The VDA (German Association of the Automotive Industry) is the umbrella organization for German automotive manufacturers and suppliers. Every year, the VDA organizes a SME Day, where executives and board members from medium-sized member companies in the supplier industry, as well as manufacturers of trailers and bodywork, come together to network and exchange experiences.
The event will feature panel discussions and presentations on current topics in the automotive industry. Among those invited to speak this year are Christian Lindner, Federal Minister of Finance; Timotheus Höttges, CEO of Deutsche Telekom AG; and Dirk Große-Loheide, Member of the Volkswagen Brand Board of Management.
The main theme of this year’s SME Day was “Risk and Resilience.” The focus was on how the entire industry can identify and minimize risks and implement appropriate measures. These risks include, for example, natural disasters and political issues, as well as cyberattacks and IT outages.
There were also breakout sessions—small working groups that explored various topics. Managing Director Marcel Martini led a working group that focused on the topic “Successful Onboarding of Foreign Employees.”
Due to the shortage of skilled workers in some industries, German companies are relying on foreign workers to fill vacant positions. For most of them, however, starting a career in Germany is not easy: they face difficulties finding housing, opening necessary bank accounts, or even registering their change of address. This working group focused on developing strategies to make the transition to life in Germany as smooth as possible.
The event was rounded out by engaging presentations—such as those on the importance of digitalization in business and the call to embrace healthy entrepreneurial risk—by Deutsche Telekom CEO Timotheus Höttges and a video message from Finance Minister Christian Lindner, as well as a get-together and a morning run on the second day.