TI CEO Podcast · episode 17
Where my fascination with technology began
1-minute summary
In this episode of his CEO diary, Christoph Standl tells where his fascination with technology began: in the mid-1990s. In 1995 he chose the business academy in Wörgl – partly because the school had four computer rooms and was the first in Austria to use Windows 95. Today that sounds like computer history; back then it was something new. Business informatics was already part of the curriculum, and there the two worlds met that accompany him to this day: business and information technology. At the same time, the internet was entering everyday life. Even then he was less interested in how a technology works in detail than in what you can do with it and which possibilities emerge. Of course, in 1995 he had no idea he would one day found a technology company and develop digital solutions for tourism regions, cities, municipalities and businesses. Looking back, however, he sees a line: internet, mobile technologies, cloud and today artificial intelligence and automation. The technologies have changed, his fascination has stayed the same. Technology for its own sake never interested him – it becomes exciting when it creates real benefit for people and customers. Perhaps his work with AI today still contains a bit of the teenager who absolutely wanted to attend the school with Windows 95. His question: which technology fascinated you for the first time – and have you kept that curiosity? Big changes often begin with small daily steps.
Description
Where does the enthusiasm for technology begin that still accompanies you decades later? For me, the answer leads back to 1995 and the business academy in Wörgl. A key reason for my choice of school back then was actually the technical equipment: the HAK Wörgl had four computer rooms and, to my knowledge, was the first school in Austria to already use Windows 95 in one of them. For me that was incredibly exciting at the time. At the same time, business informatics was already part of the curriculum. So even then two worlds met that shape my path to this day: Business and information technology. It was also the time when the internet began to fundamentally change our world. Looking back, I now recognise a line: Internet → mobile technologies → cloud → artificial intelligence and automation. The technologies have changed. My curiosity has remained. I am not interested in technology for its own sake. The decisive question for me is: What can we do with it – and what real benefit can we create from it for people and our customers? When I work with AI and new technologies today as CEO of Tourismus Interaktiv, perhaps there is still a bit of the teenager in me who absolutely wanted to attend the school with Windows 95 in 1995. My question to you: Which technology fascinated you for the very first time – and have you kept that curiosity to this day? Big changes often begin with small daily steps.