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 food for thought that would help us overcome the great challenges of our time.

Here are a few facts and figures about Greiner Talks:

45 episodes, 1 host

Approximately 20 minutes per episode

More than 17,000 plays

More than 700,000 impressions on social media

Lots of positive feedback and inspiration

We came up with something very special to mark the end of Greiner Talks: Alexander Berth switched to the other side of the microphone and looked back on his five years as podcast host. Elisabeth Reiter from Greiner's communications team chatted with him about his personal highlights, lessons learned, and the impact such a format can have.

„After almost 50 conversations, I discovered a pattern that really surprised me. We had guests from all sorts of professions and fields, but they all ended on a similar note: To be hopeful and to be positively looking into the future.”

You can listen to the last regular episode with (the first and last guest) Fred Luks here.

All interviews in the podcast series can be found here.

Greiner Talks was our podcast on the topic of transformation. Alexander Berth spoke with experts from around the world to learn more about their perspectives on the future of our economy and society.

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 commitment to hope ─ a theme deeply embedded in his books and writing.

Professionally, Luks has spent decades navigating academia, financial services, and public discourse, consistently pushing sustainability forward long before it became a mainstream corporate concern. Looking back, he admits that many of his early ideas were shaped by a certain naive optimism that didn’t always align with corporate thinking. However, he still feels that balancing pragmatic judgement with a touch of idealism remains important.

Complex times require new thinking

Today’s world is even more complex ─ marked by geopolitical instability, the climate crisis, and rapid technological shifts such as AI. Sustainability often risks dropping down the priority list. But Luks argues this is precisely why it matters more than ever. One thing is clear: Complex times require new thinking.

“We need ideas about how we live together, how we treat animals, how we eat, and how we organize mobility.” – Fred Luks

Yet he warns against oversimplification. Simple solutions appeal to our desire for security, but they rarely work for systemic problems. Instead, Luks calls for honesty, curiosity, and a willingness to embrace complexity ─ paired with strong policies and economic frameworks that make sustainable choices not only possible, but attractive.

So how do we keep moving forward? Fred Luks believes it’s about balancing realism with optimism. It’s about making sustainability attractive, engaging and fun – always connecting it to everyday life. And ultimately, seeing it as part of the “good life”. Get inspired and listen to the full episode now!

Our corporate podcast Greiner Talks is coming to an end. Stay tuned for a special goodbye episode with our host to get some insights, background information and behind the scenes – or listen back to some of our highlights exploring what it takes to change the world.

Click here for all episodes of Greiner Talks

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 emphasizes that wok will definitely change in the future and will – for example – be deeply data-driven. Something that has already changed is the definition of career success, which used to be measured by salary alone. Instead, purpose, impact, and work-life balance are now becoming the new benchmarks of a fulfilling career.

“The future hasn’t happened yet; it’s not set in stone – it’s whatever we make it.” - Nicky Dries, Professor at KU Leuven in Belgium

The power to shape the future of work

A critical point Nicky Dries raises is the underrepresentation of HR professionals in the public debate about the future of work. Despite their human-centric expertise, they are often left out of the conversation. Dries calls for their active involvement to ensure that the evolving workplace remains people-focused.

But do we really have the power to shape the future of work? Drawing inspiration from the rise of labor unions, she argues that collective action – even in today’s individualistic society – can drive meaningful transformation.

For leaders, the takeaway is urgent: technology must serve people, not the other way around. Vision, critical reflection, and a commitment to inclusion are essential. As birth rates decline globally,including those previously excluded from the labor market will become not just a value – but a necessity.

The future of work is being written now – by all of us. Listen to the full episode now!

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 want them to do – because they want to do it.” Importantly, this has nothing to do with job titles. Leadership, in his view, isn’t about hierarchy but about influence.

Resistance, engagement and navigating unpredictability

Change, of course, often brings resistance. But Tom Venning sees resistance not as a problem, but as a signal: “When people say no, it means they’re engaging. They’re drawing a boundary, saying, ‘This matters to me’. That’s far better than a fake Yes.” He encourages leaders to approach resistance with openness. People resist change, he argues, not just because they don’t understand it – but because the current state feels more real and tangible than a vision of the future. One of the simplest tools to change that? Questions. The most powerful thing leaders can do is ask simple, high-quality questions.

Tom Venning’s own journey is full of unexpected twists – quite literally. Years ago, he started building a sailing boat. It took two decades to finish. “In the end, it became a gift from my younger self. I set off down the Danube and learned to navigate not just water, but unpredictability,” he shared. His lessons: We don’t always need a detailed plan. What we need is a clear sense of why we’re doing something, and the resilience to adapt along the way.

Cultivating curiosity and courage

If there’s one competency Tom believes leaders must strengthen, it’s curiosity. “It’s the gateway to deeper understanding, creativity, and even resilience,” he said. Resilience no longer means returning to the old normal. It’s about staying grounded – even excited– in a world that constantly shifts beneath our feet. For him, good leadership is about respect. It’s about listening, observing, and helping others grow so that together, we can create something bigger than any of us could alone.

“Curiosity is the gateway to deeper understanding, creativity, and even resilience.” - Tom Venning

At Greiner, where transformation is both a challenge and a necessity, these insights couldn’t be more relevant. Our company has existed for over 155 years – and we aim to be here successfully for another 155 years.

Curious to hear more? Listen to the full episode now!

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 can we speak of a fair society.“ This is not just a geographical issue, such as Europe, but also concerns structural inequalities within our society. Those who only look at diversity superficially often overlook the deeper causes of inequality – and thus ignore enormous potential.

When people talk about sustainability, many initially think of ecology. But without social sustainability, any environmental strategy remains incomplete. After all, only a society in which people can live healthy, safe lives with equal rights is sustainable in the long term. Companies have an enormous influence on who gets opportunities, who can advance, and who is heard. They decide on working conditions, development opportunities, and corporate culture. Studies show that social sustainability pays off: a diverse and inclusive work environment can substantially contribute to success and profitability as many studies proof. However, this does not happen overnight—since this work is a marathon, not a sprint.

“You always have diversity in companies. How can you use this diversity as a resource in order to do whatever it is you're doing a little bit better?”
– Susanne Hamscha, Managing Partner at factor-D Diversity Consulting

Based on her work with numerous companies, Susanne Hamscha has derived three key recommendations:

1. Focus on inclusion: Instead of just counting diversity, you should create a culture where everyone feels welcome and heard.
2. Holistic view: Creating equal opportunities isn't just about HR, but also product development, communication, and leadership.
3. Long-term thinking: The biggest mistake is to put the issue on the back burner in times of crisis. That's precisely when diversity can be part of the solution.

Listen now and learn more about social sustainability in a corporate context!

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 then be folded into a small envelope and returned via any post box in Europe using a prepaid shipping label. This innovative approach not only reduces waste but also ensures that packaging can be reused multiple times, boasting a refurbishment rate of 98 %.

One of the significant milestones for Movopack was securing a deal with Royal Mail, the UK's national postal service. This collaboration allows Movopack to provide efficient return logistics within the UK, enhancing their service's overall efficiency and sustainability. Greiner played a decisive role in this: Tomaso Torriani highlighted the importance of their collaboration with Greiner Innoventures, Greiner’s corporate business angel, which provided crucial funding and support.

Movopack's future plans are ambitious: The company aims to double its team size within the year and expand its refurbishment facilities across Europe. Tomaso envisions a future where sustainability is not just an option but a standard in e-commerce.

“Be brave and a take risks.”
– Tomaso Torriani, the co-founder and CEO of Movopack

When asked for advice for young entrepreneurs, Tomaso highlighted the importance of understanding the long-term value of their work and ensuring their business models are backed by hard evidence. He encouraged aspiring founders to just start and take risks.

Listen in and learn more about Movopack's innovative approach to packaging!

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 thankful and to look at this decisive day in a positive manner,” he reflects. While the accident could have been the end of his dreams, it became the catalyst for his extraordinary journey.

From an early age, he was determined to defy the limitations others tried to place on him. Swimming was not an obvious path for him —neither of his parents could swim. Yet, rehabilitation sessions introduced him to the sport, and by the age of 12, he became the Austrian national champion in breaststroke. Throughout his career, Onea has accumulated 12 international medals, set a world record, and cemented his status as one of Austria’s top Paralympic athletes.

Onea’s journey has made him a passionate advocate for inclusivity. As a public speaker, moderator, and campaign ambassador, he works tirelessly to shift perceptions of disability. We need to remove the barriers that are existing – but we have to acknowledge that a lot of disabilities are invisible and so are a lot of challenges and the missing accessibility.

“Just be open minded. See the human and the abilities - and not the one thing that is missing or the one disability that is clearly or not clearly there.“

Andreas Onea believes that true change starts with awareness and open conversations. When asked about inclusion in business, he noted that many companies claim they can’t find employees with disabilities, yet their job listings are not accessible. “By having those processes and structures that are not inclusive, we automatically exclude people,” he pointed out. Simple steps, like making job postings machine-readable, can bridge this gap and unlock untapped talent.

His message is clear: inclusion benefits everyone. Companies that employ people with disabilities gain new perspectives, improve product accessibility, and expand their customer base. But more importantly, fostering inclusion creates a society where everyone can thrive.

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 accessible to everyone. One of her goals is to demystify science and highlight its relevance to daily life. Through The Sciency Feminist, Elka Xharo addresses stereotypes, promotes female role models, and counters fake news.

But why did she get into science communication? Her passion for clear, honest communication intensified during the pandemic. Observing the dangerous impact of misinformation, Elka Xharo felt compelled to act. By explaining topics like vaccines in simple, relatable terms, she empowered people to counter misinformation. Emotional and misleading content is amplified by algorithms online and especially on social media.

“Misinformation spreads far more easily than debunking it because it’s all about emotions.” - Elka Xharo, scientist, lecturer, and @thesciencyfeminist on Instagram

As a woman with roots in Austria and Albania, Elka Xharo is acutely aware of the barriers women and minorities face in science, including unconscious bias. She noted, “Even with identical CVs, a woman with a foreign name is treated differently”. To tackle such biases, Elka Xharo integrates discussions on gender roles into her teaching at the University of Applied Sciences Vienna. These conversations, she says, often spark unexpected reflection, even among initially skeptical students.