Angi: Hi, Thomas, thank you for taking the time to answer some questions.
Thomas: Thank you for inviting me to this interview.
Angi: Let’s start with something simple. Can you describe where you live and what you like about that place?
Thomas: I live in Kennelbach, which is close to Bregenz and Dornbirn—two of the main cities here in Vorarlberg. What I like about this place is that it’s quiet, but at the same time still very near to the larger cities—if you want to call Bregenz large 😉. So, for me, it feels like a good balance. I was born and grew up in Schwarzenberg, a small town in the Bregenzerwald, and maybe that’s why I like rather quiet places.
Angi: That balance of quiet and access sounds wonderful. Now, tell me a bit about your career. What are some of the interesting aspects of your journey so far?
Thomas: My career has not been a standard one. I started with an apprenticeship in electronics to learn the basics and later moved into roles in technical sales and complaint management. After that, I got curious about academics, so I studied physics and from there went into a technical expert role in engineering simulations. Later, I shifted more towards technology and innovation management, data science, and software. So overall, it’s quite broad when it comes to technical knowledge, and I’ve always been enthusiastic about innovation and new technologies.
Angi: Quite a journey indeed! Let’s switch to your current role. What do you do at Identec Solutions, and when did you start?
Thomas: I’m the CTO, and I started in January 2024.
Angi: What do you enjoy most about that job?
Thomas: What I really like is the truly international work environment and the mix of different technical domains, both hardware and software. This means I get to work with many interesting people from different countries and different departments. All are bringing their own mentalities and mindsets. I enjoy this a lot, and at the same time, it can be challenging, but that helps me to grow.
Angi: That sounds both exciting and demanding. Do you have a guiding principle that you follow at work?
Thomas: Listen to the people actively and understand their points of view, try not to judge too quickly.
Angi: And how do you bring that principle to your team?
Thomas: I am trying to do it by myself as much as possible, by asking questions, until I have fully understood.
Angi: That’s a strong example. Now, what is the most rewarding part of your job?
Thomas: I love learning new things and growing as a leader and as a tech guy. Our current products, future products, and modern technologies that we are utilising, together with the international environment at Identec, are really satisfying to me.
Angi: Looking ahead, are there any future projects you’re especially excited about?
Thomas: There is a huge potential in the data generated in our solutions deployed at customers' sites. We could, for example, realise predictive/preventive maintenance to even further boost the reliability of our solutions. There are several approaches we are looking at, including AI and deep learning driven approaches. We currently do research with data collected by ourselves or provided by partners.
Angi: Here at Identec Solutions, we have five core company values: Visionary, Open, Responsible, Leading, and Global. Which one resonates most with you?
Thomas: For me, the most significant value is “responsible”. It’s a key value for me both professionally and personally. I believe responsibility starts with oneself, and that means being proactive and constructive. When challenges come up, I try to reflect on what I can contribute to improve the situation, instead of only looking at others first.
Angi: Let’s move away from work for a moment. What do you like to do in your free time?
Thomas: I like to cook and drink wine (small amounts 😉). I recently attended a wine tasting course, and I am excited about how multifaceted the topic is.
Angi: That sounds like a wonderful hobby. Do you have a favourite meal you like to cook?
Thomas: Actually, I love a nice piece of grilled beef, like a ribeye steak. So quite minimalistic. If you do that right and the quality fits, it's really one of my favourites.
Angi: And since you mentioned wine, tell me, which region would you like to visit again because of the good wine?
Thomas: The northern part of Italy. I like that region because of the beautiful landscape and the nice food. They have great wine there, like the famous Barolo.
Angi: A perfect combination of food, wine, and scenery. Thank you, Thomas, for sharing your story with us!