Meet our newest WOL Coach: Alexander Eckert
In our first call, I knew Alex would be an excellent WOL Coach.
First, he has experienced WOL himself in a large organization, and the benefits and feelings have stayed with him.
“I’ve personally enjoyed the internal circles here at ZF a lot and found them very inspiring.”
When we talked it was as if we’ve known each other for years. Always a good sign! We talked about Schweinfurt (where he lives and where I’ve been to visit ZF). And Italy where he spends time and where I recently visited the hometown of my grandparents.
I got even more excited when he spoke about how he would use WOL. He spoke about working with students at a business school where he teaches part-time, to help them with career exploration and job search. He talked about the small village where he leads a sports center that most of the village attends, and using WOL to further strengthen community ties there.
Amazing!
For each new WOL Coach, I ask three questions so you can get to know them and their motivations. (You can also visit Alex’s WOL Coach profile on workingoutloud.com, connect with him on LinkedIn, or reach him directly at alexander@wengertsberg.de.)
“For me it is really special becoming a WOL coach and it is a privilege for me to join this group.”
I, too, feel that sense of privilege. I can’t wait to see what Alex does with WOL.
1. Please share 5 facts about you so people get to know you.
I believe real change happens when people connect with purpose and make their work visible. Technology matters! But collaboration, trust, and shared ambition are what truly move things forward.
Throughout my career, I’ve been fortunate to have mentors and peers who supported me, challenged me, and opened doors. That experience shaped me deeply. I know firsthand how powerful it is when people invest in each other’s growth and that is at the core of why Working Out Loud resonates so strongly with me.
Southern Italy grounds me. Time with my family, embracing „La dolce vita“, good food, honest conversations, different perspectives. It reminds me that sustainable performance requires humanity, not just speed.
As CEO of our local sports club, I see every day what’s possible when different generations unite around a common goal. Building something that serves the greater good gives me energy and reinforces my belief that community beats hierarchy.
I’m passionate about sharing positive transformation stories. As an avid podcast enthusiast, I launched an internal format in my company to highlight inspiring journeys of change. For me, sharing is caring and generosity is not weakness, it’s strength.
2. What positive difference do you aspire to make?
I want to ensure that organizational development, culture, leadership, and people enablement are no longer treated as “nice-to-haves”. Soft topics that disappear when times get tough. They are not soft. They are strategic.
But beyond strategy, I aspire to strengthen something more fundamental: a culture of generosity and shared growth.
Working Out Loud embodies a principle I strongly believe in: giving without expecting immediate returns. Supporting others without calculating short-term benefits. Sharing knowledge, networks, and experience because progress multiplies when it is shared.
I see myself as an enabler who creates the conditions for this kind of growth. Someone who connects optimism with execution and future orientation with a pragmatic “let’s start with what we have” mindset.
Sustainable success does not come from cutting the so-called soft topics. It comes from strengthening the human foundation that drives performance in the first place.
3. Why WOL?
Over the years, I’ve facilitated many initiatives — face-to-face and virtual — across all levels, from C-suite to shop floor. Right after the sessions, the energy was high. People were motivated and ready to do things differently. But a few weeks later, daily routines took over. The initial spark faded. I kept asking myself: How do we create impact that actually lasts?
The answer became clear to me through something surprisingly simple — a lemon tree in our garden in Southern Italy. On one single branch, I saw blossoms, small green fruits, and ripe, juicy lemons at the same time.
Growth does not happen in clean phases. It happens simultaneously. That’s what I see in Working Out Loud®.
In every circle, participants nurture their blossoms: new ideas and inspiration. They care for the green fruits: romising initiatives that need attention. And they celebrate the ripe lemons: tangible results and real impact.
Working Out Loud® creates a structured space where generosity, accountability, and visible progress coexist. As a Working Out Loud coach, I don’t provide the answers. I create the structure, safety, and rhythm that allow people to support each other — just as mentors and peers once supported me.
Because real transformation doesn’t happen in a single workshop.
It grows — continuously, visibly, and together.
