Interview with Lorenz Eymann,
Alumni EMBA HSG

Lorenz Eymann graduated from the Executive MBA HSG in May 2013. From 2008 to 2015 he headed up the Private Label und Co-Manufacturing segment at Maestrani Schweizer Schokoladen AG, developing it into the company’s fastest growing division. Since January 2016 he has been CEO of Translingua AG.

Lorenz Eymann grew up in the Swiss canton of Lucerne. After completing a commercial apprenticeship he received his bachelor’s degree in business administration from Lucerne School of Business. Eymann then worked as a consultant to small businesses in El Salvador for three years. During this time he successfully restructured a cashew plant and opened up access to export markets in North America and Europe for the plant and other local operations. He then worked at Pronatec AG where he was responsible for the purchasing, processing and trading of organic cocoa and sugar.

You are CEO of Translingua – what are the biggest challenges you face in this role?

Translingua AG was founded 40 years ago by HSG graduate Alberto Meyer and has been a runaway success ever since. I have the greatest respect for this entrepreneurial achievement. The task is to maintain the very high quality standards and build on the company’s established market position. Our aim is to keep on growing by providing high-quality, specialised translations.

With regard to the possibility of pure machine translation in the future, it will still take a long time until a piece of software can even come close to replicating what I see our translation professionals producing every day in terms of tone, a way with words, regional emphasis, irony and passion. But I do see major potential in the digitalisation of processes and simplifying document exchange.

You worked at Maestrani before moving to Translingua. What led you to make this change?

At Maestrani I was able to develop new strategies and implement them. We successfully entered attractive niche segments in an extremely difficult market. After more than 10 exciting years in the food and consumer goods sector, in which I learned a great deal, I felt the need to apply my expertise to a new environment. My passion for languages and cultures meant I was really interested in working in the translation industry. Now the dream has come true and I can combine my interests with my work. In addition, in Translingua I found exactly the company I was looking for in terms of matching my own strengths: a focus on quality leadership, implementation of innovation projects and opening up new market segments.

It is three years since you graduated from the EMBA HSG programme. What added value do you still draw from attending the programme, and which module have you been able to get the most from?

The focus on innovation and entrepreneurship still frequently gives me the support I need to forge new paths and step into unknown terrain. The module I benefited the most from was Strategic Management. The content of that module was definitely another reason why I did not only take on the role of CEO at Translingua, but also invested in the company myself.

What were the reasons behind your decision to take the EMBA HSG?

The subjects covered, the big-name lecturers, the high quality network and the reputation of the EMBA HSG.

Complete the following sentences:

If I were not CEO at Translingua, I would be… the founder of a food import start-up.

The most defining decision of my career was… to spend three years as a consultant developing companies in Central America.

For me happiness means… being healthy and having the chance to live a fulfilling life in a privileged country.

For me the Executive MBA HSG was… a systematic step that helped me advance professionally and as a person.

I would be glad to read the following headline to a story about Translingua: Leading Swiss Specialist Translator Continues Growth Trajectory