With science and entrepreneurial spirit: How Dr. Aurelia Engelsberger navigates companies through transformation
Transformation is a challenge for many companies - for Dr. Aurelia Engelsberger, it is a mission. With OMIND platform GmbH, she builds a bridge between science and practice to support companies in phases of change. Her hybrid development programs promote a willingness to change among employees and create positive perspectives on transformation.
The result: more efficient processes, lower costs and less resistance. "With our mindset development program, companies can demonstrably save 20 percent of their realignment costs," she explains.
From research to her own company
Dr. Engelsberger laid the foundations for OMIND during her doctorate in organizational psychology. She knew early on that she wanted to set up her own company one day. But it was the results of her doctoral thesis that led to a concrete vision: “I investigated what the biggest barriers and success drivers of innovative work are.”
A milestone in her journey was the collaboration with HUGO BOSS: “The response was huge! When HUGO BOSS suggested that we develop our MVP together, I knew that something big could and would come out of it.”
Founding in challenging times
OMIND was founded during the COVID crisis – a situation that posed major challenges for many start-ups. But Dr. Engelsberger was not deterred by this. “If I want to teach employees how to overcome challenges, I have to set a positive example,” she emphasizes.
Among other things, she received support from the EXIST start-up grant, which enabled her to build a team and found OMIND. “I am particularly grateful to Dr. Christina Weber, Prof. Dr. Anke van Kempen and Saskia Schmidl, who supported me at Munich University of Applied Sciences.”
Leadership between vision and structure
One of the biggest challenges for Dr. Engelsberger is the balance between leadership and management. “The bigger the team gets, the more I try to hand over responsibility and ownership,” she explains. She is building her company sustainably with flat hierarchies and a focus on automation and clear processes.
Mistakes as learning opportunities
For Dr. Engelsberger, mistakes are part of growth. “I wouldn’t do anything differently, because this journey has made us what we are today.” In the process, she learned to focus on a sustainable business model: “At some point, I realized that it’s not just about scaling and exits, but about creating long-term business relationships and development opportunities.”
Vision of the future and the Female Founders ecosystem
Dr. Engelsberger encourages women in the tech and digital sector to be courageous: “As a female founder, you don’t have to be able to do everything. There is a team that can provide exactly the expertise that you lack.”
She has clear goals for the future: To make OMIND less dependent on her personally and to focus more on her research again. A book and a TED talk are also on her agenda.
She would like to see more financial and logistical support for the Female Founders ecosystem: “It should be easier to combine family and starting a business without burning out.”
A motto for the journey
In difficult moments, Dr. Engelsberger remembers her guiding principle: “Enjoy the ride – it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!” For her, the personal learning process is crucial: “For these experiences alone the pain is worth it.”
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