Josef Schelchshorn und Hubert Altschäffl im Gespräch zur Vorsitzübernahme auf Firmenseite

Well, when I reflect a bit today, I am really truly grateful to have met so many interesting, committed, motivated people in volunteer work. That became clear to me again during the preparation for today's event. Yes, School Business is carried by so many great people, committed people, the numbers speak for themselves, the number of people reached through it. And you can also see how much they engage voluntarily – one must always say – voluntarily with so much enthusiasm. I think that speaks for itself.

Yes, what motivates me is on the one hand the volunteer work, because I am convinced that it is important to volunteer. On the other hand, the responsibility we all share, that we can provide a basis and a direction for our young people, students, or help them find a direction. And that motivates me because I am convinced we have a responsibility for that.

Yes, so those are – I always think values are a good basis and an important basis for oneself in life, but fundamentally also in the company and in society. And the values align very strongly with my personal values, yes like respect, like honesty, like reliability, transparency, also how we interact with each other and how we speak with each other. Sometimes in society, when you look at it, you can sometimes put question marks on it, especially now in the federal election, I have to honestly say how people speak to each other. And I think it is also important to pass that on, to repeat again and again that values are an important cornerstone for our society. What I have experienced during my years here at School Business Bavaria, that especially the respectful interaction is held in very high regard, is very highly valued. This community that moves everything interacts very committedly and respectfully with each other.

So in the 8 years, an incredible amount has happened. And when you reflect on it, there were a series of events, conferences, and so on, all of which were incredibly valuable, incredibly informative, where exchange was the focus. But what has really stayed with me sustainably are the three major conferences: we had a big conference in Bamberg in 2017, in Amberg in 2019, and in Passau in 2023. And the difference is that with a multi-day event, you also have the opportunity to get in touch with the local networks beyond the normal contacts in School Business Bavaria, to exchange ideas, also in the evening informally over dinner, after dinner over an aperitif to talk. And this exchange was incredibly enriching, incredibly interesting, and that is what I remember most.

Definitely. So on the one hand, the footsteps I am stepping into are big, yes, I said that briefly before. But I want to get a picture first, also talk to the state committee about where the shoe pinches, and then certainly also the needs of the economy – and by economy I don't just mean industry, but also crafts and medium-sized businesses, which from my perspective are also important for Bavaria and where Bavaria is also supported – to also provide impulses there, such as digitalization, which is also an important point. But you have also done a lot regarding social networks, to really find a way to reach the students, not to let up, also project work – you said it before – that is an important thing, also to prepare young people for the needs of companies. Those are briefly said points I want to work on, also using contacts, which fits the topic of network, to really make contacts, also sometimes to see things from the other side where you might not believe there is a connection, but to really look at what we need in the economy and how we can support that through targeted activities. It is an interesting point because I believe that especially in our – you mentioned – in our fast-paced time, in the digital world we live in, in a world that lives incredibly from social media, our youth moves on TikTok, on Snapchat and so on, incredibly fast, but also with a tendency of speed paired with a bit of superficiality. And I think that – School Business is well advised to always reflect on its projects: Are we still state of the art? Are we still reachable? Or can the young people still reach us? Do we still address them? Especially as you rightly said, in the digital age, in the age of social media, that we don't lose touch and perhaps try to convey career orientation, and we no longer – a bit the keyword effectiveness, so how do we become effective? We also check that in the company, that we become effective with our projects, our topics. I think that fits quite well. And to really find the channels to implement that.

I wish the network, the state committee, and you now in the leadership of School Business Bavaria the success we had in the past, combined with new innovations, new projects, and to continue the path to further support young people in creating their orientation into a successful professional world. That is what I wish for School Business. The mental orientation is a cognitive – that was an example from the digital world.