Hearing the sound of success

Q&A | LUKAS BRAUNSCHWEILER

Lukas Braunschweiler CEO of Switzerland-based Sonova Group. [Provided to China Daily]

What is your favorite sport and why?

I used to love jogging earlier. I enjoy cycling now, as I feel that it helps me find the right work-life balance.

What is the greatest challenge in your life?

The key challenge for me is to spur innovation and keep my business running successfully on a long-term basis.

How do you spend your weekends?

I like to spend my weekend with my family and spend time with them on sporting activities that all of us enjoy.

What are your hobbies?

Besides sports, I do a lot of handy work and always find opportunities to create something new. When I was young, I used to build my own stereos.

What is the motto or saying that has inspired you the most?

"Build from your strength and from your heritage" is something that continues to inspire me and played a big role in shaping my career.

Who is your icon?

It depends on which area you are looking at, music, business or science. I admire people who have a certain approach to life, are humble, determined, dedicated and care about the things they are doing. When you consider that, there are obviously lots of good leaders, or performers, or sportsmen, from whom we can learn a lot.

What is your idea of perfect happiness?

I consider having a good work-life balance as the perfect recipe for happiness. That way, you don't feel stressed unduly, but challenged in a healthy way.

What do you think is your greatest achievement so far?

The biggest achievement for me has been in setting up the team that was responsible for Sonovo's success. I have been lucky to have a team that is dedicated and ready to scale new peaks.

What is the best way to break ice with Chinese businessmen?

There are no quick fixes. I believe it is something that you keep on learning. All my trips to China have been a great learning experience. People do things in different ways. I am very happy to listen and observe. But I also believe that it is important to meet people regularly and build personal bonds with them.

What kinds of experiences have shaped your thoughts?

Success is all about people and how well you connect with them. It does not matter what you achieve or evolve as a strategy, because at the end of the day it is all about people.

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