Company: Dr. Morét & Partner:inside

Founder Successor: Ilka Morét (management)

Founding date: Founded in 1995 by Dr. Jürgen Morét / taken over by Ilka Morét in January 2024

Industry and company: Management consultancy

What drives you? What is your motto?

"Obstacles are just steps on the road to success. Climb them with determination."

What is your start-up about and what is special about it?

My vision is to create an environment in which managers can expand their professional skills and discover and develop personal strengths.

The institute offers tailor-made training programs, workshops and coaching sessions that are practical and sustainable in order to facilitate the transfer into everyday working life.

What makes it special is the combination of modern, agile methods and sound neuroscientific findings. My approach is practice-oriented, scientifically sound and individually tailored to the needs of my clients.

By taking over an existing institute, I can build on a solid foundation and at the same time provide new impetus. In addition to traditional leadership topics such as communication, conflict management and team development, modern approaches such as agile working, resilience and mindfulness also play a central role.

What are your first successes?

One of my first major successes was the leadership training program "Effective Corporate Communication" for managers in a medium-sized company.

The program was very well received and led to a significant improvement in leadership skills and employee satisfaction. In just a few months, everyone involved had implemented everything that had been worked on and discussed in the workshop.

What is your professional background?

I completed a vocational baccalaureate as a commercial foreign language assistant in English and French and gained international experience early on through internships at Johnson & Johnson in Canada and BNP Paribas in France. I then studied economics at the University of Wuppertal and later obtained a Master's degree in Cognitive Neuroscience. At the same time, I completed training as an NLP coach and as a trainer for the Process Communication Model®.

I have been working successfully as a trainer and coach for leadership and team development since 2011. I have also gained experience in business development and office management and most recently worked as an event manager and management assistant.

I have seriously considered taking the plunge into self-employment as I have repeatedly encountered obstacles in my employment. I found the lack of flexibility and the constant need to adapt and get permission for certain decisions stressful.

Although self-employment often means working evenings or weekends and dealing with uncertainty, this uncertainty is just as prevalent in employment.

It has always been my goal to be able to work independently and flexibly. The main thing is that you enjoy your work and that it gives you positive energy.

What prompted you to set up your own company?

Institut Dr. Morét & Partner:innen has existed since 1995. I would have had the opportunity to work for another company as a permanent employee, but I decided to take over Institut Dr. Morét & Partner:innen at the beginning of 2024 and had a good feeling about it right from the start.

Who advised you, who are your helpers and mentors?

I was able to make use of the services of EXINA GmbH. My advisors were Jörg Dittmann (systemic consultant, trainer and coach) and Andreas Pfeifer (marketing consultant). I had a very good relationship of trust with both of them right from the start. I received very good advice and support and it was a lot of fun every time!

How did you experience the first few days as a founder?

When I took over the management of the Dr. Morét & Partner Institute at the beginning of 2024, I felt very invigorated and at ease inside. The prospect of leading this institute brought me great joy and positive energy.

At the same time, it's important to make sure you take regular breaks to recharge your batteries and prevent overwork. I have found it particularly helpful to work with priority lists in order to maintain an overview and be efficient.

What was your biggest challenge and how did you overcome it?

My biggest challenge was and still is the sudden responsibility I was given, which I didn't have to think too much about beforehand. But that only made me stronger.

As a self-employed entrepreneur, it is important to maintain intensive customer care on an ongoing basis and to acquire new customers.

How do you draw attention to your company? What is your best marketing idea?

In today's digital age, social media marketing plays a central role, especially when it comes to increasing your own visibility. I have already had a lot of positive experiences on LinkedIn and Instagram in particular, where I regularly share content about leadership development and comment on posts from my network once or three times a week. As a result, I gain many new contacts every week.

I also regularly attend network meetings, trade fairs and similar events to make valuable professional contacts. Despite advancing digitalization, business cards with photos and flyers retain their relevance as they offer a tangible component in our increasingly virtual world.

What dream would you still like to realize?

If I had more time, I would get my boating license, buy my own sailing boat and go on lots of boat trips.

Please complete the following sentence: If I had more time, I would...

... get a boating license, buy my own sailboat and go on lots of boat trips.

What is your special tip: What would you recommend to founders?

The most important thing is that you love your work. It has to be fun and give you energy. If this is not the case, then you should consider reorienting your career and/or working as a permanent employee.

Being an entrepreneur means taking responsibility and being really sure of yourself. Don't overload yourself with too much work. Work with lists of priorities and always take short breaks. This could be a power nap or a short walk around the block to get some fresh air. Just 10 minutes every now and then is enough.

And very important: always put your cell phone away and don't be available after a certain time. Of course, it always depends on the urgency.