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Name: Professor Thomas Hutzschenreuter, Autor, Dozent

“The strategic principles are timeless, so they can also be applied directly to Generation Z.”

Alethea Talks: Prof. Hutzschenreuter, which of your strategic principles are most crucial for Generation Z to achieve their goals?

TH: The strategic principles are timeless, so they can be applied directly to Generation Z. All seven principles are important. Ultimately, everything has to fit together. I would start with the first principle: the principle of success and the question of what I actually want.

“Strategic thinking means solving problems amid uncertainty and resistance.”

What about the German education system, from schools to universities? What do you think of it? Does it prepare students for strategic thinking and professional success, or does it fail?

TH: Selectively, perhaps, but systematically it does little to prepare students for strategic thinking. Strategic thinking means solving problems under uncertainty and resistance. This is not the focus of the school system. To do so, the basics would have to be standardized much more.This would free up time that could be used to train the mind instead of memorizing or what is known as “painting by numbers.”

“But life is always associated with uncertainty. If you want certainty, you should join a monastery.”

Direct question: How do I get to the top – in business, science, or society? What principles do you recommend for a quick, secure rise?

TH: As I said, all seven principles are needed. But there is no such thing as quick and secure anyway. That is completely the wrong approach. This is very often portrayed in social media. You have to look behind the façade. Typically, someone with such alleged success stories wants to sell something. Stay away. Instead, ask questions. All strategy principles provide the necessary questions for this. But even so, life is always associated with uncertainty. If you want security, you should join a monastery.

“The most common cause of failure is lack of preparation, i.e., lack of strategy.”

Based on your experience as a consultant, how do you turn professional failure into a strategic advantage?

TH: It's simple. You have to be honest with yourself. You shouldn't (only) look for the reasons in others, but ask yourself what you can do differently next time. The most common cause of failure is lack of preparation, i.e., lack of strategy. Did I really do everything possible beforehand?

Let's move on to ethics. How should managers balance ethical requirements when they are under pressure to achieve their goals?

TH: That shouldn't be a contradiction at all. My goals come from within myself. As long as my actions don't harm others, everything is okay.

“That's why flexibility is needed. It allows me to always have an ace up my sleeve when it matters.”

Your principles emphasize flexibility. What personal experience has taught you how to act strategically in a world like today's?

TH: Things turn out differently than you think. That's why flexibility is needed. It allows me to always have an ace up my sleeve when it matters.

The German economy is stagnating in Q2 2025 with a 0.3% decline in GDP and investments that have fallen by 1.9%. Are companies making strategic mistakes in this situation, and which of your principles would you suggest to stimulate investment again?

TH: The stagnation is mainly due to political mistakes. Companies are adapting to this. In other countries, we have higher growth and more investment. Politicians should consistently adhere to the seven principles. Then growth and investment will improve again.

Insolvencies are rising and companies are cutting jobs. How do you assess the behavior of companies that are focusing on cutbacks, and which of your strategy principles do you recommend?

TH: Cuts can be the right thing to do, but they don't have to be. You have to look at each case individually. That's exactly what the strategic principles are for. I can use them to think through each individual case and come up with the right solution for me. Incidentally, this applies not only to companies, but also to each and every one of us. The principles help in every area of life, be it in politics, in business, at work, in your career, in sports, in the military, and so on. 

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