Who hasn't experienced this unpleasant scratchy throat or hoarseness... Especially in the cold season, these typical complaints often cause us a lot of trouble. This is precisely the origin of the family-run company DOMACO Dr. med. Aufdermaur AG.
In 1922, Dr. Aufdermaur discovered the unique, beneficial effect of natural herbs. He successfully treated his patients' coughs, hoarseness and bronchial catarrh with tablets he made himself. This approach has shaped the company to this day: with unadulterated herbs from the Alps, combined with active pharmaceutical ingredients, vitamins and minerals, the company has been developing numerous products for over 100 years that are not only beneficial but also effective.
"It is important for us not only to create innovative products, but also to live the values of our region and our family business," says Vanessa Peterhans-Huber, who is the third generation to run the company together with her family. Inspired by her mother, Silvia Huber-Meier, who DOMACO since 1993, Vanessa Peterhans-Huber learned early on how to combine responsibility with a down-to-earth attitude.
With around 240 employees DOMACO high-quality products such as sweets, soft pastilles and nutritional supplements, 80 % of which are exported to countries including Australia, the USA and Northern Europe. At the same time, close ties to the region remain a key concern: "We want to create local jobs and make our contribution to the community," emphasizes Vanessa Peterhans-Huber. What DOMACO is the successful combination of tradition and innovation: from development to production, everything takes place under one roof - with state-of-the-art technology and the highest quality standards. "We work with natural ingredients and focus on tailor-made solutions for our international customers. At the same time, we keep our Swiss quality promise," explains the sales manager.
In order to continue to develop the company successfully, we are DOMACO regularly recruits specialists with expertise in quality management, food technology or the food supplement industry. "We need creative, solution-oriented people who are open to new things and enrich our company with fresh ideas." This attitude not only shapes the company's success, but also Vanessa Peterhans-Huber's personal views: "For me, success means achieving the goals I set and sharing them with others. It's not about how high you can climb, but how many people you can take with you."
Would you like to find out more about Vanessa Peterhans-Huber and her exciting journey in the family business? In this interview, she talks about her passion for the region, her everyday life and her personal definition of success.
Ms. Peterhans-Huber, if you had taken a different path when you were younger, what would you have become?
"I would have become a lawyer, or almost did. That's why I studied law at the University of Fribourg. But when I became more fascinated by business law than the other subjects and added business studies to my degree, I realized that I wanted to take a different path than I had originally thought. As a lawyer, I am still interested in our legal issues, but I am glad to have taken the path into the family business. It was important to my parents that my brother and I first gain other experience, prove ourselves on the job market and gain an outside perspective before joining the family business. I was able to gain this perspective both during my studies and while working on the machine."
What is your favorite way to start your day?
"I enjoy mornings with my two children and my husband over breakfast at the family table, even though mornings before school are usually turbulent. But I love this hustle and bustle and these minutes with my family give me a good feeling so that I can start the day full of energy. Of course, it's also nice to be a little quieter at the weekend, as I actually enjoy the long evenings more than getting up in the morning."
What does success mean to you personally?
"For me, success means achieving the goals I set myself - both at work and in my private life - and sharing this with those around me. In the spirit of: "Success is not how high you can climb, but how many people you take with you." (Wil Rose)
This idea is particularly important in a family business, because only together can we move forward and achieve the impossible. I also quickly learned that even failures can have positive consequences, because we learn from them and continue to develop.
For me, respect plays a central role in this: treating each person as I would like to be treated myself is essential. This also means listening and taking the time to understand different perspectives. Of course, you have to be able to say no in certain situations - but it's crucial that you communicate this decision respectfully and stand behind it."
What would you work for free for a week?
"I would give my time to projects that I can wholeheartedly support - be it volunteering, a task for the community or creative projects. I am particularly inspired by regional projects: It's important to me to make a direct contribution in my local area and strengthen the community."
"It doesn't work, it doesn't work" - there is always a way. This motto, coined by my mother, stands for our attitude of mastering challenges creatively and with an open mind."
Vanessa Peterhans-Huber
What was the best professional advice you ever received?
"This advice, which is also the company motto and was coined by my mother, has always been with me. Especially in difficult situations, it shows me that you can almost always find a solution with creativity, openness and a willingness to try out different approaches.
By exchanging ideas within the team, trying out alternatives and perhaps even unconventional approaches, we have always been able to find a way in the end. This attitude of always being open to new things and never giving up not only helps me professionally, but also in my everyday life."
We would like to thank Ms. Peterhans-Huber for her contribution to this article.
This interview was conducted orally
Batterman Consulting Basel AG
Executive Search,
Byfangweg 1a, CH-4051 Basel
T +41 58 680 55 55
basel@batterman.ch
