Veronika Bienert - Securing long-term corporate growth with technology: The Siemens Perspective on Balancing Customer and Employee Orientation

Mentors are important, but in the end it's your own inner compass that counts when it comes to making the right decisions for yourself - this is the path that Veronika Bienert describes as crucial to her career.

On March 25, 2025, Frankfurt School had the privilege of welcoming Veronika Bienert, Member of the Executive Board of Siemens AG and CEO of Siemens Financial Services, at an Executive Talk. Students, alumni and friends of the business school gained valuable insights into how personal ambitions and career paths can be consciously aligned to fully develop one’s strengths and potential.

A key point in her presentation was the importance of mentoring, but she also emphasized that in the end you should always let your own inner compass guide you to decide on and take the next step: “Mentors are important, but ultimately what counts is what feels right for you,” explained Bienert, explaining her personal approach to private and professional decisions.

In her international career, Veronika Bienert has worked very successfully for Siemens in various countries and cultures, which has had a strong influence on her. She also spoke about personal growth. For example, whenever she felt that she had learned and achieved everything in one specific role or at a particular career stage, she left her personal comfort zone. She sought and accepted a new challenge and personally developed as a result.

She emphasized that partners at eye level are important in both private and professional life to enable authentic relationships and cooperation. Then giving and receiving are in balance - a philosophy that she lives by in her role as a manager in the team and when dealing with clients. She emphasized the crucial role of corporate culture for success: “If the culture in the company is right, then cooperation with customers is right and there is long-term employee loyalty.

Sustainability is at the heart of Siemens’ vision. Veronika Bienert explained the transformation that the company is undergoing in this context. Adapting business models to the challenges posed by the megatrends: climate change, urbanization, demographic shifts, digitalization, and glocalization.

The talk ended with a lively discussion and an entertaining get-together where guests were able to ask Veronika Bienert their questions about leadership, sustainability and the changing requirements in business. The event not only provided valuable impulses and practical advice, but also inspiration for the guests' own career development.