To round off each issue, we ask our contributing business leaders for their views on the same question: “What hobbies outside of work have helped you to become a better leader?”
Jan Aichinger, Managing Director, MAN Automotive South Africa
“Mountaineering, as it forces you to understand that you can only climb a mountain one step at a time.
“If you stand in front of the mountain and you’re looking at the 1,800-metre peak, you will believe at first that you’re not going to end up there, but if you take it step by step and don’t think about how long it’s going to take, you will eventually reach the summit.
“In the mountains, there’s danger out there. Whether it’s avalanches, thunderstorms, or other types of perilous weather, you have to constantly be alert. If you make a wrong step, you could end up falling 100 metres down. That kind of focus and alertness is paramount.
“Mountaineering personally helps me to calm down. The monotony that comes with taking step after step and the silence which puts you in a reflective and peaceful mood – I really enjoy that.”
Marc Genot, General Director, SIPH
“My passion is my work and my team, and I wake up early every morning highly motivated to meet its exciting challenges.
“I therefore have little time for hobbies, apart from cycling and driving my old Citroën 2CV. I prefer spending the little time I have left with my close family. I’ll invest time in gardening when I retire as I love trees and flowers and wish to see them flourish by my own care.”
