Johannes Teyssen discusses career development, leadership and crisis management at TUM Campus Heilbronn

“I didn’t have a career plan,” admits Dr. Johannes Teyssen at the well-attended CEO Leadership Series at TUM Heilbronn Campus. He didn’t know where he would end up. At 66, the newly appointed Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the Lufthansa Group looks back on a fulfilling professional life: Among other roles, he served as a member of the Executive Board at Hannover-Braunschweigische Stromversorgungs-AG, Chairman of the Executive Board at E.ON, and, since 2022, Chairman of the Board of Directors at the Swiss  group Alpiq Holding – all companies in the energy sector.

In a candid and humorous conversation with host and moderator Chengguang Li, Professor of Strategic Management at the TUM School of Management, the Hildesheim native emphasized the unpredictability of a career. The only important thing, he said, is to ask yourself: “What are my ambitions? What do I want to live for?”

A Call at Just the Right Time

After studying law in Freiburg and Göttingen, Johannes Teyssen initially followed in the footsteps of his father, Judge Hans Teyssen. It was from him that he learned how to argue a case and think critically. Although he was also studying economics at the time, as a lawyer with a doctorate, he felt he also had to work in the field of law. But then a call came at just the right time. At PreussenElektra Teyssen got a taste of the exciting atmosphere of the business world and asked himself, “Why not work here?” Looking back, he explains, “You have to be ambitious, but sometimes you just need a bit of luck.”

What further propelled him in his early days at the energy utility PreussenElektra was his curiosity: politely asking other colleagues if they could help him understand complex issues allowed him to explore them even more deeply.. It was equally essential, he says, to seek feedback from trusted colleagues. After all, social skills weren’t exactly among his strengths at first, Teyssen candidly admits. That’s why he emphasizes even more today how essential it is to listen to employees. His rule of thumb as CEO: “Talk late, best last.”

A Recipe for Disaster

Meanwhile, his professional life kept presenting him with new challenges. When Teyssen was sent to Munich in 2001 as a member of the Executive Board of E.ON Energie AG to head the finance division, it was a “very tough start” for him given the economic situation at the time. Teyssen’s response: “When a crisis hits, focus on the essentials.” He analyzed the business situation and then set the goals. “Being afraid to make decisions is a recipe for disaster,” he sums it up with a smile.

However, part of the reality of being a CEO is also taking problems home with you. Teyssen has had his share of sleepless nights. His wife, whom he loves to call his “Chief Adviser,” is always there to support him. Work-life balance, however, makes no sense to him: “In times of crisis, it’s your duty to give every minute to the company.” After all, thousands of jobs depend on it. The opera lover doesn’t see work and leisure as opposites; rather, for him, it’s about “making decisions, setting priorities, and living with them.” There will be quieter times again.

Developing Talent

Professor Li asks what the most important qualities of a CEO are. Teyssen lists character, resilience, and the ability to develop scenarios. The father of four also sees it as his duty to prepare for his succession and to support talent. “You have to develop a sense of when it’s time to leave.” The company is simply bigger than oneself. “It doesn’t belong to me,” explains Teyssen. His goal is to hand the company over in a better condition than he received it.

During the subsequent Q&A session, a student asks Teyssen whether he would do anything different if he could travel back in time. The 66-year-old says no: “I wouldn’t change a thing. Some steps were better, some less so.” Questioning past decisions, on the other hand, is extremely demotivating. In closing, he urges: “Life isn’t a smooth sail. Fight!” Smiling, he adds: “And have fun!”