Thomas Bargetzi, the Founder & CEO of THOMAS BARGETZI AG, epitomizes a philosophy where success isn’t just an outcome but a mindset, cultivated through unwavering dedication and focused leadership. For him, success isn’t merely a destination but the culmination of consistent, high-performance actions.
Bargetzi’s ethos revolves around the belief that success stems from a multitude of small yet impactful efforts, each contributing to the greater whole. He approaches each day with the mindset that success is the driving force behind every endeavor, motivating him to strive for excellence relentlessly.
As a dynamic manager, Bargetzi recognized the significance of innovation in overcoming traditional barriers within corporate structures. Faced with challenges where age, tenure, or hierarchy often dictated the acceptance of ideas, he pioneered a novel approach – interim management. Drawing inspiration from iconic figures like “Red Adaire,” who tackled seemingly insurmountable challenges, Bargetzi embraced the notion that the most daunting tasks demand the boldest solutions. His approach is characterized by agility and decisiveness, emphasizing action over deliberation. Bargetzi believes in swift execution, advocating for a proactive stance where actions speak louder than words. In his experience, action is key to addressing issues effectively, allowing for rapid adaptation and problem-solving.
Bargetzi’s modus operandi involves rapid immersion into projects, speedily identifying core issues, and mobilizing resources for impactful outcomes. He prefers collaborating closely with internal stakeholders, leveraging their insights and expertise to drive meaningful change. By embedding himself within project teams as the sole external member, Bargetzi ensures a seamless integration of external perspective with internal dynamics.
As a self-described “fire brigade,” Bargetzi operates with a sense of urgency, eschewing complacency for proactive engagement. His approach emphasizes direct engagement with customers, markets, and stakeholders, prioritizing active listening and quick response to feedback.
Leadership at Switzerland’s Largest Brewery
Bargetzi’s academic journey is impressive, with a focus on economics and marketing. He holds two marketing master’s degrees and a postgraduate degree in controlling, in addition to an MBA from City University in Seattle. Fluent in four languages—German, French, English, and Italian—Bargetzi possesses a valuable skill set for international business.
At the age of 37, Bargetzi reached the pinnacle of his career as the head of the soft drink division at Switzerland’s largest brewery, showcasing his leadership and strategic capabilities. Prior to this role, he held senior positions in marketing and sales with prominent American companies such as Mars, Pepsi Cola, NutraSweet, and Sunrise Medical. These experiences provided him with valuable insights into customer-oriented thinking and the dynamics of the consumer goods industry.
Additionally, Bargetzi served as a highly ranked Swiss Army officer, fulfilling his duty in accordance with Federal Law. This diverse background demonstrates his leadership skills, adaptability, and commitment to excellence in various professional and personal capacities.
Strategy for Addressing Global Issues
Bargetzi’s extensive experience working in 30 countries across 5 continents and 80 cities has provided him with a uniquely international perspective. While this global scope presents challenges in terms of managing everything independently, it also offers the opportunity to leverage his diverse talents and experiences.
Despite facing the challenge of not being able to delegate his talents to others, Bargetzi finds great satisfaction in adapting his experiences from around the world. He recognizes that many issues are universal regardless of location, but the solutions must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each locality.
This ability to navigate global challenges while customizing solutions to local contexts underscores Bargetzi’s versatility, adaptability, and deep understanding of international business dynamics. It also highlights his commitment to finding effective and contextually appropriate solutions wherever he operates.
Adaptive Decision-Making
Bargetzi emphasizes the challenges of growing as a one-person operation, acknowledging that it limits his capacity to take on multiple mandates simultaneously. Despite this limitation, he has successfully managed 55 mandates across 19 different businesses worldwide. He observes a common issue among managers everywhere: a fear of making mistakes that hinders effective decision-making. Bargetzi believes that failure is essential for learning and advocates for a culture that embraces and learns from failures rather than fearing them.
In his approach to decision-making, Bargetzi takes proactive steps to get things started and then adjusts plans based on feedback and outcomes. He also emphasizes the importance of actively listening to staff, spending time working alongside them to understand their perspectives and challenges, which leads to better solutions.
Bargetzi outlines three principles he believes can improve society, business consulting and services, and people’s lives:
- KISS – Keep it simple and stupid: Simplifying plans and communications to ensure clarity and understanding.
- Active listening: Recognizing the importance of listening over speaking and valuing the input of others.
- Embracing failure: Encouraging experimentation and risk-taking to discover innovative solutions.
The Importance of Fairness
As CEO of THOMAS BARGETZI AG, Bargetzi prioritizes efficiency and fairness in his leadership approach. He values completing tasks in less time, believing it improves overall company performance. Bargetzi emphasizes the importance of treating people fairly, even when making tough decisions, which fosters trust and goodwill.
In addition to his business background and experiences, Bargetzi believes in openly discussing both failures and successes. He also prioritizes living a healthy lifestyle by engaging in sports and maintaining a balanced diet. Bargetzi likens his job to a physical exercise, suggesting that it helps him stay prepared for the unpredictable nature of business.
Harnessing Technology
Bargetzi highlights several significant changes in the field of Business Consulting and Services, particularly regarding the influence of technology:
- Professional Databases: Bargetzi notes that databases used for decision-making have become increasingly sophisticated and professional. These databases likely contain vast amounts of data and analytics, providing valuable insights for businesses.
- Emphasis on Personal Experience: Despite advancements in technology, Bargetzi emphasizes the importance of personal experience and individual judgment in navigating complex business challenges. While AI may offer suggestions, human experience remains crucial in determining the best course of action.
- Role of Human Execution: Bargetzi underscores that human beings will always play a central role in executing ideas and plans. While technology can provide guidance and support, ultimately, it is humans who implement strategies and interact with clients and stakeholders.
Also, while technology has enhanced data analysis and decision-making processes in Business Consulting and Services, Bargetzi emphasizes the irreplaceable value of human experience and execution in driving successful outcomes.
The Path to Success
Bargetzi reflects on the greatest risk he has taken as a professional, which involved trusting numbers, names, and promises without realizing that the company he was buying was already over-indebted. Despite facing challenges and attempting to rectify the situation for the past five years, he remains determined to prove that he was deceived. He also emphasizes the importance of making plans a reality, highlighting instances where well-thought-out plans failed because stakeholders were not consulted or involved in the implementation process. Bargetzi’s goal is to create plans, execute them effectively, and be adaptable when necessary.
Despite setbacks, Bargetzi remains committed to finding ways to resolve the situation and achieve success in his endeavors.
