Greiner Talks

In September 2020, the first episode of our corporate podcast Greiner Talks went online: an interview with Fred Luks, an expert in sustainable transformation. In the years that followed, the podcast's appearance, structure, and sound changed somewhat, but one thing always remained the same: inspiring guests whose statements, ideas, and expertise provoked thought. The goal was clear: to provide foo...

Ideas ahead of their time Much has changed in the world since the first episode of Greiner Talks with Fred Luks was released in 2020. For Fred Luks , the biggest personal shift was becoming a father. This life event sharpened his sense of urgency: “I’m becoming more impatient because it’s so obvious that we are fundamentally on the wrong track as a society.” Yet fatherhood also strengthened his co...

A glimpse into the future In the ”Future of Work Lab”, Nicky Dries studies what the perfect future of work could look like. But what will work really look like in many years from now? Of course, nobody can tell us which predictions are right – because it hasn’t happened yet. But we can take courses of action in the present that will move us closer to one scenario or the other.  Nicky Dries emphasi...

The shift from management to leadership Tom Venning is a business trainer, facilitator and coach specializing in B2B Sales, Leadership, and Change. For him, the rise in conversations about leadership and purpose-driven leadership isn't just a trend, but a response to a deeper need of reason and security. But what is leadership, really? Tom Venning defines it simply: “Getting people to do what you...

In a country like Austria, with a functioning healthcare system and good public infrastructure, one might think that social justice is already well advanced. But Susanne Hamscha takes a more nuanced view: “We see people in our society who have a harder time, who are less privileged – whether in terms of access to education or the labor market. Only when opportunities are truly distributed fairly c...

Tomaso Torriani, speaking from his office in Milan, shared his passion for sustainability and the journey that led him to co-found  Movopack with two lifelong friends, Alberto Cisco, and Andrea Cipollone. Movopack's core offering is a catalog of reusable packaging products, both flexible and rigid, designed for e-commerce shipments. Customers receive their orders in Movopack packaging, which can t...

To understand Andreas Onea’s story, we have to look back to one day that changed his life: Sunday, the 3rd of May 1998. On this day, he and his family were involved in a devastating car accident that injured them severely and resulted in the loss of Andreas Onea’s left arm. Despite these tragic circumstances, he chose to view his life as a gift. “It’s just the perspective that helps me to be thank...

Elka Xharo, scientist, lecturer, and creator of The Sciency Feminist Instagram channel, is thinking science communication differently by making complex topics accessible and championing diversity in STEM. Speaking with our host Alexander Berth, she shared her thoughts on fake news, accessibility to science, and equality. For Elka Xharo, science isn’t an ivory tower pursuit but a source of wonder a...

Who is telling the truth? How the media shape our society At the European Forum Alpbach, Alexander Berth, host of Greiner Talks, talked to Nic Newman from the Reuters Institute of Journalism about communication and sustainability, the radically changing media landscape and the role of trust. Nic Newman is a Senior Research Fellow at the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism at the Universi...

What do human rights have to do with business? A lot! In the new Greiner Talks episode, Harpreet Kaur, a human rights expert, discusses with Alexander Berth why companies have such an important role to play in this area and why a rethink is needed. Harpreet Kaur has been working in the field of human rights for over 15 years and is a business and human rights specialist at the United Nations Devel...

In the most recent episode of Greiner Talks, Alexander Berth interviews Andreas Rasche, Professor at Copenhagen Business School, about corporate sustainability and business ethics. A talk about the importance of values within organizations and a pragmatic approach towards sustainability.  Rasche’s research focuses on corporate sustainability, strategic management and policy making in the light of...

Katharina Moser is a speaker, moderator, and part of the Inner Development Goals Foundation – and beyond that a passionate advocate for authentic human connections. In our Greiner Talks episode, she shares her insights on emotions, transformation and collaboration. The  Inner Development Goals are a global initiative aimed at fostering essential skills and capacities for tackling humanity's most p...

In our rapidly evolving world, the ability to adapt to new circumstances and environments is essential. But what does change do to our human brain? How are organizations impacted by change? And how can we effectively navigate these challenges?   In this episode of Greiner Talks, Alexander Berth speaks to Pieter Kruger, a Clinical Psychologist specializing in mental well-being and performance under...

As a professor at the Technical University of Dresden and the founding director of the Center Synergy of Systems, Brockmann shares insights into his journey through the realms of complex systems, bridging the gap between diverse scientific disciplines. But what is complexity? Dirk Brockmann defines complex systems as phenomena that transcend traditional scientific fields, such as pandemics or clim...

The World Bank is a multinational development bank based in the US capital Washington, DC. It is here that McClain-Nhlapo is responsible for various projects in the field of inclusion. Her task is to promote the inclusion of people with disabilities in the World Bank Group.  “Seeing the direct impact of your work and on our investments can be extremely gratifying.”  Charlotte McClain-Nhlapo, Globa...

Elena Doms is concerned for the environment and emphasizes the critical impact of climate change on the Arctic. There are many examples of drastic weather shifts that affect daily life: from disruptions in transportation due to changing ice patterns to unusual heat in summer impacting the region's boreal rainforests.  The Arctic is warming up four times faster than the rest of the planet, but it's...

Franz Essl is a professor at the University of Vienna and a member of the Austrian Biodiversity Council. He stresses that biodiversity loss affects not only iconic species but also the unnoticed creatures that play essential roles in our ecosystem. Acknowledging the alarming rate of species extinction, Essl urges the importance of action at every level. He also highlights the biodiversity crisis's...

Gernot Wagner was born in Austria and has lived in the USA for many years. He has been teaching and researching at Columbia Business School since 2022, before which he was at New York University and Harvard University. As a thought leader and advocate for sustainability, Wagner notes that addressing the climate crisis is not just a moral imperative but also an economic opportunity. It is crucial t...

Tensie Whelan is the Director of the Stern Center for Sustainable Business at New Your University and was the President of the Rainforest Alliance for many years. At NYU, she and her team developed the  Return on Sustainability Investment (ROSI) Methodology . Whelan is working at the nexus of the private sector, nonprofits and academia because that's where she feels she can make the most impact. I...

Marianne Schulze is a lawyer with a focus on social sustainability. She has worked internationally on more than 20 resolutions for the UN General Assembly as well as the UN Security Council. In the extensive field of human rights, she specialized in mental health. Human rights give us guidance on how to make sure that each and every one of us is safe. One of the challenges, says Schulze, is that n...

Christina von Messling is Head of Europe and a senior strategic foresight consultant at the Future Today Institute in New York City. She specializes in climate, entertainment and Europe, and starts each workday with thorough research. In doing so, she keeps an eye out for developments that haven't yet hit the mainstream.  Does her job leave room for optimism? "Absolutely. We are very optimistic. W...

MATR offers an all-in-one mattress solution for hotels based on the principles of the circular economy. Because “It's time we make the world more circular”. Michaela Stephen founded the company together with Verena Judmayer - and was able to build on the support of Greiner Innoventures, Greiner's innovation hub.

„A true environmental hero“ - that's how our host Alexander Berth announces the agronomist and winner of the Alternative Nobel Prize (Right Livelihood Award) Tony Rinaudo in the interview. Rinaudo is also known as "The Forest Maker" and gives exciting insights into his love of forests, their great importance for the climate and his work on reforestation. With the reforestation technique "Farmer Ma...

One thing is clear: companies must take responsibility for those emissions they cause and ensure that their negative impact is reduced. Many companies that are actually competitors are already joining forces in initiatives to learn from each other. Because: "There is no way out of this crisis if we don't work together." Lubomila Jordanova is considered one of the most influential founders in the E...

In Greiner Talks, charismatic scientist  John Warner argues that chemists in the 21st century must drastically adapt their working methods. For him, it is particularly important to change the way chemistry is taught. We need to adapt to the challenges of today. Listen in and find out more!