“If you don’t love what you do, life is too short”

Bernd Montag, CEO of Siemens Healthineers, on passion, balance, and loyalty

He is one of the leading minds in medical technology: FAU alumnus Dr. Bernd Montag, CEO of Siemens Healthineers. He studied physics at FAU, where he also earned his Ph.D. in theoretical multi-particle physics. In this interview, he shares the values that guide him as a CEO, his lasting connection to FAU, and what makes a day feel truly successful to him.

What has stayed with you most from your time at FAU?

Here is where I truly discovered—though it’s a big word—my love for theoretical physics: the clarity, simplicity, and beauty of the interrelationships. And that’s something I would never want to miss.

Which three words would you use to describe yourself?

Since we’re talking about physics: protons, neutrons, and electrons.

You now lead a team of over 70,000 employees. What is particularly near and dear to your heart in your work?

A company plays a crucial role these days because I believe there are many issues that affect us socially, both nationally and globally. For example, how does social cohesion work, how does international collaboration function? And how do we deal with sustainability, how do we ensure good healthcare? These are extremely important issues in the current environment. For me, it’s important that we as a company really try to address all of that—so that I, as an employee, feel I have a great opportunity to contribute, that I can identify with the company, and that there is a sense of mutual loyalty between the company and me.

What makes the perfect day for you?

The most important thing is to have had a good conversation—at least. For me, a good conversation means that you’ve genuinely learned something from someone, and I think it’s great when that happens. Beyond that, it’s personally important for me to feel balanced: to have the sense I’m making progress in the company, that I’m happy within my family and that I’ve had time to recharge. I also tell my younger colleagues: Take care of yourselves! Because if you risk your health, your relationships, or your family—if you don’t take care of your health, don’t get enough sleep, or don’t spend enough time with your children—that becomes a burden for the future.

You can find the full interview as a video on FAU’s YouTube channel:

You can find more exciting interviews with FAU alumni on the FAU Community website: 

Nina Bundels

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