What happens if your career is already over by the time you’re 23?

The “WU matters. WU talks.” event series brings together experts to discuss topics that affect us all.

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, discussed in the latest edition the question of what comes after an intense career.

“What will be left of me then?”

Every career comes to an end eventually. Whether in sports or in leadership roles. And then what? The end of a career presents many people with an important question: Who am I when the role that has shaped my life for so long is no longer there? “What will be left of me then?” asks Petra Kronberger, two-time Olympic champion and world champion. These questions came up again and again during this WU matters. WU talks. The answers? As varied as the guests’ life stories.

Many people know the experience of being reduced to their own career—and the audience wasn’t silent on this point either. This was also true for Petra Kronberger, whose career ended at the age of 23 following her 1992 Olympic victory—an age at which life is just beginning for many. What seems almost incomprehensible to some was a perfectly logical decision for her. But what happens after such a defining success? Can one build a second life and receive the same recognition for it as for the first major career?

Last Wednesday, the discussion wasn’t just about abstract concepts regarding the end of a career, but about sharing real-life experiences. Doubt, pressure, and letting go affect everyone, no matter where you are in life. Lukas Mähr, who ended his career after his 2024 Olympic victory, summed it up with an honest statement: “I find it much easier not to stop than to stop.”

“We […] think in terms of generations”

This is evident in family-owned businesses as well. Paul Senger-Weiss put it this way: “We calculate by the quarter, but think in terms of generations.” In this context, the end of a career doesn’t just mean saying goodbye, but also handing over the reins. However, the younger generation should also be given space. “The younger generation finds itself in a situation that isn’t easy, because they’re constantly being compared,” emphasizes Gerti Schatzdorfer. Compared to a team that has known their predecessors for decades and shares a common history.

Curious?

Just come to the next event and join the conversation!

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The next WU matters. WU talks.: It’s Time to Rethink Work

Organized by the WU Center of Excellence, experts will discuss what young professionals can expect in the future. After all, AI and new technologies could pose a threat even to the most experienced professionals. This raises the question: What skill set is needed to succeed professionally and actively shape 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 Institute of Business Administration, WU Vienna

Rita Niedermayr, Partner in People Consulting at EY Austria

Moderated by:

Niklas Andree and Martin Vogl, WU Vienna

Register here.

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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!