Almuth Steinkühler has been CFO of SCHOTT Pharma, which designs drug containment products and drug delivery systems for pharmaceutical and biotech companies, since August 2022. Originally a division of glass manufacturer Schott AG, the company went public on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange in 2023. Steinkühler previously worked at ThyssenKrupp and Continental AG.
Global Finance: What has been the biggest challenge of your tenure as financial head of SCHOTT Pharma, given its new status as a public company?
Almuth Steinkühler: Looking back, the past few years have been incredibly dynamic and rewarding for SCHOTT Pharma as well as for me as a person. I would point out three distinct phases, each presenting its own unique challenges. Initially, it was all about laying the groundwork: establishing SCHOTT Pharma as an independent company with all its processes, structures, and new departments. The foundational work was crucial for our success.
After reaching this milestone, my focus shifted entirely to the process of going public and building a loyal and supportive investor base while taking our employees with us on this journey. I can tell you that our successful initial public offering [IPO] was a great achievement.
However, for a CFO, the real deal starts at day one after the listing day. From that moment on, the main challenge is achieving strong growth and margin expansion for our business: something we’ve been able to deliver on, especially in a challenging market environment.
GF: What has absorbed most of your energy over the last 12 months, and why?
Steinkühler: I’ve devoted the majority of my time and energy to managing SCHOTT Pharma’s first steps as a public company, which, as one would imagine, requires a lot of attention and strategic oversight. Together with my team, I focused on telling our equity story to investors and the public, ensuring that our vision and potential are clearly understood and appreciated.
At the same time, we managed a tremendous change process. We worked to build a strong commitment to our IPO internally, bridging information flows and adjusting to the new dynamics of being a publicly listed company.
GF: How important is it for you to have a top team, and what do you do to get it?
Steinkühler: A strong team is the most important factor in delivering consistent results. Being new to the public markets and building teams at the same time is not easy. But with the right spirit, it can work.
For me, it starts with hiring for attitude: finding people who have the ambition to improve processes and always keep an eye on the result. Then it continues with trust: giving them room to tap into their expertise and competencies while empowering them to take responsibility. We have many such people at SCHOTT Pharma and their commitment and dedication is what makes our success.
GF: How do you see artificial intelligence in finance evolving? How can AI be most useful?
Steinkühler: AI presents a tremendous opportunity in the field of finance, primarily because it facilitates the use and analysis of vast amounts of data. By making data easily accessible to a broad audience, AI empowers individuals to quickly extract valuable insights.
I believe this shift will transform finance from simply providing analyses to enabling others to work with data more effectively. Essentially, this will give us a more comprehensive understanding of the big picture and spark greater creativity. While it is crucial to ensure that data ownership and security remain top priorities, the benefits of AI will shape the future of finance.
GF: What keeps you up at night?
Steinkühler: I’m thinking about how to ensure the continued success and growth of SCHOTT Pharma, how to maintain the trust of investors and stakeholders, and how to navigate the complex market environment. But this is what makes me dream at night and motivates me for the day. We are very well positioned in an intact market with strong megatrends and have great prospects for the future. Therefore, we are ready and well underway to execute our strategy.
