Empowering Excellence Program @GrECo

Gabriele Andratschke

6 Min Read

We developed Empowering Excellence @ GrECo as a cross-border programme capitalising on the vast knowledge and skill sets of our existing workforce to provide unparalleled learning opportunities for our staff.  In so doing we are uniting our global team under the shared banner of knowledge and growth.

 
In 2023, as part of our learning and development strategy, we launched Empowering Excellence @ GrECo, a new international training and development programme. Transforming our approach to learning, the initiative is inspired by our steadfast commitment to continuous growth and innovation and is testament to our dedication to excellence, our unwavering pursuit of cutting-edge expertise, as well as our collective aspiration to be leaders in a dynamic industry.

Workplace learning has never been more important 

The digital age sees employees working remotely, flexibly, across different time zones and in virtual teams. These relatively newly shaped work environments have an impact on our communication and our team interaction. We are using new digital tools and electronic processes, and some of our tasks continue to become more complex. Workloads and the pressure to meet deadlines are increasing too. Artificial intelligence is beginning to replace administrative tasks and decisions are increasingly data driven. In short, we are living in a world of information technology and are trying to keep pace with the pressure of this change. 

In the face of this, we believe we must seize the opportunity to rearrange our corporate DNA to create sustainable and secure workplaces and to build a work culture that puts people first and focuses on their individual needs.  We developed Empowering Excellence @ GrECo as a cross-border programme capitalising on the vast knowledge and skill sets of our existing workforce to provide unparalleled learning opportunities for our staff.  In so doing we are uniting our global team under the shared banner of knowledge and growth.

Neubrand_Fritz, GrECo Group Leadership Member
Friedrich Neubrand
Chairman of the Supervisory Board
Sponsor of Empowering Excellence @GrECo

Empowering Excellence @GrECo isn’t just a programme; it’s a profound opportunity for each one of us to embrace our unlimited potential. In a world of ever-evolving risk and insurance challenges and boundless opportunities, this programme embodies our dedication to staying ahead of the curve. It’s a symbol of our devotion to nurturing not just the GrECo organization, but every individual who contributes to its success

The premise behind this new initiative is to promote both knowledge growth for the group and individual development paths by focusing on the current and possible future skills and knowledge that we require at GrECo to enable our people to best serve our clients.

Winning the proverbial war for talent

Attracting and retaining the best talent is one of the biggest challenges faced by organisations today.  In 2023 we reassessed how we make GrECo the workplace of choice and analysed what key factors make us an attractive employer.  We really wanted to get to grips with what differentiates us from our competitors. Empowering Excellence is the result.

Learning programmes for further education and individual development, opportunities to develop into different directions, transparent and flexible career paths as well as a broader range of tasks, rank high among the new generation workforces.  An attractive employer therefore has to offer a Learning and Development strategy that integrates learning into the workplace, making it part of the daily work routines.

Empowering Excellence demonstrates to our current and future employees that our workforce is filled with some of the best talent in the industry from whom they can learn in an unparalleled way.  It underlines our commitment to each individual employee, their personal development, and our joint learning journey as we strive to provide the very best in risk services by attracting and retaining the very best talent. 

Being able to offer such great learning opportunities is important for me and is only possible with the right vision, an unparalleled HR team, the enthusiastic support of the participants, and a clear plan of action. To say I am proud to have put the programme together, to have motivated participants, and to have found great mentors, is an understatement.  It is a major step forward for GrECo’s learning and development strategy and something new and revolutionary for the organisation.

Gabriele Andratschke
Head of Human Resources
GrECo Group

Creating unity in a global workforce

Designed to share GrECo’s expertise in our core competencies, sales and specialty skills, and soft skills, participants in the scheme undertake a mix of theoretical and practical learning modules to gain state-of-the-art know-how in specialty and risk management, communication and presentation techniques, and teamwork.  Guided over 18 months by mentors from our management teams we are preparing the participants to help create inspiring work environments, follow open communication, and support our leadership teams.

However, Empowering Excellence is not just about acquiring skills, it’s about fostering an environment where collaboration thrives, where open communication prevails, and where leadership flourishes. It’s a commitment to not just adapting, but to leading, and shaping the landscape of our industry with our collective ingenuity and forward-thinking.  We are dedicated to uniting our global workforce helping them to forge relationships with colleagues from different markets and backgrounds, spreading internal learning across the board to show we are one company invested in all our employees no matter where they are in the world.

What our mentors say


Paul Spittau
Head of Group Carrier Relations & Insurance Mediation
GrECo Group

It’s not just about technical content, but much more about personal experiences, how things work, how they could be done better. It’s a positive learning process for the mentees and for the mentors.


As a mentor, I see my role as a guiding light, offering wisdom and encouragement as individuals navigate their paths toward personal and professional growth.

Katerina Pavlidi
General Manager
GrECo Sagauta
Litzinger Roland, Head of International Business GrECo Austria
Roland Litzinger
Regional Manager
GrECo Austria

I am convinced the success of the Empowering Excellence programme is based on mutual respect between mentors and mentees.

An excellent international development programme where I as a mentor can also learn new things through interactions and exchange with young talents in Eastern Europe.

Litzinger Roland, Head of International Business GrECo Austria
Andreas Schmitt
Executive Board Member
GrECo Austria
Litzinger Roland, Head of International Business GrECo Austria
Radovan Škultéty
General Manager
GrECo Czech Republic

The Empowering Excellence programme is a growing asset for our company as well as for participants.  As a mentor I was given an opportunity to increase its value.

What our mentees say


GrECo’s investment in my learning and development makes me feel I am a valued member of the team which in turn makes me want to work harder and give more to the company.

Litzinger Roland, Head of International Business GrECo Austria
Sophia Sosebashvili
GrECo Georgia
Litzinger Roland, Head of International Business GrECo Austria
Marko Talic
GrECo Austria

It really makes young employees feel seen within a system that counts more than 1,000 employees.

This initiative shows that GrECo cares about its employees, and that it wants to be seen as an employer who opens-up opportunities to improve talent and is a life-long work partner.

Litzinger Roland, Head of International Business GrECo Austria
Karel Popek
GrECo Czech Republic
Litzinger Roland, Head of International Business GrECo Austria
Lilija Gončarovienė
GrECo Sagauta

I believe Empowering Excellence will not only enrich my capabilities but also foster greater collaboration and innovation within the company.

Programmes like this give knowledge to participants, give them something to be proud of and start them on their journey as leaders of the future.

Litzinger Roland, Head of International Business GrECo Austria
Norbert Kovács
GrECo Hungary
Litzinger Roland, Head of International Business GrECo Austria
Eeva Arnover
IIZI Kindlustusmaakler AS

I believe it is a very valuable initiative that not only develops the participants but also allows them to share their knowledge with other colleagues

GrECo’s commitment to this initiative underscores a forward-thinking approach, signaling a dedication to employee development and a proactive stance in navigating the evolving landscape of our industry.

Litzinger Roland, Head of International Business GrECo Austria
Fatmir Milaqi
GrECo Albania

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Neubrand_Fritz, GrECo Group Leadership Member

Friedrich Neubrand

Chairman of the Supervisory Board

T +43 664 394 88 04

Gabriele Andratschke

Head of Group Human Resources

T +43 664 962 39 18

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