Patricia Hofer-Wegener: Against the current

Patricia Hofer-Wegener, Körber site: Richmond, USA 

“Patricia, would you like to go to the U.S.?” 
 
That's how it all started in 2024. 
 
My husband and I crossed the Atlantic and have been living in Richmond ever since.  
For me, it wasn't just a change of location. It was a shift in systems.  
 
From a well-structured central procurement organization in Hamburg to a site with decades of history. Processes shaped by different circumstances. Structures that had worked well for many years. 
 
And when I arrived, I took a close look at how things were done. 
 
For me, entrepreneurship means challenging established ways of thinking. 
Being resilient. Taking ownership. 
And continuing, even when things become uncomfortable. 
 
That's exactly the mindset I brought to Richmond. 
 
How do we make our procurement future-ready? 
I advocated for greater localization. 
More ownership. 
A stronger strategic focus. 
 
I was – and still am – the one swimming against the current. 
 
That can be exhausting. 
You hit walls. You have the same discussions – more than once. 
 
But if you're convinced that something is necessary in the long run, it's worth staying the course. 
 
Change isn’t a sprint. 
It’s a long and demanding process. 
 
Then came tariffs. Supply chain disruptions. Geopolitical crises. 
By then, it had become clear that the highly operational procurement approach of the past was no longer enough. 
 
That made it even more important to actively drive change. 
 
Of course, we're not at the finish line yet. 
Structures that have evolved over decades can't be transformed in just a few months. 
 
But we're moving in the right direction. 
And we're building something that will last. 
 
What I've learned is this: 
 
Transparency is where change starts. 
Where are we? Where do we want to go? How do we get there? 
 
To make that happen, you need a strong team that's willing to come along. 
Not through force. But through good arguments. 
Through examples. 
Through empathy. 
 
Many people here have been working at this site for decades. 
How can they embrace change if you don't explain why it's needed? 
 
I’m direct. Very direct. And that won’t change. 
But I've learned to balance that directness with greater patience. 
 
Change works differently here than it does in Germany. 
It requires more context. More relationships. More sensitivity.  
Or, as one of my colleagues puts it, a little more “American sugar coating”.  
 
What I’ve realized: 
 
Strategy matters. But what really makes the difference is the team. 
 
Without a strong team, you can’t swim against the current. 
I have people here who take responsibility, who think along, who actively shape change.  
And that’s what makes the difference.

If I had to give one piece of advice today, it would be this: 
 
Stay persistent. 
Setbacks are not a stop sign. 
They are part of the journey. 
The requirement for growth. 
 
And if you're convinced you're on the right path, keep swimming. 
Even against the current. 
 
Because sometimes, it's only in hindsight that you realize the resistance was pushing you exactly where you needed to go.