Testimonials, what others can tell you about me ...
Director of Studies ERP-Systems & Business Process Management, University of Applied Sciences in Kufstein
www.fh-kufstein.ac.at
Reinhold Karner is undoubtedly one of the most distinguished ERP software experts and thought leaders in the digital world.
Already at the beginning of the millennium, when ERP systems were still monolithic monsters, he went far ahead of his time in breaking new ground with the development of his ERP Business Software Suite "Semiramis". Reinhold Karner has set numerous technology IT-trends in the ERP world that have become standards of the software industry today. With a footprint of state-of-the-art, yet robust architecture, with an easy-to-understand and easy-to-use web interface. He proved himself a visionary.
His enthusiasm was contagious. His work and success of his ERP software contributed to our University of Applied Sciences in Kufstein and led to the creation of our master's program "ERP Systems & Business Process Management".
Since then, Reinhold Karner has been a very welcome speaker at our events and an extremely popular and a top-rated lecturer with students at our lectures.
Start-up protagonist, President Silicon Valletta
www.simonazzopardi.com
It is immediate to recognise that Reinhold has been exposed to entrepreneurship and business that very few have, and more so that he has seen its extreme highs and lows.
However, what truly makes Reinhold stand out is his ability to look at the person before the business. Reinhold's level of empathy and emotional intelligence allows him to firmly understand people's circumstances and environments, leveraging that to contextualise conversations for greater impact and effect.
Head of Service Center IT & Controlling
www.maco.eu
I was a young employee at a trading company when I met Reinhold Karner about 30 years ago. Together we implemented a new ERP business software solution with Reinhold's software and consulting company KTW. I had already at that time been very impressed with Reinhold Karner's practical focus and his promising ideas and solutions that fascinated me.
This remained the same in all the 20 years of working together and Reinhold Karner was always my go-to person for new and ground-breaking IT solutions.
Even today, despite the fact that our business paths have parted, I follow Reinhold Karner’s career and he remains a "phenomenon" far beyond the IT world. His ability to predict future trends, together with his life's and business experiences, make him a source of inspiration for every company and its employees.
former CEO of ASTON MARTIN, CTO of PORSCHE, MD of BMW Technik, Chairman VP Engineering of Daewoo
www.astonmartin.com
Reinhold Karner, a cosmopolitan communicator from the Austrian high valley, Wildschönau (Tyrol), is down to earth but at the same time totally open-minded and a pioneer to develop, promote and communicate new technologies.
Reinhold captures complex nexuses and uses them to develop ideas, concepts and concrete solutions.
Reinhold is pro-active and tireless. He intuitively finds the right pitch without arrogance. He motivates and promotes creativity.
Reinhold brings people with different know-how and different thinking together and moderates them.
You can rely on him!
World renowned tenor and opera star
www.josephcalleja.com
I have been honoured to know Reinhold for several years, and since I first met him I was always struck by his keen sense of business, entrepreneurship and his gentlemanly way of doing business. An astute observer and predictor of trends, he is one of the few I refer to when I need some serious, unbiased advice.
The fact that he has impressive business connections and a keen sense of charming, self deprecative humour makes him the life of any party.
CFO & Chief-Controller, banking professional, management consultant
Mr Reinhold Karner was always an authentic employer, which was particularly expressed in the fact that he led me consistently as an employee. When my career needed support (in the sense of futhering), I received it in a technically impressive way, and when it needed an unfolding (in the sense of challenging), he understood it excellently, always enabling this in a motivating manner.
Mr. Karner has impressed me (and still does) most of all by his enormous expertise and ability to convey it to his clients, customers, interested parties and above all in a convincing manner.
Economist, sustainability researcher, financial controlling evangelist
www.SONAX.com
How should I describe him, this Reinhold Karner? He has so many facets. He is a doer. What he takes in hand works. His Semiramis1 was already better in 2005 than SAP is today2. He is an entrepreneur. His advice is worth its weight in gold. He is antifragile. Nassim Nicholas Taleb3 would only need an hour, and they would be friends. Reinhold Karner is convincing and inspires. He has the rare gift of quickly seeing through complex contexts. He recognises trends; he senses impending danger, even highly improbable events. He is an excellent networker. He likes to give; he gives openly and honestly. He loves the big stage. He likes exquisite glasses and ties. He values nature. He is concerned about climate change. He doesn't like nuclear power. He is a global citizen and down-to-earth at the same time. Actually, he is indescribable.
1 A groundbreaking ERP software solution developed under Reinhold Karner as an entrepreneur and CEO. One of the first complex business applications, a pioneer worldwide, created 100% in Java with comprehensive internet architecture and full cloud capability. It was launched in 2002, renamed Comarch ERP Enterprise in 2011.
2 March 2021
3 An internationally renowned scientist and financial mathematician and book-author of the world bestseller "The Black Swan: The Impact of the Highly Improbable".
CEO Playmobil (1976-2012), President platform CORE
www.core.org.mt
Reinhold Karner is, for me, an extraordinary personality. We met in 1997 when his company won a contract over international competition for an ERP system for the Playmobil Group in Germany and Malta. This business connection developed into long years of close friendship.
He is none the less a person who has helped me over the years through his deep knowledge with objective, competent advice. As his friend I watched him as an acclaimed young entrepreneur in Tyrol suddenly facing ruin. He has not only learned his lesson but also reinvented himself and he is now extremely successful in advising businesses from start-ups up to top companies, worldwide.
His career is an epitome of a perfect motivator and sparring partner for entrepreneurs, leaders and executives. His drive to focus on our time's newest technology and business topics turn every conversation into a master class of thought. Students, young entrepreneurs, business people, leaders and managers will profit immensely from his knowledge and his experience.
Most importantly, Reinhold Karner always puts human values at the cornerstone of everything. It is an honour to be his friend.
President of Austria’s prestigious think tank IHS, former EU Commissioner and President of the European Forum Alpbach
www.franz-fischler-consult.co.at
What makes Reinhold Karner such an exciting conversation partner, adviser and tutor is his enormous knowledge, his comprehensive experience and, on the other hand, his ability to strategically merge very different elements and various approaches.
He has also mastered the art of communication because he always succeeds in explaining each, even complex subject, in clear language and distinguishing the essential from the non-essential. Everyone who seeks contact with him will be convinced by his qualities and can profit from working with him.
University Professor for Strategy and Leadership (among Top 20 in Europe and Top 40 in the world)
www.uibk.ac.at
Reinhold Karner is an impressive personality: entrepreneur, adviser, networker and lateral thinker! He specialises like no other in hot technological and business topics of our time. His ability to identify trends and see the bigger picture, coupled with his experience and first-hand knowledge, make him a second to none thinker.
You would be hard pushed to find someone like Reinhold Karner who possesses such profound and detailed knowledge of digital technologies and artificial intelligence - AI - simultaneously and who could still see "the big picture" and social developments. Reinhold Karner is an exceptionally significant and influential initiator on these topics.
For over 15 years Reinhold Karner has been a key sparring partner; he gave me also essential impulses for my latest book, "Digital Disruption"!
Hundreds of students benefitted from his fascinating guest speeches at the University of Innsbruck and the Free University of Bozen-Bolzano, learning from his knowledge, his experience and his personal career advice.
Entrepreneur, Education Designer for Digitalization, Professor and Head of Department at MCI - The Entrepreneurial School
www.mci.edu
Reinhold Karner has inspired our students for years with his frank words on entrepreneurship topics and the challenges of starting a business. Change and dealing with professional and personal opportunities and risks are his speciality - as well as handling failure, motivation and the ability to re-invent yourself and your own company over and over again.
Finally, as my sparring partner, Reinhold Karner, has substantially contributed to the concept and development of an already 20-year-old (!) incredibly successful degree program,"Management, Communication & IT”, at the MCI. This program has up to now been studied by over 1,000 alumni and is currently being studied by 350 students. It is one of the first degree programs on Digitalization in Europe.
Business Adviser, Co-Founder, Farmer
Boundless passion and fervour in interaction, with extraordinary knowledge and wisdom - that's how I met Reinhold Karner, and also how I see him to date ... always with an ace up his sleeve.
Professor of business management, specialised in family businesses
www.weissman.de
Reinhold Karner is one of the most impressive personalities I have ever met in my entrepreneurial life. His unique career, which took him up to the very top and also down to the bottom, made him the perfect coach and sparring partner, in my view. He has shown what true resilience looks like, and this is something every entrepreneur should learn.
Aside from his diverse experiences, it is his network that's truly valuable. There has hardly been an innovative topic for which he did not have the right contacts – most of the time, though, the best connection was himself.
I have benefitted a lot from his inspiration and my latest book on the topic, “Digital Transformation – how to manage the transition as a family business”, would have hardly been possible without his input. I enjoyed working with Reinhold Karner and he is a real highlight for my students!
Associate Professor & Ambassador for Digital Affairs, Quantum Physicist, Head of Department of Physics, University of Malta
www.um.edu.mt
Reinhold Karner is a dear friend to me, a unique personality, and someone whose friendship and advice I value deeply. He has taught me to see things from a very different perspective, offering insight and ideas that complement my scientific background beautifully. His enthusiasm for the entrepreneurial world is nothing short of contagious!
He is truly a member of the rare breed of movers and shakers who is happy to share his network and his knowledge, and who somehow always finds the time to answer questions and to offer valuable advice.
Veteran CEO and co-founder of market leader Maico Italy
www.maco.eu
I met Reinhold Karner in the early years of his company KTW and our company, back then, Maco Italia (later Maico Italia). It was lucky for me and the company.
Reinhold Karner was and is a visionary and pioneer! His innovative software solutions (an ERP Business Suite) were always far ahead of times. He has strong instinct for IT trends, first of all for new, doable and useful solutions for today and tomorrow.
The cooperation with Reinhold Karner has been an important pillar for our company's prosperity, which became the leader and lighthouse in the Italian market. Our long time successful collaboration has been based on these principles:
- Outstanding professional competence and execution as well as implementation efficiency
- Available anytime 24/7/365
- A man of his word
What transpired was that our teamwork was built on true values, trust, respect and appreciation. On a personal level, we have developed a truly rewarding friendship. The circumstances which resulted in the loss of his company in 2007 brought Reinhold Karner in a borderline situation and he handled it admirably and perfectly.
The fact that Reinhold Karner shares his entrepreneurial knowledge and his experience with defeat and ‘failure’ using speeches and publications with young entrepreneurs, leaders, customers and partners, is not only self-evident but very, very valuable and useful. This attitude makes Reinhold Karner stand apart from the rest. It is people like Reinhold Karner that we need so much nowadays.
Thank you!