CoffeeBreak THE MAGAZINE FOR FRESH COFFEE ENJOYMENT FROM JURA – 01/2017 MY BERN BERNHARD SCHÄR HOSPITALITY OF THE FUTURE Area Manager Martin Bürki takes A portrait of the radio sports Service innovations set new us on a tour of the Swiss capital journalist with the memorable voice standards in Niederbuchsiten 1 CoffeeTalk Bern. The gentle rays of the morning sun bathe the sandstone façade of the Swiss Parliament Building in warm light. On the far side of the square, two men are engaged in lively conversation at the legendary Café Fédérale. Emanuel Probst is talking to one of Switzerland’s best-known and most popular and esteemed personalities on the international stage: ex-Federal Councillor Adolf Ogi. A former magistrate and cosmopolitan, with deep-reaching roots: who could be better suited to give us an insight into the importance of Switzerland and Swiss values in today’s world? Emanuel Probst: Thank you for coming a long Adolf Ogi: We all have our god-given talents. Emanuel Probst: Do you see that as a way today, Dölf. You celebrate your 75th birthday But we all need to question ourselves and to guide Switzerland into the future? this year, and you’re brimming with energy find answers as to who we are, what we can and dynamism. Where do you get it all from? do and what we want. The important thing is: Adolf Ogi: I’m an incorrigible optimist. But do what you believe in and believe in what at the moment, we’re simply hanging onto Adolf Ogi: I don’t consciously try to stay you do. If you live by that maxim, you can our prosperity. Negotiations at international young. I’m just myself. And I’m a positive motivate your staff and give them strength. level are important and call for a clear stra- thinker. Energy, willpower and humility: you Having the right people around you doing tegy. I’d like to see more leadership in this have either got them, or you haven’t. Gen- the right things is all-decisive. Putting the country. Communication with the people is erally speaking, we shouldn’t take ourselves right teams together calls for a bit of flair. It’s vital. If the people decide which direction the too seriously. I learned that during my child- something else I learned from my father’s country should take, they need someone to hood in Kandersteg. My father was and still work as a mountain guide, when he was put- show them the way. is my role model, because he always thought ting rope teams together. If you want to lead, of himself as a man who served others. He you have to be prepared to work hard, show Emanuel Probst: In that respect, you’ve al- was a mountain guide and helped build the commitment and go on ahead of the others. ways been exemplary. You’re a charismatic installations that protect the valley against In this respect, the army taught me most of leader figure, and you’re an excellent commu- floods and avalanches to this day. His way of what I needed to know about life. nicator with a keen awareness of symbolism. thinking left its mark on me. Even now, when- What do you think is the key to successful ever problems arise, I still try to find solutions Emanuel Probst: Some of the goals you set communication? that serve people in some way. yourself were considered over-ambitious or even impossible. But you still managed to Adolf Ogi: Uprightness, honesty and profes- Emanuel Probst: As President of the Federal achieve them. Why do you think you’ve al- sionalism. Whether you’re communicating Skiing Association, you helped put the Swiss ways succeeded against all the odds? with the people or heads of state, the per- team at the 1972 Winter Olympics in Sapporo son you’re addressing must feel that you’re back on the road to success. You were Gen- Adolf Ogi: If you want to achieve something, honest and know what you’re talking about. eral Manager of a flourishing corporation, you need vision and clear objectives. You Symbols are pivotal to sustainability. I’m de- served as a Federal Councillor and are widely need to be prepared and to recognize when lighted that some of my speeches and ad- regarded as the father of AlpTransit, the new the time has come to tackle and realize a dresses are still so firmly anchored in the railway link through the Alps. After your project. That’s when you have to take the minds of the population. time as a Federal Councillor, Kofi Annan ap- lead and motivate your people. But you can pointed you as his Special Adviser. It seems only do that if you treat them with respect. Emanuel Probst: How is Switzerland – or everything ‘Ogi’ touches comes out well. Basic ally, being a leader is all about liking should I say: how are Swiss values – per- What’s the secret of your success? people. ceived in the world? 2 3 Adolf Ogi: Switzerland stands for quality. In Emanuel Probst: Quite definitely the pro- many areas, it is seen as a pioneer of innova- duct! There’s the enthusiasm that goes into tion and, for many other countries, a model our new products, the passion we have for to aspire to. But that’s precisely where the perfect, freshly extracted coffee specialities danger lies: it’s far more difficult to remain made from freshly ground fresh beans. successful than it is to become successful. We can’t afford to rest on our laurels. We must Adolf Ogi: It’s crucial that you exploit win- go on striving to maintain our lead over the dows of opportunity Successfully managing others. a company also means being prepared when chances present themselves. Being prepared Emanuel Probst: Switzerland generates its to inject passion into projects at the right wealth internationally. Let me give you an time and being able to realize them. Where do example: around 90% of JURA’s sales come you get your ideas for new coffee machines? from beyond Switzerland’s borders. Reliable trade agreements are essential to the surviv- Emanuel Probst: You have to approach the al of our economy. What else do you think a world with an open mind. A lot of ideas come Swiss company needs to ensure its ongoing to you when you’re travelling, getting to know global success? new countries and people, listening and talk- ing to them. I’ve learned something from Adolf Ogi: We need to be better and more you: you mustn’t be afraid of people! If I ar- innovative than the rest. We need outstand- rive at a JURA point of sale somewhere in the ‘It’s far more difficult to ing specialists. Not just academics: we need world and there’s no salesperson around, I tradespeople too. The foundation for it all is make contact with the customer, advise her remain successful than it good basic and advanced training. We have and sell her a machine. Conversations like is to become successful. no natural resources. Our raw materials are these are often the spark of new ideas. education, knowledge and innovation. The We can’t afford to rest on strength of the Swiss franc has severely dam- Adolf Ogi: It’s vital that we approach people, our laurels. We must go aged our economy. Laws and regulations are take them seriously and try to strike up a often hindrances. We have to ensure that dialogue with them, regardless of our pro- on striving to stay ahead companies don’t move out of the country. fession. of the rest.’ Hasn’t it ever been an option for you to re- locate JURA’s headquarters abroad? Emanuel Probst: Talking of professions: what did little Dölf back in Kandersteg dream of ADOLF OGI Emanuel Probst: No. Like you, I’ve got very doing when he grew up? deep-reaching roots. I’m a patriot, on a very local level. JURA’s headquarters are situated Adolf Ogi: I knew fairly early on that I wanted precisely where I have my own roots. Which to serve in some way or other. Perhaps as a is why I do my best to ensure that it’s an at- train driver or a mountain guide. I can still tractive place to live and work. see my father before me, the way he did the accounts for the village in the living room Adolf Ogi: Ultimately, it pays off. Because and was there for everyone. That impressed Switzerland is an extremely stable country, me. For me, my father was a model of inven- both politically and economically. But what tiveness, persistence and modesty. Later on, are your ambitions as regards JURA? Do you I could also have imagined being a ski rac- aspire to be the world’s number one? er. But then I went to commercial school in French-speaking Switzerland and continued Emanuel Probst: In value terms, we are in a my education in London. I always wanted to position to become the world’s biggest sup- get to know and understand different cul- plier of automatic machines. At the moment, tures, different mentalities and different at- the state of the international economy for us titudes towards the world. is ideal. Emanuel Probst: You’ve always been enor- Adolf Ogi: What drives you forward? Is it the mously popular, and you’ve enjoyed many products? Or the marketing? Or is the com- triumphs. How you manage to deal with petition showing signs of weakness? success on that scale? 4 Adolf Ogi: Success is an affirmation.