Zukunftsgestalter: Weltspitze in der Provinz: Wie der größte Pharmakonzern Deutschlands seine Führungskräfte entwickelt

Boehringer Ingelheim, the largest German pharmaceutical company, is known for its impressive talent development process. Located in Ingelheim, Germany, the 141-year-old family-owned business attracts international employees from major competitors and retains them at an impressive rate of 11 years on average. The company invests about €1,500 per employee annually in personnel, more than the industry average of €1,200.

Boehringer's success in developing talent is attributed to five specific behaviors that determine a candidate's cultural fit and performance. These include alignment with the company culture and job requirements, result-oriented team work, open and constructive communication, quick decision-making, and a track record of driving innovation and change. Interviews are designed to be demanding but not interrogative.

Michael Schmelmer, Boehringer's vice-chairman and responsible for personnel, emphasizes that cultural fit is more important than technical skills. He notes that Boehringer focuses on long-term thinking and encourages candidates to demonstrate a willingness to innovate and drive change. The company also conducts regular employee surveys to identify areas for improvement, such as clearer communication and quicker decision-making.

Boehringer Ingelheim operates with a flexible work arrangement, providing employees with a choice of working in the office from five days a week to twice a quarter. The company has no strict home office policy, as they believe that empowering managers to motivate their teams to come into the office voluntarily is more effective.

The focus is on maintaining the company culture through regular in-person collaboration. Boehringer has approximately 55,000 employees with an average age of 44.2 years, and they offer various benefits, including up to 30 optional international workdays and competitive salaries.