“I hold many reins in my hands.”
An interview with Cornelia Grasser
Cornelia Grasser has been responsible for the “Group Finance and HR Solutions” division at Erste Digital since 2021. She brings more than 20 years of professional experience from various industries such as manufacturing, healthcare, and audit. In her private life, she is driven by her love of nature and movement.
What is your greatest challenge as a leader?
I have been a manager at Erste Digital for four years. My greatest challenge is providing orientation. Our time is very dynamic and will remain so — giving direction in such an environment is not always easy. You also reach your own limits.
For me, however, one thing is very clear: leadership means giving fewer instructions and creating more of a framework – a framework in which people can develop.
One of my biggest challenges lies precisely in this: consciously shaping this framework and providing orientation. This also supports personal ownership and trust.
What is especially important to you in this?
A point that is very close to my heart is not to lose our humanity.
We work in an environment shaped by speed and change. All the more important to me are listening, adopting different perspectives, and making decisions transparent. When I explain why we are doing something, decisions become more sustainable in my view, because they are understood and supported.
Humanity, for me, is expressed in dialogue: in taking opinions seriously, in weighing things up, and in treating others with respect.
Holding on, finding balance. How do you do it?
I hold many reins in my job. I manage a medium-sized team with 100 employees in the IT area, and we work together with various departments of the bank at both group and local level.
The balance lies in giving my team and our stakeholders stability while at the same time actively driving change forward. Holding on means enduring uncertainties.
People need orientation and reliability. At the same time, we live in a time in which standing still is not an option. For me, leadership therefore means bringing both together: security in the foundation and courage for further development.
For me, finding this balance every day is modern leadership.
What is a part of your job that few people see?
I very often find myself doing a kind of translation work. An important part of my job is to simplify complex topics in such a way that they become understandable for everyone.
That means: sorting information, breaking it down to the essentials, and then explaining it step by step. It is also important that many people can follow the line of thought.
For me, this is not only communication, it's also ownership: clarity creates security, and security improves collaboration.
What strengthens you?
What strengthens me most is my team. It gives me an incredible amount of strength to know that I have people around me who share my values. When we are working on something and I see that they truly enjoy it, that they see meaning in what we are doing together, it gives me an enormous amount of energy.
A sense of meaning is central to me. When I notice that our work is having an impact and that the people around me also want to take on ownership, that is my greatest motivation.
How do you strengthen others?
We are used to saying: “That didn’t work.” Mistakes are quickly pointed out. But everything that goes well, we take for granted.
I consciously try to change that. Not only for myself, but for the whole team. To give positive feedback when something has been successful and to make achievements visible. Even in very small things, such as a well-prepared meeting or a good, constructive conversation. Big successes are often celebrated — and that’s good — but the individual personal moments are important to me as well. That, for me, is everyday appreciation.
When something has gone well, I take the time for it and address it directly or write to the person via email or chat message.
And aside from work, what strengthens you?
Movement. Nature. Everything that has to do with movement is good for me. I love skiing, enjoy going to the mountains, and riding my bike. At the moment, I am also consciously trying out new things. In addition, I am a member of the Erste Bank swimming club.
When I drive back to Styria and spend time out in nature there, I immediately notice how good this connection to the outdoors is for me.
When I have time, new ideas come to me that can help move my team and me forward in the future.
Thank you very much, dear Cornelia, for the interview!
How do you strengthen others?
We are used to saying: “That didn’t work.” Mistakes are quickly pointed out. But everything that goes well, we take for granted.
I consciously try to change that. Not only for myself, but for the whole team. To give positive feedback when something has been successful and to make achievements visible. Even in very small things, such as a well-prepared meeting or a good, constructive conversation. Big successes are often celebrated — and that’s good — but the individual personal moments are important to me as well. That, for me, is everyday appreciation.
When something has gone well, I take the time for it and address it directly or write to the person via email or chat message.
And aside from work, what strengthens you?
Movement. Nature. Everything that has to do with movement is good for me. I love skiing, enjoy going to the mountains, and riding my bike. At the moment, I am also consciously trying out new things. In addition, I am a member of the Erste Bank swimming club.
When I drive back to Styria and spend time out in nature there, I immediately notice how good this connection to the outdoors is for me.
When I have time, new ideas come to me that can help move my team and me forward in the future.
Thank you very much, dear Cornelia, for the interview!