Founding story June 2024: Menschthink Coaching & Consulting

Sustainability is increasingly coming into focus in companies and is becoming the key to long-term success and our future coexistence. Markets are changing; companies that take on pioneering roles now and set themselves apart from the competition will attract the specialists of tomorrow. But which strategy leads to the goal? This is where Franziska Mensching comes in. With her consulting firm Menschthink Coaching & Consulting, she sharpens the sustainability profile of companies and prepares them for the future.

Lina Rüpke

Franziska, what exactly is behind Menschthink?

The word mark is based on my surname and at the same time has a deeper meaning. During my consultancy, companies focus on people, both internally and socially. In concrete terms, this means that we identify where their corporate responsibility lies and what a company can achieve in terms of positive impact for our society.

The "Think" in my company name has a special meaning. I create spaces where people can come together to exchange ideas and think ahead together. I regularly organize Future Work events such as the "Future Work Dinner" for mainly self-employed people and founders. The aim here is to share experiences, gain inspiration and interact with others over a multi-course meal in a relaxed atmosphere. I organize the dinner three times a year. This year, there will be a Futur Work Summit for the first time on September 26. The intensive training is aimed at people who actively work in the field of sustainability, are HR developers and future shapers and/or want to know what future skills we need for the working world of tomorrow. Tickets for the very limited number of places are now on sale.

Who are your customers?

I currently have three core offers with which I address different target groups. I have already described the target groups for the current event formats - the Future Work Events. I offer sustainability communication and change support for large companies, banks and insurance companies. For start-ups, but also for foundations, associations and NGOs, I offer keynote speeches and topic-specific workshops. These are either about basic orientation and individual advice or about topics such as "From knowledge to action".

What does a classic consultation look like for you?

Strategic consulting is about individual concerns and goals. What does the company structure look like? Who are the stakeholders? What corporate goals already exist and what challenges are there? People need to be involved in any changes. This should be considered at an early stage. I encourage a participative approach and involving the stakeholders. Good communication is the number one success factor. If you don't communicate or communicate incorrectly, there is a risk that projects will fizzle out, the good people will leave, frustration will be generated and there will be no enthusiasm at all. When the measures are implemented, we remove barriers from the outset and convey the meaning behind the changes.

How did the idea of founding the company come about?

Parallel to my job, I studied business psychology and trained as a business coach. I worked on many projects and found it most exciting right from the start to really take the people in the company with me during the changes. Topics such as New Work have been with me ever since. However, "new work" doesn't just mean how we should work together, but also what we achieve with our work. For me, sustainable management and New Work therefore simply belong together. In particular, the urgency of more sustainable management has driven me to ask myself a personal question of meaning. That's why, when I founded the company, I decided to only support sustainable projects.

What tips do you have for other founders?

On the one hand, make sure that you work in a strength-oriented way. I don't have to do everything myself. Secondly, it is important to have the target group in mind right from the start: What exactly do they need? This is important so that you don't miss out on the market. My recommendation: focus on your target group first, talk to them and build offers that you can then test and develop further with your target group. The very first thing I did was build a homepage. In retrospect, it was a waste of time.

How did hannoverimpuls support you?

I wanted to change careers and work as an external coach in the areas of new work, personnel development and change management. I actually wanted to start my own business on a part-time basis, but then decided to go full-time due to the market situation. The hannoverimpuls start-up course gave me some orientation. The focus of the start-up was on sustainability. This is where the Sustainable Success Teams program provided the next boost.

Heike Roessing

Menschthink Coaching & Consulting

Bardowicker Str. 4

30449 Hanover

Tel: 0176 34586043

kontakt@menschthink.com

Franziska on the cooperation with hannoverimpuls:

hannoverimpuls was a great support for the first Future Work Dinner with Saskia Gehrke. The idea was expanded in the "Sustainable Success Teams" program and we got off to a very successful start together. She made sure that we were allowed to use the rooms at hannoverimpuls. We were sold out and that was a great moment for both of us.

Saskia Gehrke, Project Manager Start-up and Entrepreneurship Gründerinnen-Consult at hannoverimpuls GmbH, on the collaboration with Franziska:

Franziska is doing exactly what the world of work needs right now - rethinking work in a new and sustainable way. With her training, studies and other qualifications, Franziska is well positioned. Together we worked out what she is passionate about. And she has already proven several times that she is on fire when working with us.