Sebastian van Hunen

The construction sector has faced sustained pressure for years. Mid-sized companies are particularly exposed: their reliance on debt financing leaves them vulnerable when interest rates rise, potentially threatening their viability. Securing additional funding therefore requires a robust, credible plan. In this interview, real estate expert Jan-Eike Ratjen discusses how lenders assess project viability—and why an independent adviser can be critical at key decision points.

For Franz A. Wenzel, Managing Director USA, the last five months in Anderson, South Carolina have felt like an entire year. Born, raised, and educated in the US, our consultant has returned to the US after nearly two decades abroad in both Germany and Europe, at large—as a consultant for German SMEs in the Upstate boom. What are his impressions after five months in the southeastern US? Has his focus shifted? And what questions does he frequently encounter from German companies expanding into the US? From risks to future prospects: an honest, personal, and practical insight.

In phases with high decision-making and time pressure, every minute counts. When key roles in finance, operations, or project management are vacant, implementation becomes a risk—in times of crisis, but also during growth, transformation, or transition phases. In such situations, tailor-made interim and executive search solutions bring targeted leadership experience and implementation expertise to the company. They create additional certainty by clearly anchoring responsibility, driving decisions forward, and confidently involving relevant stakeholders. The decisive factor here is not only the speed of recruitment, but also the ability to actually make an impact in challenging phases. In this interview, Anne Rienecker, head of enomyc's new People Advisory business unit, and managing director Julia Hammer explain how they support medium-sized companies with their services and why even the best interim manager is not a “jack of all trades.

Impending double dip, pressing transformation, slowing banks: “Outdated financing concepts are of little help now,” says Ralf Ehret, partner and head of debt advisory at enomyc. They are often suboptimal, unstable, and not designed for the current risks or future needs of German SMEs. It is no surprise that alternative sources of financing are now booming. But what do companies need to anticipate now in order to act early, honestly, and smartly? A look at worst-case scenarios and dream scenarios from a debt advisor.

Is this impression misleading, or are strikes becoming more common? Which industries are hardest hit? And how well prepared are medium-sized companies? “In my experience, not well at all,” reports Thomas Wahlig, specialist lawyer for labor law, “but the unions are just as bad.” This could make companies vulnerable to blackmail very suddenly. And this at a time when German SMEs are in the midst of an unprecedented wave of restructuring. Thomas Wahlig is a partner at Pusch Wahlig Workplace Law and specializes in collective bargaining and works constitution law, particularly restructuring. He says that companies planning restructuring should check their strike resistance very carefully in advance. How? With due diligence. We interviewed him.

At first glance, the German MedTech industry seems to be doing well. It appears resilient in crises, innovative, strong in exports, and optimistic. However, on a global scale, its business growth seems to have slowed. What’s troubling the MedTech industry? How is its innovative strength holding up? And what about its future? enomyc, in collaboration with the German industry association SPECTARIS, which focuses on optics, photonics, analytical, and medical technology, surveyed over 40 companies in the industry. In this expert interview with Christian Zeller, we explore the sentiment, strengths, and levers of the German MedTech industry.

The obsession with a long and healthy life is fueling boom after boom in the healthcare industry. Vitamins, supplements, and nootropics. Dietary foods for muscle building and weight loss. Herbal medicines for prevention and recovery—all available over-the-counter (OTC) in pharmacies and drugstores. While some pharmaceutical manufacturers are thriving in this market, others struggle to remain relevant. Where do they fall short? "I've never seen an OTC company in crisis due to a lack of pharmaceutical or product expertise," says marketing and sales expert Peter Klein. "What most lack is digital know-how and digital marketing expertise." Klein holds a degree in business administration with a focus on marketing and sales. He studied in Cologne and Trier and has held executive positions in consumer goods and pharmaceutical companies. Today, he advises OTC producers as a consultant and interim manager. What makes OTC products truly relevant? Why should pharmaceutical manufacturers view themselves as customer-centric companies? And how is "Insta Health" transforming the OTC industry? Fresh insights and actionable recommendations—read the full interview below.

The real estate sector is currently experiencing one of the most severe crises in its history. The number of building permits has dropped by a quarter, and transaction volumes have plummeted by more than 70 percent. Few expect a genuine recovery in the short term. What can companies do now to escape the downward spiral of the industry? Christian Kuhs, founder and Business Development at Nordantech, discussed this with enomyc founder and Managing Partner Uwe Köstens, and enomyc partner and real estate expert Matias Otto, in the #SHIFTHAPPENS Podcast by Nordantech. Here are some key excerpts from the conversation.