6 Questions with… Andreas Schmidjell of Ferdinand Bilstein
When necessity turns into friendship and business events start to feel like family gatherings, you know you’ve gained a true fan. That’s exactly what happened with Andreas Schmidjell from Ferdinand Bilstein. In this interview—featuring, for once, just six questions—he explains why he once canceled a training session without hesitation and how his business relationship with Consulting4IT has had a profound impact on his personal life.
Andreas, how did you find out about the Academy, and how many training sessions have you completed so far?
We’ve been using the Matrix42 solution since 2009. Back then, everything was still handled directly through the manufacturer. As the company continued to grow and eventually reached its capacity limits, it became difficult to secure consulting appointments on short notice. On Matrix42’s recommendation, I then reached out to you. I think I attended my first training session in 2015. In total, there have been about four, and the fifth is coming up soon. Although it feels like there have been many more, because I feel like I’m at every one of your events.
Why is that? And what specifically impressed you?
Right from the start, we just clicked on a personal level. That’s very important to me personally. Plus, there’s a sense of continuity—your employees often stay with the company for many years. That means, as a customer, you don’t have to constantly adjust to new points of contact. Conversely, you also know us very well and understand how we tick. That allows us to communicate on a whole different level. As for the Academy: I was very fortunate to be able to attend the first training session with Mr. Benz. Not only is he a great guy personally, but as an IT manager, he could also speak from his own experience. Basically, your trainers can offer so much more than just technical content. They’re seasoned professionals, authentic people you enjoy listening to—and who aren’t afraid to call out something when it’s silly. True to the motto: “You can do it that way, but it’s a bad idea.”
How do you rate other training programs compared to the Academy courses?
Many people can teach. And yet there are subtle differences. For example, your training courses go into greater technical depth than those offered by other providers. Thanks to the smaller group sizes in each session, you’re also able to address each participant’s needs more individually. Apart from that, the whole experience is simply fantastic: Waldbronn is beautiful, your building is beautiful, there are great evening events, and you can even chat casually with the management, for example. The overall interaction among participants is unique, and you stay in touch with the other participants for a long time afterward. With you, everything is on a more personal level, and that’s what sets you apart from others.
Self-study vs. Academy – How would you rate the effectiveness of both options?
For me personally, both are essential, because I don’t think you can have one without the other. Besides, I don’t believe you can gain the kind of in-depth knowledge that’s shared in your training courses through self-study alone. Just the tips and tricks drawn from the trainers’ experience, as well as the process-oriented thinking that’s taught there—you simply can’t pick that up through self-study.
Which type of training—online or in-person—do you prefer, and why?
I canceled the last training session right away because it was only held online. Does that answer your question?
So can we assume that we’ve found a true fan in you?
Absolutely! My enthusiasm is definitely rooted in the many personal connections I’ve built with Consulting4IT. Whenever I walk in, I’m always greeted with a warm hello and a hug—whether it’s from the marketing team or the management. It feels a bit like family, and I’ve grown very fond of many of you. Here’s a story about my first sundowner with you: When Anissa from Marketing found out about my food intolerances, a special meal was prepared just for me. And just recently again: Mandy, as Academy Director, personally made sure I had the right snacks and meals. I find this care incredibly touching! And it’s this great warmth that defines your company as a whole.
What’s more, it was during one of those training sessions that I got to know my current partner better and fell in love with her. So it goes without saying that I now have an even stronger personal connection to Waldbronn and the company. And that’s why I can say with even greater conviction: I’m a big fan of Consulting4IT!
