What do you do when your career ends at the age of 23?

In our “WU matters. WU talks.” event series, expert panels discuss important topics that affect all of us.

Our latest talk brought together Petra Kronberger, former Olympic ski champion, Lukas Mähr, former Olympic sailing champion, Gerti Schatzdorfer, former industrial entrepreneur, and Paul Senger-Weiss, a long-time family business owner, to discuss the question of what comes next when a high-energy career ends.

“What will be left of me when it’s over?”

Every career comes to an end at some point, no matter if it’s in professional sports or in business management. And then what? When a career ends, many people are faced with an important question: Who am I when I no longer perform the role that has shaped my life for so many years? “What will be left of me?” asked Petra Kronberger, two-time Olympic champion and world champion. These questions came up again and again during our latest WU matters. WU talks. event. The answers? They were as varied as the panelists’ life stories.

Many people know from personal experience what it’s like to be reduced to your job or your career – audience members chimed in on this, sharing their own stories. Petra Kronberger had the same experience. Her career ended at the age of 23, following her 1992 Olympic victory – at that age, many other people feel they’re just starting out in their lives. The decision to end her career, which may seem almost incomprehensible to some, was a perfectly logical step for her. But what comes after such an identity-defining success story? Is it possible to build a second life and receive the same kind of recognition as in one’s first major career?

But last Wednesday’s discussion wasn’t limited to abstract concepts regarding the end of people’s careers. The panelists also shared real-life experiences. After all, doubts, pressure, and the need to let go are part of all our lives, no matter where we stand in our journey. Lukas Mähr, who quit his career after his 2024 Olympic victory, summed it up with the following honest statement: “To me, it’s much easier to keep going than to quit.”

“We think in generations”

This topic also comes up in the world of family firms. As Paul Senger-Weiss put it, “We do our calculations from quarter to quarter, but we think in generations.” In that context, the end of a career means more than just saying goodbye, it also means handing over the reins. But in family business handovers, the next generation needs enough space and freedom. “The young ones find themselves in a tough spot because they’re constantly being compared to the ones who came before,” Gerti Schatzdorfer pointed out. It’s like a team whose members have known their predecessors for decades and share a common history.

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0G0A1233_20260415_WU matters_Karriere-Ende - und was dannImpulsvortrag von Moderator Reinhard Prügl

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0G0A1410_20260415_WU matters_Karriere-Ende - und was dannAm Panel: Petra Kronberger, Lukas Mähr, Gerti Schatzdorfer und Paul Senger-Weiss

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Next up in WU matters. WU talks.: It’s Time to Rethink Work

In this talk, organized by the WU Center of Excellence, experts will discuss what future awaits young professionals in their careers. After all, AI and new technologies may pose a threat to even the most experienced talent. This raises the question: What skill set is needed to build a successful career and to take an active role in shaping the future of the economy and society?

• May 6, 2026
• 6:00 pm
• LC building, Ceremonial Hall 1 & livestream

Discussion:

Mag. Ursula Axmann, CEO, WU ZBP Career Center

Dr. Christine Juen, MBA, Head of Communicatons, AMS Austria

Isabella Grabner, Professor at the Institute for Strategy and Managerial Accounting, WU Vienna

Rita Niedermayr, Partner in People Consulting at EY Austria

Moderated by:

Niklas Andree and Martin Vogl, WU Vienna

Sign up here. (event held in German)

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WU matters. WU talks. is our series of panel discussions and public lectures where researchers and experts from leading businesses and institutions share valuable insights and discuss current topics with the interested public. Sign up here for our newsletter so you don’t miss our next expert discussions on the hot topics of our time!