
Expert Interview: Moving forward with courage
Simone Sofia Hilbring has been Managing Director in our Cologne office since the beginning of July. The retail expert has already been with Inverto for ten years. She leads our Women@Inverto initiative, with which we want to empower women in consulting.
Key Take-Aways: Moving Forward with Courage
-
Progressive leadership and diversity drive success: Promoting women in management and fostering diverse teams improves company performance and benefits clients by offering multiple perspectives.
-
Empowerment through structured initiatives: Mentorship programs, recruiting targets, and flexible work models strengthen female talent, increase representation, and create a tangible impact within the organization.
-
Courage and continuous improvement: Challenging traditional structures, embracing new approaches, and cultivating a progressive mindset are essential for sustainable transformation and career development.
-
Balance and personal well-being: Maintaining hobbies, exercise, family time, and personal rituals supports resilience, focus, and long-term professional effectiveness.

The article is part of our magazine issue Achieving Cost Excellence.
In addition, you will also receive the following articles when you download the issue:
When negotiations succeed, it is rarely by chance. Their outcome is largely determined by thorough preparation from early alignment with internal stakeholders and clear business objectives to a solid understanding of the market and supplier landscape. Competitive dynamics, behavioral insights from psychology and game theory, and a company’s reputation all shape the room for maneuver at the negotiation table.
In an interview with Barry Nalebuff, Professor at Yale School of Management, negotiations are framed as a question of value creation rather than power, with cooperation and data-driven analysis enabling fairer, more sustainable outcomes.
Negotiations with strong brands require a partnership mindset and rigorous preparation. By focusing on shared interests, objective criteria, and long-term value creation rather than positional power, procurement teams can expand the zone of possible agreement and reach sustainable compromises where both sides benefit.
Successful cross-cultural negotiations require flexibility rather than fixed assumptions. Understanding local communication styles, decision-making norms, and the importance of relationships allows negotiators to build trust, avoid friction, and reach sustainable agreements across borders.
In an interview with negotiation expert Matthias Schranner, former crisis negotiator with the police and FBI, emotions are highlighted as a major barrier. Effective negotiators reduce pressure, focus on shared interests, and use clear, constructive questions to steer discussions away from conflict and toward sustainable, mutually beneficial agreements.
In an interview with Simone Hilbrig, Managing Director at Inverto, the focus is on how culture, courage, and inclusion drive sustainable success. Empowering people, challenging traditional structures, and embracing diversity strengthen leadership, improve performance, and enable more resilient business models.
Download the magazine to continue reading the entire article:
Fill out the contact form to receive the magazine issue. You will then receive the entire issue by e-mail.