Entrepreneurship in the SME sector
Simone, what does entrepreneurship mean to you?
For me, entrepreneurship means the freedom to be able to organise things with a lot of creativity. Secondly, for me entrepreneurship is social responsibility for the team I lead. And thirdly, as an entrepreneur I can consistently pursue the goals that are important to me and make a difference on the market, as an employer and in society.
As a structural engineer and architect, I and my team want to integrate the aspect of sustainability substantially into the way we plan and construct buildings. For me, sustainability is not just the ecological aspect. For me, sustainability also means the sustainable and therefore flexible utilisation of buildings despite changing social demands.
In my view, I can implement this way of thinking more quickly and comprehensively as an entrepreneur than as an employee.
What difference would you like to make as an employer?
I want to lead my team in such a way that they enjoy coming to the office and want to help shape things. I want our employees to feel comfortable with us, to develop personally and professionally. Because this is how the ideas that help us to plan sustainable buildings can emerge.
Generational change in the family business
When did you realise that you wanted to join the family business?
That was about 3.5 years ago. At the time, I had made the decision to resign from my former employer well in advance and prepare to join bwp.
Why did you decide to take over from your father?
I saw the opportunity to further develop my father's life's work. This is also associated with challenges, but I like challenges. Together with our very good team, I can design and think ahead in structural engineering.
Of course, this decision was preceded by a long process. I kept thinking about whether it was the right decision for me, whether it was the right decision for us as a family and whether my father and I could manage this process together without our relationship suffering as a result.
My partner, my sisters, my mum and close friends were close confidants and sparring partners. They listened to me, contributed their view of things and ultimately encouraged me to go down this path.
One of my sisters then gave my father and me the impetus to have a coach accompany the process. And that's where you came in.
Success factors for starting a business
Who and what helped you to find your place in the company?
There were several things. Firstly, before I started at bwp, it helped me to think with you about the best role and tasks for me to start at the company and to develop a plan outlining the milestones in my development. Both of these things gave me confidence.
I was also responsible for a strategy project right from the start, the "bwp 2030" project. The focus of this project was to collect and implement ideas that would make our company fit for the future. In addition to traditional project work, I was also able to show that I have entrepreneurial expertise.
My colleagues in the company itself have supported me. In addition to my management colleagues, I have a highly experienced mentor at my side who sharpens my focus on key aspects of structural design and the economic management of projects.
And, of course, the ongoing support of my partner, family and friends, as well as coaching, are important cornerstones for growing more and more into my role and responsibilities.
Handover of the family business: A "How-To„
What advice would you give to other family entrepreneurs when it comes to handing over the business from the parents' generation to the children?
- Define a clear handover process and utilise the expertise of an experienced coach.
- Plan enough time, be patient with yourself and the process.
- Communicate openly and clearly: What expectations does everyone have of each other? What worries and fears are there?
- Don't be afraid of mixing your private and professional lives, but be aware of it.
- Look forward to what you discover about yourselves. When you work so closely together, you get to know each other anew.
- Have the courage to make mistakes and accept that mistakes happen.
New perspectives through collaboration
What new things have you learnt about your father?
As a child, I had an idea in my head of what my parents were like at work. And I always thought our father was a very strict boss and very different in the office than at home. Now I realise that my father is authentic. He is him. He doesn't pretend. That's a great quality of his. And he's not as strict as I thought either.
If I were to ask your father what he has discovered about you, what would he say?
I think he would say: Simone has her own ideas and manages to convince others of them in a very clear and charming way.
About the person:
Simone Burggraf studied civil engineering and architecture at the Technical University in Munich and then worked in various engineering and architecture firms. She joined the family business as a project manager in 2023. She was appointed Managing Director on 1 January 2025.
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