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

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

In the world of  #technology  and  #mobility , many companies still believe: “If the product is good, the market will notice.” But that rarely happens. Technology doesn’t win because it’s superior — it wins because it’s understood. What I see again and again in 20+ years of communications: Companies invest millions into development, but only a fraction into  #positioning  and  #visibility . And then they wonder why competitors with weaker solutions are louder, more present —

In #Germany , #automotive  is still synonymous with engineering excellence, precision and tradition. It’s about #heritage  and #perfection . Cars are cultural icons — a reflection of quality and identity. In the #USA , automotive is about #freedom , #progress  and #reinvention . It’s a symbol of movement — personal, social and technological. The industry celebrates boldness and innovation more than legacy. Both perspectives are powerful — and both matter. The future of mobili

When I founded #PilonPR , it wasn’t just about starting a business — it was about continuing a journey. A journey that began in Germany and found its purpose in #Detroit  — at the crossroads of automotive, technology and innovation. After more than 20 years in international #communications , working across #Germany  and #NorthAmerica , I saw the same pattern again and again: Great companies with great technology — but struggling to tell their story across cultures. That’s why

I used to think  #sustainability  was only about CO₂, batteries and materials — about the next regulation, the next certification. But after working with so many passionate teams in the  #automotive  and tech world — engineers, designers, marketers, communicators — I’ve learned it’s also about  #people . How we build, lead and communicate. Because sustainability isn’t only in the products we create — it’s in the culture we create around them. It’s in the way a company treats

Every day, we see companies trying to be heard: louder campaigns, flashier slogans, bigger promises. But noise isn’t the same as  #impact  and  #visibility   alone doesn’t create  #trust . The  #brands  that truly make a difference are the ones that communicate with intention — that pause before they speak, that listen before they answer, that focus not just on what they sell, but on what they stand for. Especially in the  #automotive  and  #mobility  world, where innovation

For decades,  #success  in the  #automotiveindustry  was measured in numbers —  #horsepower ,  #productionvolume ,  #efficiency . We celebrated speed, precision and power. Today, success looks different. It’s no longer just about how fast we move, but about how meaningfully we  #connect  — with customers, technology and society. 💡  #Innovation  that’s human:  #Technology  that solves real problems and builds  #trust . 🌿  #Progress  that’s  #sustainable :  #Responsibility  i

One of my favorite parts of working in #marketingcommunications is helping #innovators tell their #story — not just through # features , but through # feelings. Recently, I spoke with a passionate team developing a smart Bluetooth solution for the #automotiveworld — technology built to solve a surprisingly simple, but universal pain: lost keys, lost time, lost trust. It’s a perfect reminder that #innovation doesn’t always start with something flashy. Sometimes, it begins with

When I first moved from Germany to Detroit, I expected to find a different business culture — but I didn’t realize how different it would feel. In  #Germany ,  #communication  often starts with facts, structure and precision. We plan carefully, document thoroughly and build trust through consistency and performance. Every statement is backed by data. Every promise, delivered with care. In the  #US , the rhythm is completely different. People lead with energy and possibility.

When people think about the  #automotiveindustry , they usually picture the big names — the  #OEMs  with their badges, commercials and global brands. But after spending two decades in this industry, one thing has always been clear to me: 👉 The real  #innovation  often happens behind the scenes — in the supplier network. #Suppliers  are the quiet force behind mobility. They invent, design, test and produce the technologies that make  #vehicles  safer, smarter and more sustain

Life rarely unfolds in straight lines. For me, the journey from  #Germany  to the  #US  was full of twists, challenges and unexpected blessings. 🌎 I was transferred from  #Kiekert  Germany to the  #US  to build a marketing and communications unit. It was a thrilling opportunity — but also a step into the unknown. New culture, new responsibilities and a lot of pressure to deliver. Every day was a lesson in  #resilience ,  #adaptability  and #leadership . Then my personal life

People often ask me what it’s really like to run a  #transatlantic PR  and  #marketing #agency . The short answer? Every day feels like a  #bridge  — between  #Germany  and the  #USA , engineering and emotion, strategy and creativity. At  #PilonPR , our work doesn’t start with press releases or campaigns. It starts with listening. We sit down with clients — sometimes a German  #automotive   #supplier  expanding to  #Detroit , sometimes a U.S.  #tech   #startup  eyeing Munich

My career has taken me from  #Germany  to  #China , across  #Europe  to the  #USA  and  #Mexico  — working with global  #automotive  brands, innovative  #tech  companies and ambitious  #startups . Every market taught me something new about  #people culture  and the power of  #marketing  and  #communication . One thing has become clear: great marketing and communication is never just about campaigns — it’s about human  #connection . Here are the  #lessons  that continue to gui