The TCI network has always remained true to its claim: "We love projects, we can change." The Transformation Consulting International GmbH has been significantly shaped by Wolfgang Schnober since its foundation in 2006. Now the managing partner is retiring from his active career. The TCI editorial team took the opportunity to interview him at this point. In his answers Wolfgang Schnober gives a sympathetic and varied insight into the beginnings of TCI and explains, among other things, what actually constitutes consulting success and why cooperation within the TCI network is particularly important to him.

From the gazebo to Saudi Arabia to an extraordinary network of the future - an interview with Wolfgang Schnober

Hello Mr. Schnober, thank you for taking the time for an interview. Let's start at the very beginning: What motivated you to found TCI GmbH?

It's a long story. After about 20 years of management in large corporations - a few years before that, to be precise, 20 years from today's perspective - I managed large projects independently and took on responsibility as an interim manager. In 2003, the three of us founded a small consulting firm, MPT. And in 2006, TCI was the logical next step - the immediate reason was an upcoming major project assignment in Saudi Arabia and we simply needed a larger unit with an international focus from the outset. So three steps: working alone, as a team of three and then in a larger group - that was the motivation. Or to put it a little more casually: "I wanted to work with people who are fun to work with (most of the time at least), I wanted to be able to handle exciting projects (most of the time at least) and I wanted to earn good money (most of the time at least)". So there were plenty of reasons to found TCI.

What has always inspired you - in your own work as a consultant on the one hand, and as managing partner of TCI on the other?

What inspires me again and again is how we have succeeded in attracting top consultants to work with us without tight management hierarchies, without strict guidelines and without rigid management - ultimately many hundreds. And we have repeatedly gained customers who place their trust in us - ultimately hundreds of them.

The mutual trust, the interaction without "top - bottom", that's what inspires me above all. And it was fun, at least most of the time. He laughs.

What was the best experience over the years? Is there anything that has particularly touched you personally?

Above all, there are hundreds of these experiences full of trust and mutual respect, between customers and consultants, teams and TCI shareholders. Of course, the first steps in Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Sri Lanka and Hungary stand out as special experiences. To be successful in completely unfamiliar territory and, above all, to build trust and friendship with clients - that really is a gift!

The TCI is built on a solid foundation

How have you experienced the development of TCI?

Intensive. Well, to be a little more detailed: always at the forefront. Always shaping and contributing - in terms of strategy, organization, cultural development and, above all, customers. I don't think I've missed any significant developments. Perhaps not all of them were successfully shaped, but all of them were fully experienced. The development of TCI was full of enthusiasm and excitement; of course, this also involved some failures and even disappointments. However, this has not changed the basic mood to this day, which is still the same: We want to get something off the ground together.

What is your assessment: What were the key success factors?

Clearly the culture - and mutual trust. A long time ago, I formulated the TCI's "golden triangle", which consists of three points in order to achieve the most stable balance possible for our partners. Firstly, these are Business. Because without generating orders and without a stable customer base, the whole thing makes little sense in the long term, because then it's just a "social club". The second point is the Mutual transfer of expertise. Freelancers in particular need a qualified exchange with "like-minded people" at eye level and also input from colleagues. This also includes further training - and what else the company offers in a permanent position. And thirdly, this is the Funotherwise we would either be a pure placement agency or an educational institution. You have to like coming to TCI and you have to want to work with the other partners.

In addition to this triangle, we have of course repeatedly generated and delivered a very high level of consulting and project management quality to our customers. This is also reflected in the high level of customer loyalty.

Last but not least: a simple "to-do-business-with", which means: few complicated processes, instead a lot happens on demand. A lot is done "on the go". However, this was only possible thanks to our competent, always helpful and friendly back office team for order processing, accounting, IT, partner management and recruiting. That is a real success factor.

What makes TCI unique as a network besides these core values?

TCI is one of the most successful "hybrid organizations": we are as clearly and tightly organized as a classic consulting or project house, with clear core competencies and clear responsibilities, even for complex work contracts. At the same time, we remain as flexible as a network of freelancers: without the burden of having to utilize a specific group of employees. Instead, we have the flexibility to provide the best possible staffing for our clients.

We have dedicated almost 14 years to the network - without a tight organization, without a rigid structure, without predetermined specialist competencies. The future belongs to this network as an organization. It may not be unique, but it is not often done so consistently and to this extent.

What is the secret of TCI's success?

As I said: the culture of cooperation and trust, the low hierarchical structure, and all of this based on high delivery quality and a strong customer focus. We love projects, we can change - that has always been our claim. And that's how it is.

About the key to success as a consultant

What makes a consultant successful?

There are many things that a successful consultant must take into account. These definitely include customer focus, expertise and empathy. They must act on an equal footing with the customer and always be on the ball when it comes to business development, technologies and trends. Ethics and authenticity must also be present in everything they do. Experience is not a bad thing either - in my opinion, that means Having already made mistakes and not necessarily having to repeat them. In concrete terms, it means having learned from them.

Can you tell us your personal secret of success?

Basically exactly what I just described to you. I think I'm good at building relationships and keeping them long and stable - with customers, with business partners, with our consultants, ultimately with many people. I trust others. I value and appreciate them. And I have an open error culture, which means that mistakes are allowed, but you have to recognize and correct them and not repeat them. However, my main success factor was not my mistakes, but my relationship work for successful projects. And I have managed some very large ones, including some with a project volume of several hundred million. Added to this is my ability to remain calm and maintain an overview, even under great pressure, and a certain strategic ability. And something you might call emotional intelligence.

Finally, a little game. I name a few words or phrases and you answer with your first association, short and snappy!

• TCI founded in 2006: It all started in our gazebo.

• TCI Motto: We love projects, we know change.

• Enterprise Transformation Cycle: An all-round complete model for managing major change processes.

• ICT Transformation: Information and communication technology drives business, business drives technology.

• Drivers of digitalization: Technology, permanent connection in the network, new culture, new structures.

• Brandeins - "Best consultants": We were completely surprised and are very proud of this recognition.

• A decade of TCI: The most exciting and thrilling years in an exciting and thrilling life.

• Retirement: The word is unfortunately unknown to me... Well, ok: maybe a little more traveling and a little more time for friends.

Thank you very much, Mr. Schnober, for the interesting and the exciting insights into your perspective on the TCI. You have created a sustainable network that is possibly unique in its kind and that we enjoy being part of - we really appreciate that. We wish you all the best for the future!

The interview with Wolfgang Schnober was conducted by the TCI editorial team.

Cover picture: The TCI "band" in its founding line-up with Wolfgang Schnober on the keyboard. (Picture: © Wolfgang Schnober | TCI GmbH)