscious decision rooted in conviction.

Today, I know that I had to follow my own path in order to arrive exactly where I am now. And that is exactly what makes this role so special to me.