Results are based on behavior. Behavior arises from thoughts. Pay attention to what you think

Meet Hannes Gsellmann our new partner at AltoPartners in Vienna. He has decades of experience in filling leadership roles in Industry, Wholesale and Retail, Banking, Insurance, Logistics and various Service sectors. His broad expertise also includes management diagnostics and leadership development. Hannes has evaluated and trained countless executives for their skills and leadership-behavioral patterns. He has joined AltoPartners Austria in May 2025.

Where were you born, and where do you live now?

I was born in a small town in lower Austria called Wilhelmsburg. I always lived there and still live there. It is a remote, rural area in the middle of nature. Of course, my professional life always took place in Vienna and everywhere in Austria and abroad where my clients needed me.

What did you study and why?

I studied business administration at the Vienna University of Economics and Business. That was what interested me most shortly before graduating from high school. To be honest-without having a really clear picture of what profession will emerge from it. I was also interested in biology and medicine. During my studies, I was particularly interested in the areas of transport/logistics and human resource management. The latter was also the door opener for me to start my career as a human resources manager in an industrial company. By the way: none of this was strategically planned. Things have turned out. That’s an attitude that I still like a lot in terms of career development: don’t plan too much. Go go through life with your eyes open and recognize and seize opportunities.

First job?

HR manager in an industrial company with about 1,000 employees. An incredible story that I would not recommend repeating from a business point of view. Shortly before I finished my studies, I worked in the company in question during the holidays as a shift worker in production. One day I was ordered to the office by the local plant director, who told me that the HR manager was unfortunately very ill and would not return. And he had heard that I was about to finish my studies of Human Resources Management. And then he actually asked me if I would like to take over and lead the HR department. With a leadership role of over 10 employees and HR responsibility for around 1,000 employees in the plant. I was amazed and confused. And I didn’t say yes right away. But then I did it. Humility helped me, not to fail.

First car?

A 15-year-old Fiat Panda. With not even a radio in it.

Current car?

Volvo XC40 and a private Fiat 500

What’s the biggest surprise about your job?

You never stop learning in our business. As long as you never stop listening to people.

What is the biggest risk you ever took?

The decision to leave the consulting industry at the age of over 50 and move into an operational leadership role in the pharmaceutical industry. I had to run 12 blood plasma donation centers with about 300 employees. 12 locations, remote leadership, with content-related topics of which I had zero prior knowledge. A huge enrichment for my re-entry into consulting a few years later. But it could also have gone wrong.

What makes you feel better on a bad day?

My daily meditation sessions. A breath with a positive affirmation. A smile sent out that is reciprocated.

My most redeeming quality is…

Balance, I can calm down quickly, focus on the essentials and be attentive. I like people.

I have learned to come to terms with…

The worries that everyone else can do everything better than me.

What’s the thing that people are most surprised to learn about you?

That my wife and I are able to cultivate and maintain a very, very large garden with vegetables, berries, fruit, a lot of land and a piece of forest in addition to our demanding jobs.

In the last month, what was the most interesting conversation you had?

A personal conversation with a good friend, how he manages to be effective in his executive job without working overtime.

Last (or most loved) holiday?

A hiking week in Crete, Greece in March. Still without any tourism.

Best book you’ve read in the past year?

Nothing business related. A historical novel by Zach/Bauer : Morbus Dei

What have you binge-watched recently?

I rarely watch series, I prefer documentaries and full movies

Best gadget?

A normal iPhone for working and communicating and an iPad for surfing.

How do you relax and unwind?

With work in the garden, with mountain biking and hiking and with good food. Preferably all together with my wife.

Charity/ cause closest to your heart?

Medicines without frontiers.

I have a collection of…

500 bottles of wine in the cellar…

In my fridge, you will always find…

Cheese, butter, white wine…