As we embark on this exploration of Katja’s remarkable path, we uncover not only the pivotal moments and guiding principles that have shaped her career but also the profound impact of her unwavering dedication to cultivating authentic relationships and empowering the next generation.
Join us as we delve into Katja’s journey, tracing her path from the heartland of Germany to the pinnacle of the international business arena, and discover the profound impact of her unwavering commitment to community building and collaboration.
Tell us about yourself and your story, how did you end up where you are?
I’m originally from Northern Bavaria, Germany, and hold an MA in business economics with a focus on marketing. My career began in the German banking sector, but my true passion was in developing relationships and connecting people. This drive led me to co-found Prestel & Partner, focusing on creating engaging and meaningful communities for Ultra High Net Worth Individuals (UHNWIs) and Family Offices through events. Bringing the Next Generation together is a very important mission to me.
What’s your biggest lesson learnt in your journey?
The importance of personal relationships and trust in building a successful network. Our growth has been organic, driven by personal introductions and recommendations, proving that genuine connections are invaluable.
What separates you from the competition or other companies?
Our mission and approach itself is very unique. We are leaders in our sector because we organize international and global conferences for a very special niche audience of UHNWIs and Family Offices, with an emphasis on a private and personable approach. We focus on creating that private and personal environment for our niche audience, prioritizing quality interactions over transactions. Our events are designed to feel like private gatherings, fostering genuine connections and community among attendees. Over the last 12 years we have kept our promise to always have more Family Offices, UHNWI investors (buy-side) at our events than experts and service providers (sell-side). This is why we only sell a limited amount of passes for experts who have an offering. We give our attendees a safe place and never share any of their contact details. We do not involve ourselves in any investment deal flow and do not take commission, therefore we strive to always remain neutral.
What specific tips or advice for young professionals or entrepreneurs?
Follow your passion and focus on building genuine relationships. Success is not just about
transactions but about the trust and connections you build along the way.
How do you see yourself in 10 years?
I see myself continuing to grow and evolve personally and with Prestel & Partner further expanding our global community of UHNWIs and Family Offices, and deepening our impact in areas like equality, impact investing and longevity.
What keeps you motivated every day?
Personally, all my life goals and gratitude for my wonderful, healthy life. Professionally, definitely the magical experiences when connecting people and creating meaningful communities. The feedback from our attendees and the personal relationships I’ve developed are incredibly fulfilling.
What is your favorite quote of all times?
“Love is always the answer” by Albert Einstein.
What are the main factors that led you to where you are right now?
I have a passion for people. I am a very communicative, open and outgoing person and love to connect and exchange views, not just on a business level, but also with individuals that I have unplanned encounters with such as at the supermarket or while travelling. This curious attitude for humans always resulted in getting to know very interesting people. With Prestel & Partner and our Family Office events, I feel that I continued to follow my passion of bringing diverse people together for a bigger purpose. Besides my wish to help and connect the next generation internationally, I also have a strong passion for impact investing, which has always been an important component of our conference agendas.
Who is your role model or inspiration in your life?
The connection to nature and mother earth is my biggest inspiration.
What are the top 3 core values in life?
Love, gratitude, family.
What are key moments / turning points of your life?
The biggest turning point in my life was when I started my daily meditation practice when I was 25 and experienced that we can create our own reality with the power of our thoughts, feelings and belief system / mindset. Professionally, most definitely co-founding Prestel & Partner and the decision to focus on creating meaningful communities for UHNWIs and Family Offices.
What personality traits make a good leader?
Communicative, open to learn from your team, outgoing, and empathetic, with a genuine interest in the stories and passions of others.
What is the best and the worst part of your job?
The best part is meeting fascinating people and forming personal connections. My role has challenges that include managing the expectations and diverse needs of a high-net-worth audience to keep our standards very high.
What is the biggest challenge you have faced in your career?
Overcoming the initial challenges of establishing a new business in a niche market. The focus on trust and personal relationships was key to overcoming them.
What do you look for when outsourcing or hiring?
Individuals who share our company values of trust, community, and a personal approach to business.
What strategies do you use to stay ahead of the curve in your industry?
Constantly innovating the event experience and incorporating topics of interest. We have always been at the forefront by bringing up new topics, such as impact investing from 2015, longevity from 2016, or AI from 2018 – long before they became widely discussed.
In what ways do you foster innovation and creativity within your organization?
By incorporating diverse speakers and topics into our events and encouraging a culture of open communication and collaboration.
How do you balance the pursuit of wealth and success with personal fulfilment and happiness?
By aligning my work with my passion. My biggest passion is having a healthy and happy life. Everything related to the health of body, mind and soul. I am constantly educating myself on nutrition, exercise, medicine, longevity, supplements, meditation and mindfulness. At our events, we also incorporate lifestyle topics and I am very happy that well-known experts are sharing their knowledge and niche, for example in longevity or quantum physics for mental health. I love that I can combine my passion for people and my favorite topics within the programme of our Family Office forums. Every day I am deeply grateful for all the support of our attendees and I look forward to many, many more years to come.
www.prestelandpartner.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/katja-muelheim
BY Egli HAXHIRAJ, Anamaria MESHKURTI and Jonida GJUZI
© All Rights Reserved Moneys Media Ltd Geneva, Switzerland.
