Konstantin Von Varendorff, GM at SEE Business Embassies – There has never been Monday when I did not want to go to work

(Konstantin Von Varendorff)

He replaced his hometown Vienna for Belgrade. The role of Serbian brother –in-law suits him so he imagines n ideal day in a family environment. Instead of working for Philips, he opted for Bena, a far smaller company which is today a market leader in the business centers in Austria.

His way led him to Serbia where Bena and a consulting company, Ecovis ConFidas which provides financial consulting services in the SEE region, set up SEE Business Embassies, the company he heads today.

Konstantin Von Varendorff was born in 1975 in Vienna. After having spent his earliest childhood in Germany, he finished his primary school, grammar school and the Faculty of Economics in native Vienna. He is married to a Serbian, Mina, and has a three-year old son.

He says he is one of those who, after graduating and military services, did not have a clear procure about the business direction he wants to develop in.
- On the other hand, I believe my great advantage is the fact that I have always had a number of different interests. Therefore, I opted for economy which enabled me wideness and big flexibility – Varendorff says.

He was able to fund his studies on his own, working first in the wholesales warehouse and later as an assistant manager in the same company. After finishing his studies, he was offered partnership in the Bena company which now has a significant experience of more than 10 years and which, as he says, “he could not refuse”.

- I made this decision at the moment when, on the other hand, there was an option to go to Germany and work for one of the most successful companies – Philips. I am lucky because I know today that I made an excellent choice since I work in the company which generates significant results at Serbian and Austrian markets and in whose mission I deeply believe.

About Serbia and Serbian mentality

- I was lucky to become a Serbian brother in law as you call it so Serbia and Belgrade became my second home. Believe it or not, the way of working in Serbia is very similar to the Austrian. In the period of adapting myself to this business mentality the only thing it was hard for me to accept is that deadlines extend very often. Throughout the time, I got used to function successfully regardless of that kid of practice since a man, if he wants, adapts to anything, especially if he comes as a “guest” in the other country. Austria is near the Balkans and has always been present in the Balkans and it is known that the Serbs is one of the biggest minority groups in Austria. I am only one of many who contribute to business relations development through his business as well as to nourishing traditionally good relations between the two people which are primarily connected through warm-heartedness.

Money is not fortune

As a young man, he wanted to become rich, to provide himself a fair financial status. Thanks to rich life experience, he sees things differently today.

- I think that different things can make a man’s fortune, not only material ones. Generally speaking, my life principles are based on hedonistic approach, a wish for personal and professional satisfaction and maximal achievements. Of course, today, apart from psycho-social and emotional balance there is a need for certain financial support. It could all be summed up in a simple life philosophy: live and let live.

He is happy he can say there has been no Monday he did want to go to work.

- Dynamic and inspiring work within Bena Group and our SEEOFFICES business centers in Belgrade please me. Our activities are diverse, moving, of course sometimes extremely demanding but since we have been implementing them successfully so far, it provided me essential energy balance.

Loyalty, openness and frankness are characteristics he appreciates most when it comes to his associates and at the same time he sees them as essential for the beginning of cooperation. He says he is especially proud of the fact his associates in Serbia have these virtues

Konstantin Von Varendorff thinks there must be balance in everything as well as in life. On the one hand he is proud of his great ambition which originates from his childhood because thanks to that he achieved a number of successes. On the other hand, as he says, it is not always easy keep the ambition under control.

- However, for an untamed wish to create, with my associates I brought and implemented a concept of flexible business centers which is a significant innovation for the Serbian market and therefore a big challenge.

Work to live, not vice versa

- I realized one should not live to work but work to live. One should always bear this in mine and avoid that exaggerated work influences health and balance. Of course this is easier to say than do but that should be the objective - our collocutor says and adds that, unfortunately, a day is always short for him.

Mutual breakfast with the family would be a perfect start of his ideal day. Then, he would go to the nature, for fishing for instance or water skiing, biking… And, when he comes back, he would prepare a dinner out of his own catch.

-Warm family relations and tremendous love for my wife are my basic moving energy and the source of passion for life.

About plans

Bena and SEEOFFICES are strategically oriented towards further development. It is a family-partnership run company whose objective is that in Serbia, first of all in Belgrade, opens 4 to 5 business centers and to confirm the flexible business centers concept and virtual offices in SEE. Recently, after business center at 19th floor of Business Center Usce, our services as well as offices equipped in line with the latest trends, are available to customers at attractive location in Knez Mihailova Street as well, our collocutor explains business plans for the upcoming period.

Varendorff says that his personal and family relations with Serbia enable him to live in two fields and realize current business objectives. He will have to work on the Serbian language which he sets as his final objective

Jelena Djelic