Laurenz Kirchner

“What energizes me is my constant thirst for knowledge. I always want to learn something new in everything I do, especially in areas  such as digitalization and emerging technologies.”

What do you like most about being part of valantic?

We joined valantic as mm1 after realizing we were pursuing a common goal. Joining forces has facilitated enhancing this goal in two respects: firstly, we have been able to significantly broaden our service portfolio, offering not only conceptual consulting but now also end-to-end implementation; and secondly, we can operate with a far greater reach, extending well beyond the DACH region to all of Europe. With valantic, we are no longer just architects, project managers, and construction managers; we also have the in-house construction teams that build for our digital clients, in line with valantic’s aspiration of “building leading digital businesses”.

How would you best describe valantic?

valantic is defined by strong values which align perfectly with the culture we bring as mm1. A sound set of underlying ethics is indispensable since they provide crucial guidance, especially amid the astronomical growth we are experiencing at valantic. With the continuous need to adjust and realign ourselves, a set of guiding ethics is essential. Among other things, they serve as a constant reminder of our service pledge to make a success of all we do, and ensure our clients’ digitalization initiatives achieve their intended goals.

What motivates you in your day-to-day work?

I am driven by my curiosity and an innate passion for learning, thoroughly understanding, and shaping. I always want to learn something new in everything I do, especially in areas  such as digitalization and emerging technologies. I also find it gratifying to help teams or groups better formulate their goals and achieve these pragmatically. I thrive on clarifying initially nebulous concepts, transforming them into tangible, realizable models, and then working collaboratively to make them reality.

Laurenz, what did you do before joining valantic?

I have a rather unconventional background in that respect. Although I studied architecture, rather than joining an architects’ office afterward I started at McKinsey! It was there that I discovered my passion for designing innovative products, ultimately taking me into high-tech and telecommunications product development. I later returned briefly to my original creative field, working with a design company in Munich. mm1 “discovered” me in 2010, and together we grew the company from around 20 employees to approximately 150.

To what extent does the experience of your unconventional career path help you in your current professional duties?

They help me a lot. The problem-solving techniques used in design and creative professions – such as visualizing things, and developing a target vision – help you see more clearly where you want to go, for example with a new product or business model. What should this future service offer? What should the specifications of this new product be? Even with digital innovations, the initially formulated requirements can often clash. The conflicting goals must then be resolved and priorities set. This is where the problem-solving methods I learned in my architecture studies help immensely.