Banking on Success — Episode 6: Marianne Heiß on Culture, Innovation, and Resilient Leadership

Omnicom, the parent company of BBDO, is an American public company which caters to multiple industries across the world — exactly what Heiß was looking for in an employer. The opportunity to learn about different industries has shaped her career and understanding of the European market. This is also why she has been advocating for collaboration across sectors and countries. Only by working together can we address shared challenges. 

Heiß summarizes some of the problems: “Europe lacks in investment, lacks in innovation, and has an unnecessary bureaucracy.” Collaborating intra- and internationally could improve Europe’s appeal. Additionally, Heiß argues for a Capital Markets Union, cutting red tape, as well as targeted investments in education and innovation to re‑energize growth and attract talent. 

Being involved in different companies, Heiß gets to know different strategies to deal with market changes. Regardless of market or industry, she emphasizes some common opportunities that every organization can take advantage of: branding and product development. The global market favors strong brands with innovative products and a customer-centric approach. 

Marianne Heiß is not just a prolific board member but also an author. Her book Yes she can: The future of management is female deals with the lack of women in leadership positions and what this means for the world at large. “I strongly believe women are an essential factor for our economy and for the prosperity of our society,” she stresses in the conversation. While the responsibility for providing more support lies with companies and policymakers, Heiß encourages women to continue developing their careers while building a family. Mothers need to leave their comfort zones if they want to become the leaders of tomorrow. 

Our constantly changing world is quickly exhausting people and organizations. In such an environment, developing a culture of innovation is essential — a business strategy alone can’t keep up with rapid changes. Organizations need agile cultures that enable continuous innovation and protect their employees from change fatigue. 

Volatile times are not without their crises: Heiß has lived through quite a few herself. From the Enron scandal and the Euro crisis to the pandemic, her resilience has helped her overcome these challenging situations. Her advice: acknowledge risks, focus on opportunities, and build up your resilience. 

Public companies must report on ESG, but stakeholders expect more than compliance. Even for non-public organizations, sustainability offers a way to differentiate themselves from the competition. This is why Heiß sees sustainability as a key component of a successful strategy and culture, rather than an add-on. 

As an honorary representative of UNICEF, Heiß is dedicated to creating positive change. Her motto? Do a good deed every day — a virtue she hopes more people will adopt. Every individual and organization needs to do their part: taking responsibility is the only way we can reach a sustainable future as a society.  

Everyone has a unique purpose in life. This purpose should be the focus of every decision. For Heiß, an active life, away from “standby mode”, has been her goal all along. She pursued her path in life, even if it required her to leave her comfort zone or make some sacrifices. It is up to every individual to take responsibility for themselves and to consider whether these steps are worth it. Yet, Heiß admits that self-care shouldn’t be ignored in favor of ambition: “Take care of yourself and be kind to yourself.” 

Having achieved more than she could have ever dreamed of, Heiß’ wishes for the future center around the world instead of herself: she hopes for peace, a stronger community spirit, and more collaboration. Respect and tolerance are especially missing from the global stage at the moment, as well as a commitment to a common goal. Marianne Heiß reminds us that “we are all in the same boat.”