Banking on Success

Raiffeisen Bank International AG

Leadership stories across industries: Elitza, senior banker & leader at RBI, shares on a monthly basis the most compelling business & leadership stories in CEE & Beyond, giving you the valuable insights needed to grow in the face of changing markets and industries.

Episodes

  1. #8 - Henry Murray on disrupting the hydration market with waterdrop®

    12/04/2025

    #8 - Henry Murray on disrupting the hydration market with waterdrop®

    🎙️ Welcome to episode number 8 of the Business Leadership Podcast – Banking on Success, featuring Henry Murray, co-founder of waterdrop® . Their conversation traces waterdrop®’s journey from its inception as a simple concept to its rise as a groundbreaking and profitable brand for more sustainable and sugar-free hydration solutions. The discussion also explores how innovation, community engagement, and smart financing have helped the company navigate and scale within the fiercely competitive $600 billion beverage market. Highlights: ⏳ 01:14 – 03:32 | What is waterdrop®? ⏳ 10:26 – 11:41 | Creating a new “microdrinks” product category ⏳ 15:25 - 16:57 | Building a community driven brand as the basis for success ⏳ 19:55 - 22:37 | Going omnichannel and adapting to retail ⏳ 26:10 - 30:25 | Background of Henry Murray 📌 Watch the full episode and explore more insights—then browse all Banking on Success conversations here: 🔗 Podcast Overview Page: https://www.rbinternational.com/en/ra...🔗 Full Episode Page: https://www.rbinternational.com/en/raiffeisen/blog/success-stories/banking-on-success-episode-8-henry-murray-on-disrupting-the-hydration-market-with-waterdrop.html 📲 Follow us on Social Media for More Updates: 🔹 LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/raiffeisen-bank-international 🔹 Facebook: ⁠www.facebook.com/bankingonsuccess⁠ #BankingOnSuccess #BusinessLeadershipPodcast #SuccessStory

    48 min
  2. #6 - Culture, Innovation & Resilient Leadership: Marianne Heiß’s Playbook

    09/10/2025

    #6 - Culture, Innovation & Resilient Leadership: Marianne Heiß’s Playbook

    🎙️ Welcome to the sixth episode of the Business Leadership Podcast – Banking on Success, featuring trailblazer Marianne Heiß. Join us as we talk with Marianne Heiß—former BBDO CEO/CFO and multi-board director at Audi, Porsche, Palfinger, and Paysafe, advisor to Ritter Sport, and UNICEF Austria representative—about Europe’s competitiveness, capital markets union, culture-led innovation, diverse leadership, ESG as strategy, crisis resilience, and the routines and purpose that sustain high performance.   Key Topics Covered: ✅ Cross-industry insights ✅ Europe’s growth agenda ✅ Customer-centric strategy ✅ Diverse leadership impact ✅ Culture-led innovation ✅ Crisis resilience & risk ✅ ESG embedded in strategy ✅ Purpose and philanthropy ✅ Career advice & self-care   Timestamped Highlights: ⏳ 01:33 – 05:23 | Career path & board roles ⏳ 05:23 – 07:18 | Cross-industry superpower ⏳ 07:30 – 10:10 | Europe’s competitiveness ⏳ 10:24 – 11:23 | Org patterns for success ⏳ 11:36 – 13:38 | Diverse leadership matters ⏳ 14:43 – 16:17 | Culture for innovation ⏳ 16:30 – 18:24 | Crisis decisions & resilience ⏳ 18:47 – 20:06 | ESG as core strategy ⏳ 20:14 – 21:15 | UNICEF: purpose in action ⏳ 21:18 – 23:33 | Advice for young pros ⏳ 23:40 – 25:21 | Self-care routines that work ⏳ 25:37 – 27:32 | Hopes & dream podcast guests   📌 Watch the full episode and explore more insights—then browse all Banking on Success conversations here: - 🔗 Podcast Overview Page: https://www.rbinternational.com/en/raiffeisen/blog/business-leadership-podcast.html - 🔗 Full Episode Page: upcoming   📲 Follow us on Social Media for More Updates: 🔹 LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/raiffeisen-bank-international 🔹 Facebook: www.facebook.com/bankingonsuccess #BankingOnSuccess #BusinessLeadershipPodcast #SuccessStory

    28 min
  3. #5 – Leading with Vision: Johann Strobl from Raiffeisen Bank International on the Future of Banking

    07/29/2025

    #5 – Leading with Vision: Johann Strobl from Raiffeisen Bank International on the Future of Banking

    🎙️ Welcome to the 5th episode of the Business Leadership Podcast – Banking on Success! Join us as we talk with Johann Strobl, CEO of Raiffeisen Bank International, about his career journey, RBI’s strategy in Central and Eastern Europe, the future of European banking, navigating regulation, the rise of fintechs, and leadership in changing times. Key Topics Covered: ✅ RBI’s strategy in CEE markets ✅ The impact of regulation in Europe ✅ Adapting to fintech disruption ✅ Leadership lessons for modern banking ✅ Attracting and retaining young talent Timestamped Highlights: ⏳ 01:34 – 04:54 | Professional milestones ⏳ 05:02 – 11:01 | Focus on home markets ⏳ 11:33 – 16:14 | Market development & Europe’s prospects⏳ 16:27 – 17:56 | Russia: Challenges & the future ⏳ 18:10 – 22:45 | Increasing regulation in banking⏳ 22:48 – 25:42 | The rise of neobanks & fintechs ⏳ 25:53 – 29:24 | Leadership style & evolution ⏳ 29:25 – 31:12 | Staying informed as a CEO⏳ 32:38 – 34:25 | Attracting young talent ⏳ 38:13 – 39:55 | Leadership in challenging times 📌 Watch the full episode & explore more insights here: 🔗 Podcast Overview Page: https://www.rbinternational.com/en/raiffeisen/blog/business-leadership-podcast.html🔗 Full Episode Page: https://www.rbinternational.com/en/raiffeisen/blog/success-stories/banking-on-success-episode5-johann-strobl-vision-for-the-future-of-banking.html 📲 Follow us on Social Media forMore Updates:🔹 LinkedIn: https://at.linkedin.com/company/raiffeisen-bank-international #BankingOnSuccess #BusinessLeadershipPodcast #SuccessStory

    43 min
  4. #1 - From Banking to a Private Equity Fund: Franz Hörhager's Journey (Accession Capital Partners)

    03/24/2025

    #1 - From Banking to a Private Equity Fund: Franz Hörhager's Journey (Accession Capital Partners)

    🎙️ Welcome to the first episode of the Business Leadership Podcast – Banking on Success!  Join us as we talk with Franz Hörhager, founder of Accession Capital Partners, about his career shift from banking to private equity and his vision for investment in Central Eastern Europe (CEE). Starting out in the banking world in the 1980s, he quickly became a key figure in CEE finance, navigating complex economic transitions. Why did he leave a senior banking role to build a leading private equity and debt fund? And what lessons did he learn from decades of shaping the financial landscape in the region? In this episode, he shares exclusive insights into the future of investment, the challenges of CEE economies, and why hard work is still the key to success.  🔹 Key topics covered:  ✅ How Central Eastern Europe became an economic success story  ✅ Insights on financial risk management and private equity investments  ✅ The role of ESG initiatives in the region  ✅ Career advice from a financial leader on entrepreneurial success  📌 Jump to the key moments in the episode:  ⏳ 01:17 – 09:56 | Franz Hörhager: From Banking to Private Equity – A Journey of Transformation  ⏳ 10:36 – 19:55 | Central Eastern Europe: A Remarkable Success Story  ⏳ 34:09 – 39:22 | Driving Sustainability: ESG-Initiatives in Central Eastern Europe  ⏳ 39:24 – 42:40 | Career Advice: Hard Work & Finding Your Passion  📌 Watch the full episode & explore more insights here:  🔗 Podcast Overview Page: https://www.rbinternational.com/en/raiffeisen/blog/business-leadership-podcast.html  🔗 Full Episode Page: https://www.rbinternational.com/en/raiffeisen/blog/success-stories/banking-private-equity-franz-horhager-journey.html 💬 What’s your biggest takeaway from this episode? Share in the comments!  📢 Like & subscribe for more expert insights on finance, leadership & investment.   📲 Follow us on Social Media for More Updates:  🔹 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/raiffeisen-bank-international/   #BusinessLeadership #PrivateEquity #CEEFinance #BankingOnSuccess #EntrepreneurSuccess #InvestmentBanking #EconomicGrowth

    47 min

About

Leadership stories across industries: Elitza, senior banker & leader at RBI, shares on a monthly basis the most compelling business & leadership stories in CEE & Beyond, giving you the valuable insights needed to grow in the face of changing markets and industries.