Interviews

An emotional design is the leitmotif of all the cars Henrik Fisker has designed in his long career. Originally, the first vehicle he wanted to launch with his new company Fisker Inc. was supposed to be a splashy sports car, the EMotion. However, the rapid advancements in the solid-state battery technology his company is developing have prompted him to change gear and introduce an emotionally designed SUV first. European Business spoke with Mr. Fisker about his visionary technological developments, the ways in which the hallmarks of his design will also feature in his SUV, and how he plans to make his company profitable within a year.

For a long time, Metz mecatech was known for its camera accessories. Today, however, the medium-sized company is making a name for itself with an e-scooter that aims to provide its users with clean, uncomplicated and independent mobility in metropolitan areas. European Business spoke with Managing Director Lauri Jouhki about the key developments in the company's history, the potential uses of his electric scooter, and why, despite his ambition, he does not want to replace the bicycle.

Coffee mugs from used coffee grounds: Behind this lies more than just a clever product idea, namely the claim to be making a valuable contribution to environmental protection by making use of a problematic waste resource. European Business spoke with Julian Lechner, founder and CEO of Kaffeeform, about his environmental ambitions, the technological challenges he faced in the development of the product and the various target groups he wants to address.

The box a product is delivered in can be one of the most effective marketing tools out there, Konrad Kwiatkowski is sure. He is one of the founders of the fast-growing Polish start-up Packhelp, which allows even small companies and brands to design their own packaging materials at low quantities and affordable rates. European Business spoke with Mr. Kwiatkowski about the latest trends in the packaging industry, the most unique designs ever commissioned by his clients, and the best experience he ever had as a consumer himself.

Monja Mühling wants to make logistics smart: Completely automated, an algorithm calculates the best routes and generates an ideal allocation of assignments for drivers accordingly. Her company, Smartlane, wants not only to shorten its clients’ journeys, but also contribute to an improvement in service quality for end customers. Monja Mühling spoke to European Business about the biggest efficiency-killers in logistics, the role of diversity in her company, and how much the parcel service of tomorrow will have in common with that of today.

Who doesn´t know this feeling of having a beautiful bouquet at home but you don´t have time to buy them as a surprise for your loved-ones or yourself? The British company Bloom & Wild has the solution. They offer a flower delivery service. We talked to founder and CEO Aron Gelbard about the meaning of flowers and how they make sure flowers are available all year.

Especially when it rains, the Berliners see them occasionally wandering on the streets and through parks: the swamp crayfish. The start-up HOLYCRAB! has caught the plagues and put them in the cooking pot. The result is delicious. Juliane Bublitz and Lukas Bosch, partners and co-founders of HOLYCRAB!, talk with European Business about the sustainable use of these unpleasant fellows, a potential extension to other plagues and how the idea for the start-up came about.

Boron is an important raw material in the glass industry, and new usages are continuously being discovered for boron products due to their unique, multi-functional and beneficial characteristics. With quality products, reliable delivery and a focus on its customers’ needs and requirements, AB Etiproducts Oy has become a preferred partner for customers in the Scandinavian and Baltic countries as well as Germany, Poland, Ukraine, Moldova and the entire African continent. European Business talked to CEO Ali Sapmaz about current developments in the boron market and the benefits the company offers as the exclusive sales agent and distributor of Eti Maden IGM’s boron products.

As a leader you are faced with many challenges, especially when surrounded by different personalities. Do you know how best to manage a Diva or a Maverick? Alan Willett knows how to manage people and projects. In his book “Leading the unleadable: How to manage Cynics, Divas and other difficult people”, he gives insights and examples, and reveals a formula for modifying undesirable behaviours. We talked to him about challenging personalities, the use of feedback tools and which leaders can be seen as role models.

Do you sleep seven to nine hours per night, as recommended? If you sleep less than six hours per night you have a problem. Sleep deprivation is a widespread problem all over the world. European Business talked to sleep expert Els van der Helm about the importance of sleep, what employers can teach their employees and how you can be sure you get a good night’s sleep.