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Before founding PilonPR, I built and shaped the North American communications function for Kiekert, working as Global Spokesperson and leading communications across regions. That experience still defines how I work today because the patterns are consistent. You don’t “launch” communications in the U.S. You build a function. And that requires a different mindset than many German companies expect. Here’s what matters most: 1️⃣ Structure comes before visibility.  Before press re

As CES comes to a close, the focus of the automotive industry shifts - once again - to Detroit. Every January, this transition matters. CES sets the tone: technology, software, AI, partnerships, future intent. It’s where direction is signaled. Then comes the North American International Auto Show. Detroit is where narratives are anchored - in products, leadership presence and market relevance. It's less about concepts, more about credibility. Despite frequent debates about th

The new year often comes with pressure to announce goals. I’m taking a different approach in 2026. As CEO of PilonPR, I enter the year with a simple conviction: growth doesn’t stall because companies lack ambition. It stalls because leadership lacks clarity: • Clarity about what matters now. • Clarity about what can wait. • Clarity about how leadership shows up across markets. After a year balancing growth, family and building PilonPR across cultures, my focus in 2026 is simp

Leadership across markets requires more than speed. It requires clarity. Having worked on both sides of the Atlantic, I’ve learned that perspective is essential to good leadership. The days between years are one of the few moments I intentionally step back, not to disconnect, but to recalibrate. Because clear narratives, confident decisions and credible leadership don’t emerge under constant motion. 2026 will demand focus, courage and alignment - especially for companies oper

As the year comes to a close, I’m looking back with gratitude and ahead with excitement. 2025 was a year of transition and momentum. On a personal level, my two little girls (2 and 4) started preschool full-time - creating space for the next phase of growth. Professionally, that space translated into expanding my business, engaging in thoughtful discussions, welcoming new clients and laying the groundwork for promising collaborations in 2026. I’m especially grateful for recon

2025 was a year of  #clarity . Clarity about what companies need in North America. Clarity about how quickly communication must move. And clarity about the power of strong narratives in an industry transforming at full speed. 2025 also made one thing unmistakably clear: Companies no longer have the luxury to wait. Not on visibility, not on narrative, not on leadership presence. Across the work with German automotive and tech companies this year, three themes stood out: 1️⃣ En

One of the biggest gaps I see in interviews between German companies and U.S. media isn’t expertise. It’s expectations. After many conversations with executives preparing for U.S.  #interviews , a few do’s and don’ts come up again and again: DO:  • Lead with the why before the technical details.  • Be ready with one clear message you want the reader to remember.  • Speak in short, quotable sentences - U.S. media writes for speed.  • Show perspective and leadership, not just f

Today, I watched my four-year-old daughter step onto a stage for her first Christmas concert. For a brief moment, the room went quiet. Then small voices, uneven timing and intense concentration - mixed with visible courage. There was no polish and no perfection. Just the bravery to step forward. It reflected a dynamic I see daily in German-American  #communication . In Germany, confidence is built through preparation. In the U.S., confidence often emerges through action. When

One of the questions I hear most often from companies entering or expanding in the U.S. market is: “Should we invest in paid articles?” It’s a fair question. Paid formats - sponsored posts, native ads, partner articles or editorial-style advertorials - are becoming more common on both sides of the Atlantic. They can be useful. But only when they’re part of a broader communication strategy. Here’s what I tell them: 1️⃣ Paid content does not replace earned media. Journalists tr

2025 was a year of  #clarity . Clarity about what companies need in North America. Clarity about how quickly communication must move. And clarity about the power of strong narratives in an industry transforming at full speed. 2025 also made one thing unmistakably clear: Companies no longer have the luxury to wait. Not on visibility, not on narrative, not on leadership presence. Across the work with German automotive and tech companies this year, three themes stood out: 1️⃣ En

One of the biggest shifts in global leadership is this: High performance doesn’t come from doing more -  it comes from signaling earlier. Especially in fast-moving markets, teams don’t wait for perfection. They wait for  #direction . Across borders I see the same truth:  🔹Execution needs clarity.  🔹Momentum needs meaning.  🔹And people move faster  when leaders articulate the “why” before every detail is fixed. The moment leaders start communicating  #intent  early - not ju

As someone who has lived - and worked - on both sides, I see it clearly: Global communications leaders carry extraordinary weight. They unify identity, messaging and reputation across countries and cultures. They hold a role that is strategic and deeply human. And that is exactly why local insight becomes so powerful. North America behaves differently: 📌 media is faster and more personality-driven, 📌 leadership visibility is expected, not optional, 📌 narratives evolve fast

A couple of years ago, I met a German automotive tech supplier. Brilliant engineering, strong innovation - yet almost invisible in the U.S. market. They relied on PDFs, trade booths and hope. Then we tried something different:  #speakeropportunities . We secured panels at mobility-focused stages. The impact was immediate: ✨ Credibility accelerated - analysts, journalists and OEM partners suddenly knew who they were. ✨ Conversations began through dialogue - Q&As became relatio

Working with global  #automotivesuppliers  has taught me one thing: the U.S. media landscape is a world of its own. Yet even strong, innovative companies struggle to get meaningful visibility because of a few avoidable mistakes: 1️⃣ No U.S.-ready  #presskit : Many teams rely on internal PowerPoints or German-focused PDFs. But U.S. journalists need clear messaging, product facts, leadership bios and visuals - instantly and in one place.  2️⃣ Unclear  #spokesperson  strategy: R

The end of a business year is never just a calendar milestone. It is a mirror. Many companies I speak with - particularly those operating between Germany and the U.S. - are entering 2026 with a familiar pattern: ✔ strong products, ✔ real customer traction, ✔ impressive engineering capability, …but a level of market  #visibility  that doesn’t reflect their true  #value . What fascinates me is this transatlantic contrast: In  #Germany , excellence is assumed to announce itself.

Working between Germany and the U.S. has shown me that this week is about much more than a holiday.  In the U.S.,  #Thanksgiving  is a moment to pause - to reflect - to appreciate the people and partnerships that shape our work and our lives. And while we don’t celebrate Thanksgiving in  #Germany , there is something wonderfully universal about the intention behind it: ✨ Gratitude - expressed openly in the U.S., lived consistently in Germany. Americans say it warmly. Germans

The  #automotive  industry is transforming at record speed — electrification, software, cybersecurity and new supply-chain expectations are reshaping how both  #OEMs  and #suppliers  communicate. With so much change, clarity matters more than quantity. Here are the three  #KPIs  I prioritize when supporting OEMs and suppliers in the U.S. market: 1️⃣ Tier-1 Media Relevance (not just reach): A single high-quality placement in a top-tier industry outlet — for example  #Automoti

In every global company, there’s always someone who becomes the  #bridge : Between engineering and sales. Between HQ and the region. Between Germany and the U.S. Between strategy and reality. Sometimes you choose it. Sometimes it chooses you. Here’s what I’ve learned about being the “bridge person”: 1️⃣ You see things earlier than others. Not because you’re smarter - but because you stand between worlds. You pick up signals before they turn into issues. You sense misalignment

One thing I learned quickly after moving from Germany to Detroit: #PlantVisits  here are not just tours — they’re  #storytelling  moments. In the U.S.  #automotive  ecosystem, a factory floor is more than machines and processes. It’s where credibility is built, where innovation becomes tangible and where journalists decide whether your  #story  is worth telling. Here’s what I’ve seen work — again and again: 1️⃣ Lead with the  #story , not the steel: Detroit reporters don’t ge

When I moved from  #Germany  to #Detroit , I didn’t anticipate how profoundly this ecosystem would reshape my understanding of communication, leadership and visibility in the U.S. market. Detroit teaches you quickly that technology alone doesn’t move markets - clarity, relevance and presence do. Here are the lessons that shaped how I work today: 🚗 1. In the U.S., your  #narrative  drives your relevance. German engineering often outperforms competitors - but the story behind