At the end of August, the FINU Germany Executive Board gathered in Erfurt for a joint strategy meeting. The focus was on one key question: Where do we want to take FINU—and what specific value do we want to create for our members and for Germany as a business location?
FINU is still a young association. This is precisely where a great opportunity lies: We can build structures from the very beginning in a way that aligns with the actual needs of our members. That’s why our strategy meeting wasn’t about planning as many activities as possible, but rather about first gaining clarity on our role, our strengths, and our next steps.
We see one of our greatest strengths in our members’ networks, experiences, and perspectives. Many of our entrepreneurs have deep economic roots in Germany while also maintaining excellent international connections. We want to bring these connections together more effectively and leverage them for new collaborations, markets, and economic opportunities.
At the same time, we want to pool our members’ experiences from their day-to-day business lives. Where do unnecessary hurdles arise? Which framework conditions can be improved? And in which areas can we develop solutions together, rather than repeatedly tackling challenges on our own?
From a Network to a Shared Structure
Three key priorities for FINU’s future development emerged from the strategy meeting: We want to strengthen the connections among our members, build bridges between business, politics, and government, and leverage our members’ international networks for economic benefit.
In doing so, we view FINU as more than just a traditional business association. We want to be a place where experiences give rise to concrete ideas—and where ideas lead to joint projects.
This includes, for example, new approaches to international skilled workers and immigration, better interfaces between businesses and government, support for startups, and the development of international economic relations. At the same time, we want to raise the profile of companies and entrepreneurs with an international history and highlight the contribution they are already making to Germany as a business location.
Our goal is clear: FINU should not grow simply to become larger. FINU should grow because collaboration creates impact.
The strategy meeting was therefore not an ending, but a beginning. In the coming months, we want to further flesh out the ideas that emerged, build partnerships, and decide together with our members which topics we will advance as an association.
After all, FINU thrives on the people, companies, experiences, and international connections that come together here.
