Changes bring movement, open up new perspectives, and are the basis for growth and success. One person who knows this very well is the former professional footballer and manager of the national team, Oliver Bierhoff. He has faced upheaval several times in his life, and it is clear to him that there are opportunities in change that must be seized. "Even in critical moments, you have to have the courage to go through the door and tackle things. You won't achieve anything by waiting around," says Oliver Bierhoff in the podcast "Denkfutter". In it, Marco Bode and Oliver Bartelt spoke with him about the topic of "daring to change".
Continuous development instead of standing still
What applies in individual life is particularly true for companies. Markets change, and customer needs evolve. Climate change, digitalisation, and social developments require new answers. Standing still is not an option in this dynamic environment. Instead, the courage to move and a willingness to embrace change are needed. Oliver Bierhoff also emphasises how important this is: "Unfortunately, the willingness to change often only arises when things are in a mess. But you have to keep developing constantly. These don't always have to be 90-degree turns, but you can't stand still either."
Actively shaping change
The DMK Group is also on the move: it has been undergoing an intensive transformation process for several years and is working on the implementation of its "2030 Vision". This change involves not only structures or processes but also an attitude: courageously facing change, actively shaping transformation, and recognising opportunities within it. The powerful image of the 2030 Vision helps keep everyone motivated and committed along this path. From his "journey" as a footballer, Oliver Bierhoff learned that: "You need a kind of North Star to guide you. And then you have to be willing and aware that these exact stages of development and steps must be taken – and you can only master them with a certain positive spirit or approach."
With a tailwind into the future
Since starting its transformation path in 2019, the DMK Group has already achieved a great deal. Further steps are ahead. It's clear that not every step has been easy, but developments rarely proceed without obstacles, and setbacks are also a part of it. Oliver Bierhoff also had this experience, for one thing as manager of the national team after the defeat at the 2018 World Cup: "In hindsight, I say that it is precisely the difficult moments that let you grow. You learn from failures," says Oliver Bierhoff. "And you become more resilient, especially to criticism, which footballers are naturally exposed to."
DMK has also learned from its mistakes, overcome obstacles, and strengthened its resilience: in 2024, the company bounced back from the dip in 2023 and returned to the successes of previous years. With this tailwind, Germany's largest dairy cooperative will continue to make progress in 2025 – and will make a strong commitment to a sustainable future for the dairy industry.
Learn more about how Oliver Bierhoff has always remained open to change – and what that has to do with DMK – in the Denkfutter podcast episode "Daring to Change". Listen here
