Nature as a role model

Susanne Preiss, visionary founder and experienced consultant, has made it her mission to support modern organizations and leaders in harnessing the principles of nature for sustainable and resilient growth. Her concept of the regenerative mindset brings a new perspective to the business world and shows how companies can benefit from the natural cycle of regeneration. "A restorative, regenerative system becomes healthier, more vibrant and more stable from year to year," explains Susanne Preiss, who promotes a change in mindset in her coaching sessions and workshops: Away from traditional, draining structures towards regenerative systems that focus on the resilience and well-being of employees.

"Preiss builds a bridge between the natural and entrepreneurial worlds."

Her approach is based on a profound personal experience. After a successful start in the consulting industry with long working hours and high demands on performance, Susanne Preiss suffered a burnout. This period made her rethink her approach and realize that success can also be achieved in other ways. "It's not just about giving your best, but also about staying healthy and using your energy wisely," she emphasizes. Her travels and professional stations in South America and Asia led her to the realization that performance and personal health must go hand in hand.

Organizations are living ecosystems

"The regenerative organization - or the regenerative team - is THE future," she emphasizes. Preiss shows managers how they can achieve more through a balanced system. Her model is based on the idea that organizations should be treated like living ecosystems: "It is the conviction that the basis for a good product or success lies in the quality of the relationships between employees and their energy levels." The entrepreneur is convinced that genuine and sustainable growth is only possible in such an environment that takes people as a whole into account.

A vivid example of Susanne Preiss' regenerative mindset is the "Gut Haidehof" farm in Wedel, which she and her husband run. Here they have established a model of regenerative agriculture that revitalizes the soil from the ground up and promotes biodiversity. "Depleted, stressed soil is susceptible to pests and diseases," she explains, "and it's the same with companies." The farm demonstrates how depleted soil can be made fertile and resilient again through targeted measures. These principles can be transferred to the corporate world and make Susanne Preiss' approach tangible. The regeneration of soil serves here as a metaphor for strengthening and revitalizing exhausted teams and structures.

Quality of the relationship is key

In her coaching sessions and seminars, Susanne Preiss teaches managers how they can improve not only their own performance but also that of their teams through self-reflection and stress management. "There is nothing more complex than the relationship from person to person". She is convinced that the success of teams is based on the quality of their relationships. She therefore helps managers to invest in themselves so that they can lead authentically and empathetically. "In my coaching sessions or workshops, managers first get to know themselves better and then their employees. They lead more empathetically, they learn to make employees take responsibility for themselves and thus relieve themselves," she says, describing her approach.

An important element of her work is understanding the impact of stress on leadership culture. "Stress is contagious and toxic," she says, explaining that stress in managers not only affects their own performance, but also has a negative impact on the entire team. The aim of her work is therefore to enable managers to develop a healthy approach to stress and thus create a stable foundation for their team.

"Doing Things like Nature"

A core component of Preiss' concept is "deep3 - The Regenerative Framework", which she developed together with her colleague Christine Ziegelmayer. "This framework offers comprehensive training for entrepreneurs, managers and HR professionals to integrate the regenerative mindset into companies," she explains. Both on the farm and in online formats, the framework teaches the basics of a regenerative mindset in a practical way and shows how companies can be strengthened from within.

The motto "Doing Things like Nature" runs through all her activities. In her workshops, Preiss illustrates how natural principles such as diversity and regeneration can be transferred to corporate management. In doing so, she emphasizes the importance of an integrative approach that takes into account both the individual needs of employees and the long-term goals of the organization.

Bridge between nature and business

In addition to her work as a consultant, Suanne Preiss also works as a stress management coach and has recognized the relevance of the regenerative mindset in the education sector. "People want transparency about why they should do something," she explains and promotes the joint development of attractive goals and visions in her programs. Young employees in particular are looking for balance and a sense of purpose in their work, which makes her regenerative mindset a modern and sustainable approach.

With empathy, respect and a deep understanding of the forces of nature, Preiss creates a bridge between the natural and the entrepreneurial world.

This article first appeared in the m&k print edition 11-12/2024.