A Look Behind the Scenes – with Andi Wilke

8:00 a.m. – Get an overview before the day gets the better of you
Andi glances at his emails, open threads, and the day’s schedule. Who has already replied? What needs a response today, and what can wait? This initial overview helps him set priorities before the day really gets going.

9:30 a.m. – Introductory meeting with a startup
A young industrial technology company is considering establishing its Swiss headquarters in the region. The meeting is primarily about listening: What does the startup need, what is it specifically looking for, and what are its expectations for a location? Not every meeting leads to an immediate result—but often this is precisely where a successful collaboration begins.

10:30 a.m. – Site visit with a company from South Africa
A company from South Africa is evaluating whether Winterthur is a viable European location. Andi shows them around the site. He isn’t acting as a tour guide, but as a connector: What does the local economy offer potential partners? Which ZHAW institutes are relevant? And if interest becomes concrete, he directly facilitates contact for suitable spaces. In a short amount of time, he must present a compelling picture of Winterthur.

12:00 p.m. – Lunch break
For lunch, Andi picks up his favorite dish from the takeout spot on Technikumstrasse: a red vegetarian Thai curry. He eats on the office’s rooftop terrace—with a view of the old town. A short break to get some fresh air, clear his head, and recharge for the afternoon.

1:30 p.m. – Follow-up after a trade show visit
After attending an automation trade show in Germany, Andi reviews his notes. He organizes the contacts he gathered, assesses their relevance, and considers which ones are worth following up on. Then he connects two contacts who absolutely need to know about each other. A brief introductory email with three sentences, two names, and some context. Often, it’s precisely these small connections that create the greatest value.

3:30 p.m. – Rethinking City Branding
The morning session revealed new perspectives—questions and needs that aren’t always apparent from behind a desk. In the afternoon, Andi will address a key question: What makes Winterthur unique, and how can this be communicated clearly and persuasively? He will work on chains of reasoning and comparisons. The goal is not only to know the location’s strengths but to present them in a way that resonates with companies—whether they’re from South Africa, Germany, or the neighboring region.

6:30 PM – Delegation visit from Northern England
In the evening, a reception is scheduled for a business delegation from Northern England. Amid conversations at the bar, some location promotion, and plenty of listening, new connections are formed.