Thomas Kleindessner / CEO des Start-ups Leaders21

After my studies, I worked in quality management at the Sisters of Mercy in Linz. After a few years at CompuGroup Medical CEE (Systema), where I headed the Consulting & Process Management business unit, I was brought to Runtastic to further develop the organization and the young managers as VP of HR & Org Dev. As I always like to take on new challenges, I took over the Runtastic product team as VP of Product and was responsible for this area until the end of 2020.

What were the highlights of your time at university?

My absolute highlight was the community on the course. This network still exists after graduation. We are still in friendly contact with many former colleagues and still organize our annual ski weekends, Christmas parties, etc. And as you can see from our example, this network has now made us colleagues again at Leaders21.

Which parts/knowledge from your studies have particularly helped you to achieve your career plans?

The most important subjects were not those that involved specialist knowledge. You can always acquire specialist knowledge if you are interested in it. The courses that taught soft skills were essential, such as the block courses at the beginning of the semester, which dealt with presentation techniques, conflict management, change, etc. It was precisely these skills that are in demand everywhere - no matter where you are. It is precisely these skills that are in demand everywhere - regardless of the company or industry.

How did the idea and concept for the start-up come about?

I had been toying with the idea of starting my own business for a long time. Helping people to develop has always been my passion. I had already been working as a freelance consultant for several years, but always on a part-time basis. However, the final step into self-employment is a big one and it didn't feel right for a long time. I always had the feeling that I still had a lot of valuable things to learn. Last spring, I took some time out from work and spent my daddy month at home. I had time to think about a lot of things and reorganize my goals. Then it happened - "talking brings people together" - and I spoke to Florian about my thoughts and ideas. He was immediately interested, as Flo has also been working intensively on the topic of leadership for a long time. So we developed the idea of Leaders21 together. However, it was clear to us from the outset that we definitely wanted to create a digital product. The rest is history.

What exactly does your start-up do and what is special about your business idea?

Leaders21 stands for a new style of leadership for the 21st century. We are convinced that quality makes the difference - and that leadership in the 21st century must be practiced in a new way. That everyone deserves to learn and benefit from good leaders. And that good leadership means lifelong learning and continuous improvement. Our goal is to make leadership knowledge tangible and perceptible for EVERYONE. Tailor-made for your company - and soon online for everyone. We support leaders who don't stand still and want to keep developing. How do we do this? With training, coaching, mentoring, consulting... and our digital Leadership Learning & Community Platform, which we are currently developing.

What important recommendations or tips would you give founders and young entrepreneurs?

The team is important. Especially in the early days, it's essential to have people you trust, who can support each other, give critical feedback and get stuck in. A great team can achieve and accomplish so much.

www.leaders21.com