Dr. Felix Schüssler on the consulting philosophy of Schüssler-Consulting and the Liechtenstein brand

May 5, 2025 - Could you give us some insight into the founding and development of Schüssler-Consulting?

Dr. Felix Schüssler: Schüssler Consulting was founded in 2010 based on my experience in the financial sector and the renewable energy industry. In Germany, my focus was on brokering and structuring large-scale projects, particularly in close collaboration with general contractors who were developing ground-mounted solar parks. At the same time, I advised institutional investors, particularly specialized fund boutiques, that were specifically investing in these projects.

When I moved to Liechtenstein in 2011, I brought this expertise and my international network with me. As market conditions in the renewable energy sector evolved, our consulting focus gradually expanded into comprehensive, cross-industry management consulting. Today, our consulting approach centers on tailored, practical solutions.

Over the past 15 years, we have deliberately grown our company organically. Our lean structure and proven network of highly qualified experts enable us to bring in the exact right expertise for every project. This ensures that every consulting engagement is tailored to the client’s specific needs and meets the highest professional standards. Our clients benefit from this combination of professional expertise, international experience, and consistent client focus—values that have shaped our work since our founding and will continue to define our consulting approach in the future.

What sets Schüssler Consulting apart from traditional management consulting firms?

Dr. Felix Schüssler: Our key differentiator lies in our strong co-entrepreneurial mindset. We do not see ourselves as traditional external consultants who develop theoretical concepts and then step back. Rather, we act as entrepreneurial sparring partners on equal footing who take on responsibility alongside our clients—from setting the initial strategic course to successful operational implementation. Our commitment is to actively support our clients until the agreed-upon goals are sustainably achieved and firmly anchored in the reality of the business.

The consulting process follows a clearly structured, business-oriented approach: We always begin with a thorough analysis of the current situation, which we develop in collaboration with our clients. In doing so, we take an unvarnished look at the company’s current position, focusing clearly on opportunities, challenges, and potential risks. Building on this, we define an ambitious yet realistic vision that is consistently aligned with the key drivers of business success.

The next step involves detailed project planning, characterized by high efficiency, clear prioritization, and a resource-efficient approach. The concepts developed as a result are not academic simulations, but practical, robust guidelines for action that are closely aligned with real-world market and business conditions. It is crucial to us that our work does not end with the presentation of the concept. We actively support the implementation, monitor progress, and ensure that the developed strategies are operationally effective and firmly embedded in the company over the long term.

It is precisely this consistently practical and results-oriented approach that sets us apart from traditional consulting firms. For us, what matters is not the number of presentations we produce, but the concrete, measurable impact—both in the market and within internal structures, and above all, in our clients’ results.

What significance does Liechtenstein hold as a business location for your company? What role does Liechtenstein Marketing play for Schüssler-Consulting? Where do your common points of contact or approaches lie?

Dr. Felix Schüssler: As a business location, Liechtenstein offers excellent conditions for entrepreneurial activity. The combination of political stability, an internationally recognized financial center, and a highly innovative, SME-dominated industrial sector creates a unique economic environment with a high degree of value-added depth. The innovative strength and international competitiveness of Liechtenstein’s industry are particularly remarkable by global standards and underscore the attractiveness of the location.

As a consultant with a strong focus on practical business development, I have conducted in-depth research into the factors behind the success of Liechtenstein’s economic model—and I have published the results of these analyses in academic journals. This in-depth knowledge of the local business environment is directly incorporated into our consulting work and enhances the value we deliver to our clients.

Our long-standing partnership with Liechtenstein Marketing dates back to the very beginnings of Schüssler-Consulting. As a brand partner, we have been officially representing the Principality since 2015 under the slogan “Expertise from Liechtenstein.” This partnership enables us to specifically integrate the strengths of the location into our client engagements while simultaneously raising Liechtenstein’s profile beyond its borders as an innovation-driven and economically attractive business location.

Can you give us a concrete idea of what your work in companies is like?

Dr. Felix Schüssler: In most engagements, we don’t just act as external consultants providing occasional guidance; rather, we become an integral part of the company for a defined period of time. This means we actively support senior management and the relevant teams in implementing strategic initiatives, assist in establishing new business units, or assume operational responsibility—for example, in the areas of marketing, sales, or business development.

A recent example illustrates this approach: In one of our engagements, we initially advised the company on its strategic realignment. Since the successful implementation of the developed strategy was critical to the company’s success, we made a conscious decision to also get involved at the operational level. We have now been supporting the company for two years, and I myself am serving in an interim role on the executive board. Our goal is always not only to achieve short-term success but also to create sustainable structures that can be maintained stably in the long term without our active support.

Working together as partners on an equal footing is particularly important to us. We share responsibility with our clients—both for the success of the project and for the challenges that arise along the way. Accordingly, we offer flexible compensation models based on the actual value we create together. In many projects, we therefore combine fixed fees with performance-based components, so that we consciously share a portion of the business risk. This model underscores our co-entrepreneurial mindset and ensures a close, trusting partnership with our clients.

How does the collaboration with Schüssler-Consulting work in practice, particularly when it comes to implementing strategies?

Dr. Felix Schüssler: We do not see ourselves as a traditional consulting firm with a purely functional focus, nor as a specialized industry consultancy offering off-the-shelf solutions. Our approach is deliberately holistic, tailored to each client, and consistently practice-oriented. We not only develop viable strategies but also actively ensure that they are implemented with a high level of quality.

Experience shows that the real challenge in many companies lies not in strategy development itself, but in its consistent implementation. Small and medium-sized enterprises, in particular, are heavily involved in day-to-day operations and often lack the human resources to efficiently drive strategic realignments in parallel. Without a clear leader who takes responsibility, sets priorities, and actively manages the change, there is a risk that even the best concepts will fizzle out in the day-to-day business.

This is exactly where we come in: Over the past few years, we have supported more than 100 projects across over 25 industries—ranging from the automotive and food industries to financial services and the service sector. Our particular strength lies in the fact that we not only work with a solid conceptual foundation but also take on shared entrepreneurial responsibility during the implementation phase. We work closely with senior management and the relevant departments, define clear milestones, and steer the entire implementation process with the goal of ensuring that the agreed-upon objectives are not only achieved but also sustainably embedded within the company.

What topics or current trends are you currently focusing on?

Dr. Felix Schüssler: We deliberately cover a wide range of topics—from market development and product development to business model innovations. One project that particularly stands out in my memory is our collaboration with “Francis Bags,” Franziska Ospelt’s brand of avant-garde women’s handbags. Together, we developed an innovative concept that combines unconventional materials with modern design—a wonderful example of how we put creative ideas into practice with entrepreneurial substance.

That is exactly what we enjoy most: we support the implementation of new ideas and ensure they are ready for the market. In practice, this means that when developing a new product, we not only provide strategic guidance but also actively support the entire process. It starts with the initial concept sketch, which we refine together with internal teams and external partners. In the morning, we work directly with the product development and production teams; in the afternoon, we discuss progress with senior management—and finally, the finished concept is presented to the business client.

A central part of our work is bringing together the relevant people from different departments and levels of the organization. It never ceases to amaze us how much energy is unleashed when employees from production, marketing, and senior management work together for the first time on a specific challenge. It is precisely this interdisciplinary exchange that not only leads to better solutions but also fosters mutual understanding within the company. We see our role as a structuring force and coordinating body that moderates the process, keeps everything on track, and ensures that creative ideas are efficiently implemented—with clear responsibilities, fixed milestones, and a clear focus on market success.

How has the consulting industry changed in recent years, and how are you responding to these changes?

Dr. Felix Schüssler: The demands placed on management consultancies have changed significantly in recent years—especially among owner-managed small and medium-sized businesses. In these companies, the focus is no longer on theoretical conceptual work, but rather on demonstrable implementation expertise. Many of these companies were built by the founding or owner generation and have a strongly pragmatic character. Accordingly, they are not looking for consultants who present glossy concepts, but rather partners who actively help shape the process and take responsibility for implementation.

Another defining trend is the growing use of artificial intelligence (AI). We do not view AI as a replacement for the human factor, but rather as a valuable tool for increasing efficiency. AI offers significant potential, particularly in the processing of information and content curation. However, it remains crucial that individualized, tailored advice remains at the core. Technology alone does not solve business challenges—it requires a combination of technological support and business expertise.

It is important to approach these developments with an open mind. The use of AI will undoubtedly change some jobs or eliminate them entirely. However, this by no means implies that people will become redundant—on the contrary: their role will continue to evolve. Consulting firms that are willing to actively shape this transformation will continue to have excellent prospects.

At Schüssler-Consulting, we respond to these changes by consistently prioritizing individuality and flexibility. We do not offer off-the-shelf, standardized solutions. Every project is developed individually and closely tailored to the specific needs of the respective company. This is precisely why we have chosen to maintain a lean organizational structure—there are only a few areas of responsibility that we delegate in a standardized manner. Our goal is to approach every project with a tailored consulting strategy and to support our clients as partners, pragmatically and on an equal footing.

This combination of professional expertise, entrepreneurial thinking, a high degree of flexibility, and genuine personal partnership forms the DNA of Schüssler-Consulting—and it is precisely this DNA that ensures our long-term relevance even in a changing market.

At the conclusion of the discussion, Dr. Felix Schüssler once again highlighted Liechtenstein’s special significance as a location for business activity. He emphasized that the combination of a strong corporate culture, an excellently connected economic region, and a liberal, business-friendly political environment creates ideal conditions for sustainable business success. A central role in this is played by the unique model of the constitutional hereditary monarchy, which has ensured political stability, long-term planning security, and economic continuity for decades. These stable conditions, coupled with the entrepreneurial mindset and the promotion of innovation by the Princely House, have made Liechtenstein an internationally recognized model of success.

Photo: ©Liechtenstein Marketing/Abderhalden