26. Sep. 19

INTERVIEW with Dr. Isabell Franck, founder and CEO of franck.AI

In this interview she reveals what it means to her to be a CEO of a company

Founder and CEO of franck.AI Isabell Franck has the vision of a software product that makes zero waste production possible in order to increase the efficiency of manufacturing. She combines data science and machine learning with the field of engineering.

In this interview she reveals what it means to her to be a CEO of a company she created and how she tackles struggles that cross her way. She’ll also explains what influences her and how intrinsic motivation and external factors come along in a reciprocal nature. She touches upon the issues of founding, employing and communicating within a company and after talking to her we have to say: Her thoughts and actions underlie an inspiringly positive and encouraging approach.

When was the first time you thought about building franck.AI?

"It all goes back to my research time at university. Our supervisor gave us the opportunity to work independently and try out different things. This opened my eyes that I wanted to create something. I realized I loved building up things. To me it is important that you can drive things forward and that I understand the background. I was lucky within my PhD that I found something like this and that I got some positive feedback in the industry. There was demand for this. Slowly, I started bringing pieces together, always creating a bigger puzzle which constantly evolves."

Tell us a bit about franck.AI

"Industry 4.0 and Artificial Intelligence are on everyone’s mind these days and we already have concrete and effective solutions in practice. At franck.AI, we provide innovative software solutions that systematically combine machine intelligence with process knowledge. Using formalized expert knowledge and existing data, our products calculate the unknown parameter values and machine settings required for a high quality component. We dynamically optimize production."

As a student, where did you see yourself?

"When I was a student I realized that there were many opportunities. I tried out different things to see what it was like working in consultancy or in a corporate. I was really fascinated with the variety of opportunities and I tested them to see what was best for me. I was quite open-minded regarding choices then I didn’t have a clear picture in mind."

When you look at your career what would you consider your biggest challenge?

"I think being a CEO of a company is really challenging. It’s a combination of smaller things. You think about finances, the strategy, how to get to the goal, how to adjust it, how to bring it forward and who will be on the team. That’s all really motivating but challenging at the same time because there are so many decisions you need to make. Probably, later on, I will have larger challenges but I think right now being the CEO of a company is a big challenge."

I am not afraid about the consequences I just want them to go into the right directions

Dr. Isaball Franck

Being the CEO involves a lot of responsibility, is it about the consequences?

"I am not afraid about the consequences I just want them to go into the right directions. It is more that there are so many things going on at the same time. I like to push things forward . I love the product that we develop and I love to work with great people, and as the CEO I can decide who is in my team."

How do you pick your team?

"It depends on the position. For example, for an intern position it depends on the topic as well as on the applicant – whether the applicant is motivated and what the future might hold for the intern and us. I also like to have different personalities on the team: such as a more experienced person and a less experienced person – just different personalities and different knowledge. What I look for the most is motivation and intelligence; those are the most important traits. Sometimes it can take very long to pick a team, it also depends on the applicants of course."

What was the reaction of your family and friends like when you wanted to start your own company?

"My environment supported me: family, friends and different programs. During the first steps I think this is really helpful to make the blurred picture clearer. I wasn’t quite sure in the beginning
whether it would work the way I wanted it to but these external factors motivated me and pushed me to go this way. I think that if you find the way for yourself and people feel it, they try to support you. Obviously, they also make you aware of the risks but in a constructive way."

Did or do you have a role model?

"Not a specific one. I have a great female mentor, she inspires me. There are different people that inspire me depending on the challenge I am having. I have two or three different people I really look up to."

What does it take to be the CEO of your company?

"Perseverance is important because not everything always works out fine. People often think that if you have a smart idea everything works out. The idea is only the beginning. Plants need water to grow and to evolve. Duration is really important and motivation as well. Being grounded, to be authentic. To not have a hierarchy in the way you treat people matters. Through motivation and vision, you will figure things out."

Do you think there are “CEO-skills” you can learn?

"Regarding the hard skills you can probably learn mostly anything but personality-wise you just are who you are. You shouldn’t learn to be different than you are. The more a person gets to try out the higher the chances are that the person can identify his/her personality. In terms of management skills, you probably have it in you already but you’re not aware of it. You can uncover potential which is not visible yet but can be made visible through providing a nurturing environment. I also develop and discover new skills all the time."

Do you think that the tech industry needs to change?

"This might also help in addition. Industry-wise, it would be helpful to have more women in the area because that will show others that it is an interesting field. You wouldn’t have to change anything, having more women in the field would by it self change the industry. It is kind of a chicken-egg problem. I noticed that other countries don’t have this problem, e.g. the US, Spain and France do have a lot of women in tech."

What advice would you give other young women that want to go into the tech field?

"Just do it."