Making decisions that truly make a difference

Alexander Kohl, Managing Director of Elektro Lackner GmbH

My studies taught me how to systematically analyze economic relationships and use that analysis to make decisions that are sustainable for the future.

As Managing Director of Elektro Lackner GmbH, Alexander Kohl experiences firsthand every day how closely business decisions, personal actions, and economic outcomes are intertwined. He describes his current professional situation as dynamic and challenging, yet also particularly fulfilling. Above all, the opportunity to make an immediate impact through his decisions is what makes his job so appealing to him.

The idea for his master’s thesis arose during the course “Qualitative Growth.” It was there that his interest was piqued in companies that achieve excellent results and present them in a compelling way. After a “thinking walk,” during which he structured his initial ideas, he further developed the topic together with his advisor. The key insight from his thesis: A central task for entrepreneurs is to create reliable structures and processes. These are intended to ensure that high-quality results do not depend exclusively on individual people, but can be achieved consistently and reproducibly.

Alexander particularly benefited from courses in which the business models of various companies were analyzed and economic relationships were revealed. This allowed him to deepen his understanding of the fundamental logic of organizations. “It’s easy to draw conclusions from theory to a specific use case, and this provides a good initial indication of whether a business idea has economic potential.”

Alexander also has clear goals for the future. The focus is on the further development of Elektro Lackner GmbH. Through its business areas of electrical engineering and renewable energy, the company aims to provide solutions to key future challenges such as climate change, smart buildings, smart cities, and e-mobility. In addition, the company is already working on strategic projects in the field of digitalization. At the same time, Alexander is expanding his professional expertise through further training in real estate management at CU Carinthia University of Applied Sciences.

He advises students not to simply accept observations at face value, but to look for the underlying causes and connections. “Those who understand why markets, companies, and technologies are developing in a certain direction gain a significant advantage. This understanding is an essential foundation for future-oriented decisions.”