Andreas Dudas: "I see humans as the main factor for success."

When you were a kid, what did you want to be?

I loved technology. This came from my dad who had started to study mechanical engineering and was a technical illustrator. So for a long time I considered becoming a technical illustrator or draughtsman specialised in structural engineering too. But I’ve always felt drawn towards languages and foreign cultures so I dreamt of becoming an interpreter. If I’d been influenced differently, I would certainly have gone into interpreting or international relations.

You graduated from ETH with a degree in civil engineering. Why did you decide on this course?

At school I just about failed maths and natural sciences, I was much better at languages. But I’d already picked my subjects for this option. I dithered between becoming a civil engineer or an architect. During an info event at ETH, I visited the test institute for hydraulic engineering. I found the models enthralling as water is something that has always fascinated me. So it was my love of water and the forces associated with it that brought me to civil engineering.

These days, you are a mental coach. What does your job involve?

I haven’t exactly had a linear career path. My first job was in an engineering office working on planning and implementing hydroelectric plants. Six months in and as a result of a tragic accident, I found myself project managing a huge project. It was an incredible career move for such a young person. But it took me away from what I knew and I had to develop the skills required. After two years, I had a breakdown.

That was my first wake-up call that I needed to change things radically. I felt like I wasn't genuine because I’d been denying myself for my entire life. I wasn't able to handle the pressure which ended in catastrophe. I learnt that in life you have to focus on the person and his or her capabilities and qualities. Luckily, the company supported me and by making changes I was able to bring the project to a very successful conclusion.

Later on I gained an MBA specialising in "Leadership and Team Building" and held down various jobs. I wanted to follow my inner vocation, internationality. After a few turns this way and that, I found myself responsible for opening up new markets for the company. My life started to improve. I worked in Asia, at that time still an underdeveloped region, where they needed hydroelectric plants. I worked with people, the technology was by the by.

In 2010, the company was sold and I couldn't sign up to the values of the new company. I see humans as the main factor for success. When the focus shifted to profit alone, I went self-employed. I get on well with people and am a good listener. So I trained to become a mental coach. When I first become self-employed I made a few mistakes, like setting up companies. I also gave seminars on global leadership and took on project management work. I came to a point where I was again on the edge of a breakdown because I wasn't listening to myself. This was my second wake-up call.

Today, I guide people towards their vocation. I work with them to discover what genuinely makes them tick, their uniqueness. This allows them to take on inspiring work that they enjoy and brings out their talents. I also support people who are setting out as self-employed or want to establish a start-up company. And I help organisations to develop. If companies are experiencing problems or find themselves in stagnating markets, I ask them what makes them unique.

What motivates you?

My own life has of course shaped me a lot. I believe that it isn't just a competitive edge that emerges when you know where your own core competencies lie. When we do something with our strengths, we act in a positive way. So we produce something positive. I see this as a huge lever for bringing about change peacefully and sustainably. If we are at peace with ourselves and are having fun, we start to form a very different image. These days, we need this more than ever because the world is tending to go in the other direction.

You have experienced something of a transformation. Are you still able to use what you learnt at ETH?

One of my strengths is my analytical and systematic approach. I’m still very much a typical engineer. Every seminar presents a new scenario. ETH also taught me to combine different disciplines. As a civil engineering, you study lots of different subjects like the environment, energy, structural engineering, management and project management. This multidisciplinarity has always fascinated me and made me proud. Whenever I visited a dam, I always saw various disciplines coming together. Added to this are the different cultures. So combining and networking made sense. These days, I believe that the more setbacks we experience, the more successful we become. We need setbacks. The diversity of my course at ETH and the possibilities of working abroad made for a good career path.

On 12 May you are giving a talk entitled "How radical change can be the quantum leap for success". Who should come along?

The talk is aimed at various people. Young entrepreneurs who want to found start-ups or companies wanting to develop. Also people who haven't yet found their way and what genuinely makes them tick. These days, companies are confronted with a plethora of challenges. We need to reflect on our core to find scope for growth in times of change. We all have this potential; we just need to have the courage to think differently. This is true transformation and is how the future can be shaped.

It needs a paradigm shift. When we experience problems, we look back on our mistakes. And we introduce changes. But it would be better to take a radical look into the future and ask ourselves how we can use our own strength to shape the future. It’s all about finding your purpose and shaping the future: be it as a person or company. We simply need to have the courage to fail. This is how we move forwards.