»I like to go the extra mile.«
C-level management meets shop floor implementation.
I am an interim manager through and through. The key to success is that things are implemented. But it is also clear that a good analysis of the situation and a concept based on it are required. This is the only way to ensure that the measures taken have the right effect.
Conclusion: In every mandate as an interim manager there is also a part of consulting, know-how, which I bring along and transfer to my clients.
In the context of my projects, especially when it comes to change, to transformation, it happens again and again that I become active as a coach. The development of managers and employees is an important part of my work in order to ensure that changes reach the company.
I'm a global citizen.
And not only on home soil. As a global citizen, I understand interrelationships across countries and cultures and try to make our planet not only fairer, but also safer and more sustainable through my decisions.
It is certainly an advantage that I myself was born in Brazil and, as a German-Brazilian, have lived in an international environment, including Asia, South America and Eastern Europe, and have worked at several production sites.
Through many years of international project work, I have developed intercultural competence, strong negotiation skills in German, English, Portuguese, and Spanish, and a proven track record of getting things done. I bring people, cultures, and locations together and ensure that strategies are turned into concrete results.
CV
Studies & School
2017/18:
Global Executive MBA
IESE Business School, Barcelona, NYC, Shanghai, and Silicon Valley
Degree: MBA, IESE Business School
2000–2002:
Technical University of Berlin, Germany:
Business Administration degree (partially completed in Chile)
Degree: Business Degree
1999:
Georgia Institute of Technology – Atlanta, USA
Marketing, Product Planning, and Business Environment (semester abroad)
1995–99:
Gabriela Mistral University – Santiago, Chile: Business Administration program
1994:
“Licencia de Educación Media” (equivalent to the German Abitur)
German School Santiago – Santiago, Chile
Memberships & Network
Association for professional Interim Management in Germany
Association for professional Interim Management in Austria
German Association for Materials Management, Purchasing & Logistics
Between the Mandates
I’m off then
The time between mandates is important. As a rule, my mandates run for several months and they get my full attention from the first to the last day. When the project is successfully completed, I use the time to gather strength for new tasks. It is just as important for my clients. They can expect a highly motivated Richard Porstmann with full batteries.
Recharging my batteries – I do that in nature, while singing in the men’s choral society or on my bike. It was a real highlight when I cycled the Santiago de Compostela pilgrimage route. One of my favourite books, “Ich bin dann mal weg: Meine Reise auf dem Jakobsweg” (I’m Off Then: Losing and Finding Myself on the Camino de Santiago) by Hape Kerkeling, also fits in with this.
What also always helps me is a certain mental strength that comes from my experience as a competitive athlete. At that time I was among the top 50 fencers worldwide and was preparing my participation in the 2000 Olympics in Sydney. However, my desire to pursue an academic career prevailed, so I chose this over high-performance sports.