Kwestionariusz

Name: MICHAEL
Surname: VETTER
Position: Financial Director, Prokurement
Company: PORR (Polska) SA

1. My career is... OK as it is. Further steps are not as important anymore as some years ago. Mainly due to the fact that I did quite well so far and that the only remaining commercial position above my own in Poland is the position of the CFO (for our Polish company). According to a holding company policy this function includes being responsible for several CEE countries. The position is officially located in our HQ in Vienna and involves extensive travelling. Spending several nights a week in hotels and a lot of time travelling and at airports is not attractive for me and would also not be appreciated by my wife and my dog. The last 11 years I took part in building up our company in Poland and built up a great team. I am proud of the success we had and I do not feel like leaving this behind. In case our company policy will change, which is possible due to the strong increase of turnover on the Polish market within the last years, this further career step is possible for me in Poland. ESF should prepare the ground - by improving my knowledge in finance.
2. To be a leader... means above all to have responsibility. Firstly to reach the goals for the organisation within which a leading position is held and secondly also for people. Unfortunately these responsibilities are very often put behind, by “leaders” who focus exclusively on their own career.
3. Personal development for me... means changes of personal approaches and attitudes. In a positive way it shall help to improve one’s abilities to fit into organisations and to successfully work with people and within society (in the sense of job environment). From personal development not only a single person should benefit but also, by application of these new abilities, the employer and the organisation.
4. Knowledge of finance is... if not a necessity than a big advantage on all higher management levels. For financial managers a good knowledge of finance of his industry, not necessarily accounting details, goes without saying. For all other high ranking managers at least basic knowledge and a good general understanding are very helpful.
5. Innovation in business... is generally a necessity. Almost all industries are developing fast. Innovation I understand as more than pure technical innovation, but also changes in general business practise, changes of values in business and society, availability of new communication technology, internationalisation, opening of new markets... All these steady changes require from companies, who want to be successful not only to react fast, but - much better - to act faster than others, i.e. to be innovative.
6. In Polish business reality... career, high profit and growing salaries are very important motivators. Where in Western Europe companies and managers, due to operating in more or less stable market conditions already for decades, set their goals on a moderate level, in Poland still the requirements or levels of satisfactions are higher. This is true not only for companies and their managers but also for many employees on all levels.
7. My most spectacular achievement in business... I actually never thought of making a spectacular achievement in business. In industries like construction, where I am working, you rather work for long term success and a steady, but controllable, growth of market share. For sure our company is proud of having constructed some of the major buildings in Warsaw such as the Hotel Intercontinental and the WFC on Emilii Plater Street, the University Library on Dobra and many more. Also the construction of the new SGH building was a real achievement of our employees. Unlike many other industries, in the operational sphere of the construction business almost all functions from technical engineers to site and project managers, both financial and technical, need to make and have the authorization and responsibility to make decisions. Due to the specifics of every contract and project the possibility for standardization is limited and therefore all those positions have direct influence and responsibility for win and loss.
8. Effective networking is... necessary or at least helpful. I understand networks as an additional and very effective source of information. Additional advantages are possible by reducing competition and executing influence, but hopefully within ethical and legal boundaries.
9. Professionalism is… to know your market, its structures and rules and to act logically and well oriented based on this knowledge.
10. Being ethical pays off... definitely in the long run, personally and financially. From my point of view in every industry strong ethical principles are required in a capitalist and profit oriented business environment. All companies are well advised not only to point them out clearly in their guidelines (as lip services), but to translate the sophisticated wording to their employees. The uncovering of unethical activities (e.g. Siemens case two years ago) should be a warning to all of us on all management levels not to put profit seeking above all. As for me 15 years on the operational side of the construction industry were only possible based on strong ethical principles (which often do not make life easier).
11. To exert influence... is necessary or helpful to reach some goals or to make things go forward. But it always depends on the goals and needs if it makes sense or is worth exerting influence. To exert influence has to be a means to en end and must not become an end by itself.
12. An authority (on business matters)… are those who create values without having to profit gain or from the weaknesses of people. They keep away from daily press and you never see them on the cover of manager magazines. I will try to find their names and read their biographies, when I am retired.
13. Hobbies... Conservative private investment in real estate in Warsaw and Vienna, instead of spending money on holidays, cars, golfing or sailing. And of course Rufus, my English bulldog. His quietness and slowness and his complete confidence and unquestionable loyalty give me peace and pleasure very day.
14. I recommend... not to rely on public pension schemes and investment analysts. Difficult?
15. I dissuade people... from making investments based on loan.
16. My dream (that has not come true yet)... is to find more time to think about it.
17. Irreplaceable gadget... a plastic bag, when you walk your dog.
18. I will never forget... the boom in apartment prices in Warsaw in recent years.