Angela Pernsteiner of the Würth Group Outlines a Roadmap for the Future
At a leading industry forum, Angela Pernsteiner of the Würth Group delivered a clear message at the Big 5 Global Leaders Summit in Dubai: Hope is not a soft emotion. It is a strategic force. Every presentation she has seen, she said, carries at least a spark of it, no matter how challenging the global landscape looks. And that spark should never be underestimated.
Angela Pernsteiner reminded the audience that more than 85 percent of the global market still lies ahead. With that perspective in mind, hope becomes a driver for economic and social development. “Hope can change quite a lot,” she said, setting the tone for her remarks on leadership, responsibility, and global transformation.
Angela Pernsteiner emphasized that transformational leadership is the only constant in a world defined by volatility. Industries are navigating zero emission strategies, automation, logistics restructuring, and rising expectations. Leaders today are not only expected to manage uncertainty, but to grow within it.
She highlighted the discipline, self reflection, and long term vision required to build resilient companies and communities. Real progress happens, she said, when leaders create other leaders and foster open dialogue, especially in diverse environments such as the UAE. “Only when we empower individuals can we enable radical change.”
How Bold Visions Create New Industries
Using Würth’s own development as an example, Angela Pernsteiner showed how bold ambitions can reshape entire sectors. What started as a screw and fastener business has evolved into a global supplier with more than 3 million Solutions, including Smart Hubs with RFID Gates, Smart Vending Machines and LED solutions for vertical farming. This shift, she noted, was possible because the company’s founder had the courage to see what others could not yet imagine.
Robotics, AI, and automation are now part of daily life across industries. These technologies do not replace people. They expand human capability. And with greater capability comes greater responsibility.
AI as a Practical Tool, Not a Buzzword
In the on stage conversation, Angela Pernsteiner explained how the Würth Group uses AI to support one of the world’s largest sales forces. The company developed its own digital assistant, Pico, which helps summarize client visits and automatically push orders to headquarters. This creates a near frictionless process from order to delivery.
The results are lower process costs and more meaningful work for employees. At the same time, new roles are emerging. The company now needs more programmers, robotics engineers, and software developers than in past decades.
Why the UAE Stands Out
Angela Pernsteiner praised the UAE and the wider Middle East for their speed, agility, and talent base. Compared to Europe’s slower growth environment, she described the region as more dynamic and more motivated. This is one reason why the Würth Group chose to invest in the country for a second time.
Technology as the Answer to Supply Chain Disruption
Supply chain instability remains a global issue, but Angela Pernsteiner noted that the Würth Group is addressing it with advanced digital systems. With more than 3 million solutions across the company, the need for better integration was clear. The recently launched Würth Professional Solutions aims to bring all strengths of the group into a single one stop shop offering, closing supply chain gaps and lowering costs for clients.
Angela Pernsteiner closed with a reminder that progress has always come from leaders who focus on opportunities rather than difficulties. After wars, after resource shifts, after global disruptions, new chances always emerge. Hope and belief, she said, are not abstract ideas. They are the starting point for building the future of nations, companies, and people.
