Daniel Guggenheim

Daniel Guggenheim serves as Group CEO of a Swiss-based private holding company. He chairs the advisory board (Beirat) of FAIST Group International. He is the chairman of NRG Services, a Massachusetts (USA) company for infrastructure services.

He served on the board of Blue Ridge Analytics Inc., Charlotte North Carolina. Before, he worked with a major corrugated board manufacturer in Switzerland.

He studied law at the Universities of St. Gallen and Zurich and graduated from Widener University, School of Management, Pennsylvania, with a degree in Business Administration. He has successfully completed the Rice Advanced Management Program at Rice Business (Jones Graduate School of Business).

My advice to founders is to plan for a longer period of time to get to results.

  • Expertise in / interest in the following areas: Business Development and Strategy, Consumer goods, Infrastructure, High-precision mechanics, Optimizations

  • Previous experience:

    – Managing Director of a Swiss holding company and Investment Manager of its American subsidiary
    – Chairman of NRG Services, LLC, an infrastructure service company based in Massachusetts (USA)
    – Consultant with Dent-Well, a Houston-based company that operates dental clinics in several US states
    – Former director of a software company based in Charlotte, North Carolina, which was successfully sold to a strategic investor
    – Cooperation in a corrugated cardboard factory in Switzerland
    – Many years of experience in various areas of business management

  • Favourite quote: “Good leaders create followers, great leaders create leaders” (Sir Jonathan Sacks)

Q -What has been the most important "learning" of your career?
DG -The success of any project completely depends upon the team.
Q -What would you have liked to know at the beginning of your career?
DG -Leading projects to success takes more time than you think.
Q -What makes a really good founder?
DG -Spirit to fight and openness towards experienced people.
Q -What is a "deal breaker" for you?
DG -Loss of Trust.
Q -What qualities are you looking for in a founder/team, what is important to you?
DG -Loyalty, expertise, analysis. The ability to think in a networked way and humour.
Q -What trends do you currently observe in the technological world?
DG -Artificial Intelligence in industry.
Q -How do you define success?
DG -Sustainable development for all stakeholders and a stable or increasing cash flow.
Q -What is your most important advice to founders?
DG -Make plans for a sustained period of difficulty.
Q -Can Europe keep up on the global stage? Where do you see opportunities?
DG -Only if the EU stands together in the crisis. I see opportunities in onshoring supply chains.
Q -Which startup inspires you most?
DG -OrCam.
Q -What are the indispensable tools in your everyday life?
DG -Moleskin, cellphone.
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