5 Questions for Peter Kirkegaard, CEO of IMT Masken und Teilungen AG

Long before the term "agility" became a buzzword in the world of work, it was already shaping the business philosophy of IMT Masken und Teilungen AG. For the company, agility was not just a choice, but a simple necessity of life. Why? Because agility means more than just an adaptable business model. It means flexibility and moving quickly in a world where standing still is synonymous with going backwards. High-tech companies like IMT Masken und Teilungen AG in particular not only have to keep up with technological progress, but also find innovative ways to - literally - shed light on new applications. Medical analysis technologies such as the sequencing of genomes, endoscopes that enable complex operations, high-resolution microscopy techniques that allow researchers to visualize the tiniest building blocks of our world or surgical treatments using the latest laser technology: we owe everything we already know and use today to photonics - or in other words, the technical use of light.

In this industry sector, investing in research and development to develop new and improved photonic products and technologies is a top priority. It is a blend of science and creativity that drives the multidisciplinary team of specialists in physics, optics, microtechnology, semiconductor manufacturing and production at IMT drives us every day to push the boundaries of what is technologically possible. As a contract manufacturer of high-quality microstructures on and in glass, the IMT Agility is not just about adapting quickly to the latest developments, finding creative solutions and outperforming the international competition. Agility extends to the corporate culture and the desire for continuous improvement. A key concern for CEO Peter Kirkegaard, who has led the company as Managing Director since 1999.

At the time of the takeover, the company had around 30 employees and an ageing production environment. With a deep understanding of the industry, business acumen, leadership skills and innovative decisions, Peter Kirkegaard's team managed to get the company on a growth trajectory and keep it there. With 120 employees and an expanded process portfolio, the company now delivers IMT products in the life sciences, medical technology, measurement technology and sports optics sectors. A fascinating and fast-moving environment that attracts qualified specialists. An exciting working day is also important for the CEO: "The fundamental technologies of the IMTThe owners' willingness to invest and our strategic orientation allow us to reinvent ourselves every five years or so. That's why I've enjoyed going to work at the same place every day for over 20 years. But it's basically not the same company."

Born in Denmark, he trained as an industrial engineer and moved to Germany and then Switzerland over 30 years ago. He has learned to see change as an opportunity, which is why he spent several years working in Sydney and Singapore. "Accept, adapt, change": the motto of the Service Club Round Tableof which he is a member, is also embodied by Peter Kirkegaard in his professional life. Since he took over the management of the company, he has continuously promoted innovation and change. There is an exceptional willingness within the company to embrace new ideas and approaches, whether in terms of technology, processes or working conditions. It is recognized that the key to successfully implementing change is to adapt it to the specific needs and challenges of the business. This empathy and ability to tailor solutions has strengthened the company in times of change.

However, the vision of the IMT management goes beyond simple customization. It constantly strives to improve the company's performance and efficiency. To this end, teams are encouraged to look for continuous improvement and opportunities to develop. Peter Kirkegaard agrees with the importance of intensive work, especially for young professionals. "The early years of a professional career are similar to the development of an aspiring artist. The road to virtuosity is paved with intense dedication, countless hours of practice and a relentless thirst for knowledge. This period of intense work and, if necessary, overtime is crucial to familiarize yourself with the craft, hone your skills and develop a deep understanding of the industry and the tasks," says the CEO.

We talked to the experienced managing director about alternative career paths, professional and private views and how they influence each other. Find out more about Peter Kirkegaard and be inspired by his motto: "Do what you love - with people that you like - at a place where you belong."

Mr. Kirkegaard, if you had taken a different path when you were younger, what would you have become?

"You mean, if I had known when I was younger what I know today, which path would I have taken? Choose the path now, so to speak, with a lot of life behind me?

Or do you mean; if I had chosen a different path when I was younger - with little or no life experience - what would that path be? And implicitly; would I be somewhere completely different today? Would I have become something completely different? And would I perhaps be happier now?

Allow me to quote my compatriot and (almost) namesake Søren Kierkegaard: "Life is lived forwards and understood backwards".

It is therefore understandable that many people don't actually want to ask or answer the question about a different path, because for many it then appears as if they have made a supposedly wrong choice and that they would have led a (again supposedly) "better" life if they had made a different choice. Which is not true in most cases.

I'm doing quite well with this question and answer. Due to a back that can't take much strain, I was advised not to train as a craftsman - I would have liked to have trained as a toolmaker.

It was clear to me early on that I wanted to work at the interface between people and technology - and that I would like to work internationally, i.e. outside of Denmark - at least for a while. It wasn't planned that this would turn into more than 30 years.

As a "technology nerd", it was also clear that I wouldn't be collecting a fortune.

And so I think that I would also have had the privilege of working with highly motivated people on the other possible path - which is the point of the question - to make things possible that didn't exist before and to go down paths that were previously unknown.

Would I have become a manager in an industrial company if I had taken this other route? I can't say. A management role - i.e. "wanting to be a boss" - was never a goal in itself. The management roles that I had and still have were offered to me by people whom I am grateful for the trust they placed in me."

What is your favorite way to start your day?
"With some exercise and a proper breakfast! I'm a big advocate of having a proper meal at the start of the day. I grew up in the countryside in Denmark and have found that it pays to "fill up the tank" early - you don't know what's coming.

The choice of food depends on the location: fish and rye bread in Scandinavia, pasta in Asia, white sausage in Bavaria, pancakes, eggs and bacon etc. in the USA. Another pleasant side-effect of traveling is that it also guarantees variety at breakfast."

What does success mean to you personally?
"To have made a recognizable difference - implicitly a difference for the better. To have moved, motivated or even touched someone so that they could make progress."  

What would you work for free for a week?
"Again to make a difference. Through my membership in Round Table (a service club), I didn't leave it at "would". Round Table Over the past many years, Zurich has financially supported the Hora Theater in Zurich with the proceeds from the Christmas market on Bürkliplatz (we no longer do this), for several years we have supported mountain farmers, and through our own work we have created financial resources for the work of other Tablers in other countries.

For example, our Brothers' Table runs a clinic in Coimbatore, India, where people who would otherwise have to live with a major disability all their lives are given prosthetic legs free of charge, enabling them to support themselves with a proper job and not have to beg or be a burden on their family. When you realize during a visit that such a simple prosthesis can be produced for around CHF 70 and thus radically change a life for the better, you return home with a high degree of humility, gratitude and the motivation to continue making a contribution. Another effect is also to appreciate your own privileged situation."

What was the best professional advice you ever received?
"For the first 10 years of your working life: "It's not what you do between 8am and 4pm - it's what you do between 4pm and 8am". I realize that this contradicts today's emphasis on work-life balance. However, it does not take away from the relevance and truth of this advice.

In general: "It is not what you know - it is who you know". This often quoted sentence about networking and the occasional explanation from applicants as to why they were not selected for a position because a friend of the boss was preferred goes beyond mere clichés.

It also stands for the realization that although you can know a lot on your own, you can achieve more together with others. If you don't try to tackle a challenge on your own, but have the courage to ask someone who already knows the ropes, you can achieve your goal much faster. However, this is often countered by clinging to personal boundaries and protecting (mostly male) egos that need to be pushed aside."

We would like to thank Mr. Kirkegaard for his contribution to this article.
This interview was conducted orally.