Company:Dr. Morét & Partners
Founder Successor: Ilka Morét (Managing Director)
Date of establishment: Founded in 1995 by Dr. Jürgen Morét / Taken over by Ilka Morét in January 2024
Industry and company: Management consulting

What drives you? What is your motto?
"Obstacles are just steps on the path to success. Climb them with determination."

What is your start-up about and what makes it special?
My vision is to create an environment in which managers can expand their professional skills and discover and develop their personal strengths. The institute offers tailor-made training programs, workshops, and coaching sessions that are practical and sustainable, facilitating the transfer of knowledge 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 while also providing new impetus. In addition to classic 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 course "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. Within a few months, all participants had implemented everything that had been worked on and discussed in the workshop.

What is your professional background?
I completed a vocational diploma 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 earned a master's degree in cognitive neuroscience. At the same time, I completed training as an NLP coach and trainer for the Process Communication Model®. Since 2011, I have been working successfully as a trainer and coach for leadership and team development. I have also gained experience in business development and office management and most recently worked as an event manager and assistant to the management. I seriously considered taking the step into self-employment because I repeatedly encountered obstacles in my salaried position. I found the lack of flexibility and the constant need to adapt and seek permission for certain decisions stressful. Although self-employment often means working evenings or weekends and dealing with uncertainty, this uncertainty also exists in salaried 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 start your own business?
The Institut Dr. Morét & Partner:innen has been in existence since 1995. I would have had the opportunity to work for another company as a permanent employee, but I decided to take over the Institut Dr. Morét & Partner:innen at the beginning of 2024 and had a good feeling about it from the start.

Who advised you, who are your helpers and mentors?
I was able to take advantage of the services offered by 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 from the very beginning. I received excellent advice and support, and I enjoyed every minute of it!

How did you experience your first days as a founder?
When I took over the management of the Dr. Morét & Partner Institute at the beginning of 2024, I felt very empowered and comfortable inside. The prospect of leading this institute filled me with great joy and positive energy. At the same time, it is important to make sure you schedule regular breaks to recharge your batteries and prevent burnout. I found it particularly helpful to work with priority lists to keep track of things 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 worry about too much before. But that only made me stronger. As a self-employed entrepreneur, it's important to continuously provide intensive customer care and 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 visibility. I have already had many positive experiences on LinkedIn and Instagram in particular by regularly sharing content related to leadership development one to three times a week and commenting on posts from my network. This allows me to gain many new contacts every week. I also regularly attend networking meetings, trade fairs, and similar events to make valuable professional contacts. Despite the ongoing digitalization, business cards with photos and flyers remain relevant because 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 a boating license, buy my own sailboat, 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 must be enjoyable and energizing. If that is not the case, then you should consider a career change and/or working in a permanent position. Being an entrepreneur means taking responsibility and being really sure of what you are doing. Don't overload yourself with too much work. Work with priority lists and take regular short breaks. This could be a power nap or a quick walk around the block to get some fresh air. Ten minutes every now and then is enough. And very importantly: put your cell phone away from time to time and make yourself unavailable after a certain time. Of course, this always depends on the urgency.