179: A message machine that continues to expand. Jochen Engert, Flix

“We knew that if we didn’t jump, we’d regret it for the rest of our lives.” It was a leap into the unknown that paid off. Jochen Engert is the founder and former long-time CEO of Flix, a German startup best known for Flixbus that has grown into a global tech and transportation company with more than 60m passengers per year - a journey he describes as “absolutely crazy”. Jochen led Flix for 11 years, from knowing little about trains and buses to expanding globally and taking over the iconic Greyhound brand. He is now a member of the supervisory board and an active investor. Jochen and the founder team executed a highly effective communications, branding and marketing strategy centred around a core idea of ‘being the perfect host’ and a brand purpose of allowing people to travel sustainably. As a leader, Jochen is clear that “crisis is nothing you can delegate”, and that “authenticity is the basis for credibility. That’s the most important thing you have as a leader.”