Irene Schletter is helping business to create a sustainable corporate culture
WeAct is helping people to a live happy, fulfilled life and helping business to create a sustainable corporate culture. We achieve this by implementing gamified, interactive team competitions based on our online platform. Participants can select goals, perform sustainable and healthy actions, earn points and win prices.
What motivated you to become an entrepreneur? Is having your own business something you always wanted to have?
I grew up in an entrepreneurial family so managing your own business was something that I was familiar with but I wasn’t always sure that this is what I wanted to do in my life. After studying business administration and working in management consulting for some years I realized that I prefer to be end-to-end responsible for something and pursue something that I find meaningful. I read a book about Social Entrepreneurship and it really struck a chord with me so I started looking into the scene in Switzerland. I came across WeAct almost 3 years ago and was one of their first full time employee, assuming more and more responsibility over time and being in the management team as well as board member now.
Do you have a fixed work routine? Is it important to have one? Any tips for our readers?
I have started implementing a fixed morning routine, which helps me get going in the morning as I am not really a “morning person”. I drink a glass of water, do 20 minutes of yoga, shower and eat my cereals before hopping on the train to the office. We have a stand up meeting at 9am every morning where we discuss relevant news and share the plan for the day. After that I check my emails and then start tackling the most important issues of the day. I have my do to list that I updated the day before. There are always 100+ things I could do so it’s essential to prioritize well.
What sacrifices have you had to make to be a successful entrepreneur?
I “sacrificed” the well-paid, secure position of a business consultant that I had before. But I appreciate the self-determination, flexibility and meaningful impact so much more, so it doesn’t really feel like a sacrifice.
What is one thing you find to be true that most people would disagree with?
I believe that our economic system is broken. Economic growth is not necessary any more in western societies and it is also harmful to our environment. The first goal of a country should be to increase “gross domestic happiness” not “gross domestic product”. The economy is just a means to an end, not the end in itself. Human happiness is not being increased with income rises after a certain level - a level which most people in Europe have already reached. It is much more important to spend time with people we like, do things we are passionate about and helping others. It is also important to reduce inequalities in societies.