Self-awareness is a sales strategy

Dear readers,  

Those who know themselves well can not only present themselves with confidence, but also develop and market their services on a solid foundation. Against this backdrop, 2026 is themed “identify AS ONE” as a milestone within our 2030 Strategy. We therefore made the most of March to strengthen the group’s networks and knowledge base. 

In the HR development program for future leaders and during the team workshop at the corporate headquarters, the focus was on identifying personal strengths and skills using a “bottom-up” approach—that is, starting with the smallest unit: the individual. You can read more about this in this newsletter. At the same time, our subsidiaries are working to define their brand essences more clearly and refine their brand values. We will also be sharing these results with you here in the coming weeks.

Two female colleagues from the Group have relied on their own strengths; we highlighted them as role models in a social media special marking International Women’s Day. We are pleased to introduce Ingrid and Marième in this format as well. A third notable appointment is Holger Mennigmann, who will join the management team at IB Nordhorn effective April 1, 2026.

Once again this month, innovation is a top priority for our group, and we are pleased to share more about it.

With energised regards
Thomas Biedermann and Dr Fabian Fechner

At the beginning of March, the new RWTÜV InnovationCircle, organized by RWTÜV Innovation Manager Anika Corte, took place for the first time. The managing directors and innovation managers of the RWTÜV Group's subsidiaries met in a virtual meeting via MS Teams.

The InnovationCircle ensures continuous exchange on this important topic. New ideas, technological trends, and potential innovative services are regularly examined. This allows opportunities to be jointly evaluated, feasibility to be discussed, and synergies within the group to be quickly identified.

This first meeting already resulted in a very open and constructive exchange about practical approaches that RWTÜV subsidiaries can use to further develop their services and offer genuine added value to their customers.

RWTÜV Managing Director Thomas Biedermann comments: "This exchange is so important and valuable to us. Innovation thrives on diversity, different perspectives, industry knowledge, and experience. The RWTÜV InnovationCircle combines precisely these strengths, creating a space where the future is shaped. We look forward to the next meeting on April 17, 2026, and to many more inspiring sessions where we can work together to drive bold ideas forward.”

From March 9 to 11, 2026, the so-called "Development Program" took place in Cologne, a training program for young executives of the RWTÜV Group.

Colleagues from various subsidiaries spent three intensive days preparing themselves for potential future management roles. The focus was on topics such as self-management, understanding the role of a manager, communication and conflict management, and the transition from self-organization to managing employees.

In addition to technical input and practical exercises, the exchange of ideas across departments offered particular added value. Different perspectives and varied discussions characterized the diverse program, which was supplemented by formats such as seminars and group work. Participants came to realize that leadership begins with one's own attitude and develops through dialogue with others. Businesscoach Wibke Schindler praised the commitment shown by everyone present: "It's great to see how young managers are becoming increasingly aware of their role. How they focus on topics such as self-management and responsibility, reflecting on them and applying them in real-life case studies."

In his closing remarks, Thomas Biedermann thanked everyone involved for their openness, constructive exchange, and enriching days together. "We are delighted that the concept, that combines virtual and face-to-face modules, has worked so well in practice. In line with our move AS ONE strategy, we are not only strengthening individual skills, but also cooperation throughout the entire Group."

March 8 was International Women's Day. The RWTÜV Group has been promoting equality and equal rights within the company for years and regularly uses this day to reflect on its own activities and review its results. For RWTÜV, International Women's Day isn't just about March 8 – it's about every day: listening, observing, and taking action.

At the RWTÜV Group, nearly 46% of employees are women. This provides a strong foundation for genuine opportunities, confident visibility, and a commitment to a workplace where women can pursue their careers without restrictions.

The short campaign on LinkedIn, organized by social media manager Kim Tran and developed in collaboration with colleagues at corporate headquarters, was also intended to raise awareness of this important issue. It kicked off with a series of statements addressing the work-life balance, the desire to see more women in leadership roles, and the confidence to make an impact without raising one’s voice.

At the heart of the campaign was a spotlight on two women from the RWTÜV Group who are forging their own paths with passion and courage.

Marième: Stay open to life’s adventures

One of them is Marième N’Doye, a colleague at the IngenieurbüroNordhorn, who encourages others to take a detour: She describes her passion for language and storytelling as the starting point of a journey and the reason she entered the field of journalism. She remained open to change and, during her studies, discovered her passion for marketing, as it allowed her to combine creativity and strategy and use her  words to bring brands to life. She didn’t see her move into marketing as a break from her previous path, but rather as a natural progression of her strengths. Today, she enjoys working in this field. Her most important lesson: Career paths don’t have to be linear. It’s okay to change plans, seize opportunities, and chart a new course. Her message: “Stay open to life’s adventures. You never know where your path will lead you!”

Ingrid: Challenge yourself and embrace support

The career path of Ingrid van Bommel of Van Ameyde also illustrates what really matters. She recommends building a strong foundation as the basis for success. Early on, she leveraged her analytical skills and invested in high professional standards, earning a CA certification along the way and thereby laying a foundation that continues to support her career to this day. For her, lifelong learning is a fundamental mindset; professional development is not an afterthought, but an integral part of the journey. By moving between industries and roles, Ingrid has deliberately cultivated a variety of perspectives. Her decisions are clearer today because she draws strength from her diverse experiences. Above all, however, Ingrid is grateful to two mentors: “Their guidance and support have inspired and motivated me, and our open dialogue has shaped my path.” Today, as Chief Financial Officer, Ingrid embodies a leadership style rooted in trust, support, and autonomy. She passes on the very things that have helped her succeed. Her journey makes it clear: successful careers flourish where people support one another, are given the opportunity to grow, and can realize their full potential. 

Marième and Ingrid are excellent examples of how RWTÜV envisions career paths for women within the corporate group.

Holger Mennigmann will join the management team at IB Nordhorn effective April 1, 2026. Klaus Nordhorn, who founded the company 30 years ago, is thereby preparing for an orderly succession and a seamless transition ahead of his retirement in 2027. In the meantime, he and Holger Mennigmann will jointly manage IB Nordhorn GmbH & Co. KG.

Holger Mennigmann brings extensive experience – gained in more than three decades – in energy, building, and plant engineering, as well as proven leadership skills. In addition to his technical expertise, Holger Mennigmann has a broad network in the energy and real estate sectors. Above all, he will drive the further development of IB Nordhorn within the RWTÜV Group.

The IB Nordhorn teams at the Münster, Berlin, and Hamburg locations are focused on jointly strengthening their position as a quality-oriented building services engineering firm. To this end, they are also leveraging synergies within the group. Dr. Fabian Fechner, Managing Director of RWTÜV GmbH, comments: “We are pleased to have gained an experienced and competent Managing Director in Holger Mennigmann to consistently capitalize on growth opportunities in building services engineering planning.”

In order to provide constructive and effective support to the companies within the RWTÜV Group, a structured organisation and well-organised workflows at Group headquarters are essential. In mid-March, Dr Fabian Fechner and Thomas Biedermann therefore deliberately focused on all employees and the holding company’s responsibilities during a joint team workshop.

This is because, in recent years, the number of tools – particularly digital ones – has grown, colleagues have left or joined the company, processes have changed and the range of tasks has expanded. Under the guidance of development coach Wibke Schindler and with the help of the Profile Dynamics® analysis tool, the group reflected on how individual behaviours can best be aligned, and how both the workflow and personal well-being in the workplace and within the team can be optimised. With openness and acceptance, different working and thinking styles were brought to light and concrete approaches were developed to promote constructive collaboration within the team. Dr Fechner is certain: “This was a very valuable exchange, very much in the spirit of move AS ONE, here at the holding company too. I would like to thank all our employees for their openness, and I am certain that these insights will be very helpful for our joint development.”

RWTÜV portfolio company isn – innovation service network participated in the „digital.tirol Impulstag“ event on March 19 as part of Tyrolean Innovation Week 2026. The event focused on the topic of artificial intelligence and how it is fundamentally transforming economy, society, and organizations. Digital transformation was explored in a practical and well-founded manner from various perspectives through panels, workshops, and keynote presentations featuring AI case studies and real-world experiences from the business sector. digital.tirol is a regional network dedicated to advancing digital development in Tyrol.

Reinhard Willfort and the isn team presented their AI services. Willfort commented: “I am particularly pleased to see how much interest there is in a structured yet pragmatic approach to artificial intelligence. That is exactly what we aim to achieve with the European Digital Innovation Hub (EDIH) “Crowd in Motion AI”, a consulting and service offering that involves no administrative burden or costs. We want to meet companies where they are and get things moving quickly together. The AI Sprint is just one example of how quickly ideas can turn into concrete, testable solutions – without long lead times, but with a clear focus on real added value. My message to all companies: Just get started.” isn is a member of EDIH, a consortium of non-profit research and technology organizations, innovation accelerators, crowd-sourcing platform providers, and digital fabrication labs within Austria’s digital innovation ecosystem. Within the RWTÜV Group as well, isn – innovation service network offers all subsidiaries consulting and support for innovation initiatives and regarding the use of AI, in line with the “move AS ONE” philosophy.