{"id":18310,"date":"2026-04-22T12:26:16","date_gmt":"2026-04-22T10:26:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.wu.ac.at\/?p=18310"},"modified":"2026-04-23T12:53:47","modified_gmt":"2026-04-23T10:53:47","slug":"what-happens-if-your-career-is-already-over-by-the-time-youre-23","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.wu.ac.at\/en\/2026\/04\/what-happens-if-your-career-is-already-over-by-the-time-youre-23\/","title":{"rendered":"What do you do when your career ends at the age of 23?"},"content":{"rendered":"

In our \u201cWU matters. WU talks.\u201d event series, expert panels discuss important topics that affect all of us.<\/em><\/p>\n

Our latest talk<\/em> brought together Petra Kronberger, former Olympic ski champion, Lukas M\u00e4hr, 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.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat will be left of me when it\u2019s over?\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Every career comes to an end at some point, no matter if it\u2019s 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? \u201cWhat will be left of me?\u201d asked Petra Kronberger,<\/strong> two-time Olympic champion and world champion. These questions came up again and again during our latest WU matters. WU talks.<\/em> event. The answers? They were as varied as the panelists\u2019 life stories.<\/p>\n

Many people know from personal experience what it\u2019s like to be reduced to your job or your career \u2013 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 \u2013 at that age, many other people feel they\u2019re 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\u2019s first major career?<\/p>\n

But last Wednesday\u2019s discussion wasn\u2019t limited to abstract concepts regarding the end of people\u2019s 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 M\u00e4hr<\/strong>, who quit his career after his 2024 Olympic victory, summed it up with the following honest statement: \u201cTo me, it\u2019s much easier to keep going than to quit.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe think in generations\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

This topic also comes up in the world of family firms. As Paul Senger-Weiss<\/strong> put it, \u201cWe do our calculations from quarter to quarter, but we think in generations.\u201d 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. \u201cThe young ones find themselves in a tough spot because they\u2019re constantly being compared to the ones who came before,\u201d Gerti Schatzdorfer<\/strong> pointed out. It\u2019s like a team whose members have known their predecessors for decades and share a common history.<\/p>\n

Have we piqued your interest<\/strong>?<\/h2>\n

Join the discussion at our next event!<\/p>\n

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Next up in WU matters. WU talks.<\/em>: It\u2019s Time to Rethink Work<\/h2>\n

In this talk, organized by the WU Center of Excellence<\/em>, 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?<\/p>\n