5 questions for Albert Zeller, CEO of RC Tritec AG

Visibility is essential for success in the world of work. Those who are seen, who are recognized for their achievements, have better chances of a career, more recognition and influence. But visibility is more than just presence - it means making the right impression, being in the right place at the right time and being remembered in the long term.

Our interviews regularly make specialists and managers, their companies and industries visible - by showing the people and strategies behind innovations and successes. One company that specializes in visibility is the RC Tritec AG. For over 90 years, it has been making things visible without electricity - literally.

What once began with radioactive fluorescent dyes has developed into high-precision pigments for the Swiss watch industry and innovative applications in pharmaceutical research. Visibility means not only aesthetics, but also function: tritium helps the pharmaceutical industry, for example, to mark drugs and thus better understand their effects. "Our aim is to make the invisible visible - whether on a watch face or in a pharmaceutical laboratory," says Albert Zeller, CEO of RC Tritec AG.

Albert Zeller grew up in the family business in Appenzellerland and gained an early insight into the management of a specialized company. Even as a schoolboy, he helped out in the business before studying business chemistry at the University of Zurich, training as a radiation protection expert and completing further training in SME management at the HSG. He has been managing the company in the fourth generation since 2017 and continues to run it consistently - with a flair for tradition and innovation at the same time. "We have established ourselves in a highly specialized niche for more than 90 years, but we never stand still. Especially in small markets, you have to keep finding new applications to remain relevant in the long term."

Behind this innovative strength is a small, highly specialized team. 28 employees work at RC Tritec - including chemists, laboratory technicians, commercial specialists, controllers and quality control experts. The company thrives on expertise, but also on career changers who provide new impetus with fresh perspectives "We learn from our customers and continue to develop with them. Thanks to our long-standing relationships, we know where the market is heading. We not only supply raw materials, but also work in partnership on prototypes and offer application consulting - an approach that goes far beyond pure series production," says Albert Zeller.

How he RC Tritec successfully into the future, why it is crucial to get young people excited about science and why listening is one of the most important leadership qualities - Albert Zeller talks about this in this interview.

Mr. Zeller, if you had taken a different path when you were younger, what would you have become?
"As a teenager, I dreamed of a career as a professional snowboarder - but in the end, I didn't quite have enough talent for that. Later, I was inspired by the idea of becoming a secondary school science teacher. I believe that the first teacher in a subject often decides whether you are interested in it for the rest of your life or not.
I was lucky enough to have a very motivating teacher who awakened my enthusiasm for science. But that's not a given - I know many people who have had the exact opposite experience. But it's so fascinating: you can explain the whole world with science. I see it as a major challenge for all scientific sectors to inspire young talent for these subjects and retain them in the long term. We could do much better here by teaching the material in a practical way and with more enthusiasm."

What is your favorite way to start your day?
"The best way to start my day is with music - it gives me the right energy and gets me into the rhythm. In the meantime, I read the news to get an overview of current events. Then I take a shower and have breakfast before heading straight to work. However, I'm not an absolute morning person. It's important to me to start the day calmly, without rushing. These moments of structure help me to prepare for what lies ahead."

"Science helps us to understand the world - but we need to get more young people interested in it."

Albert Zeller

What does success mean to you personally?
"Independence. Being able to make my own decisions about my life instead of having to follow the incomprehensible decisions of others, who may not be experts in their field. As a team, we can create great things together and focus on the future. It is a special privilege to work every day on the most beautiful watches in the world and on medicines that could save lives in the future."

What would you work for free for a week?
"For everything that makes the world a better place - be it for our fellow human beings, animals or nature. The main thing is that it brings real benefits."

What was the best professional advice you ever received?
"Listen and observe. We can learn something from everyone and everything - as long as we keep an open mind and don't have blinkers on. This attitude has helped me particularly in management. In a family business where many people have known me since I was a child, I had to find my own style. Today, I focus on personal responsibility, coaching and building bridges between different perspectives.
Many problems can be solved with minimal effort if you ask the right questions. Basically, almost every problem has been solved before, or there is someone who knows the solution."

We would like to thank Mr. Zeller for his contribution to this article.

This interview was conducted orally.