Edith Illmaier, CEO of Krammer&Wagner&Illmaier - If there is no wind, grab the paddles

Edith Illmaier (Photo: lična arhiva)

Her career has taken her from the hometown Kapfenberg to Belgrade's borough of Vozdovac, where the Austrian real estate company Krammer&Wagner&Illmaier she runs is going to participate in the construction of a shopping center. There is nothing unusual about this project except for the fact that the future shopping center will feature a football pich on its roof.

Who is Edith Illmaier, the lady who will try to attract new shopaholics on behalf of Austrian investors and offer the market of Serbia a new form of shopping and relaxation?

Lawyer with a vision

Her family comes from Kapfenberg, a small town in the north of Austria with the population of only about 30,000, where she completed primary and secondary school and then went to Graz, about 50 kilometers away from her hometown, to enroll in the Faculty of Law.

- I believed that my strong sense of justice would be satisfied if I studied law. I've always dreamed of having a company that successfully operates in as many countries as possible. This dream of mine I managed to fulfill to a great extent.

From waitress to co-owner

Her first job was waiting table, which she proudly stresses. She started working very early, while still a student. Even then she set a goal for herself - to finance her education by herself.

Thanks to good organizational skills, she managed to work and study simultaneously. However, she admits that thriftiness has never been her forte.

(Photo: lična arhiva)

- No matter how much I earned, all that money would be spent in no time - says our interlocutor.

After completing the studies, she got a job at Krammer&Wagner in her hometown Kapfenberg, where she worked as a lawyer. Three years later she left the company and moved to Vienna.

- I opened a new office in Vienna and stayed there for the next three years. After the period I spent in Vienna, I left for Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina to start a new business there.

Finally, Edith Illmaier became a co-owner of Krammer&Wagner six months ago, when that company also started its expansion to Serbia.

By the way, Krammer&Wagner&Illmaier, whose headquarters is in Vienna, has been successful in the real estate business for more than 15 years now. As the market leader in trade and shopping centers in Austria, Slovenia, Croatia and Romania, this company, offers comprehensive, innovative solutions based on knowledge and experience.

Life filled with work

Edith Illmaier's life philosophy is: If there is no wind, grab the paddles. In other words: there is no excuse for a failure.

She says that she cannot imagine life without the job she does.

- I love my job a lot – Edith Illmaier points out.

There are three crucial characteristics she loves to recognize in her business associates: ambition, reliability and independence.

- Krammer&Wagner&Illmaier cherishes a family work atmosphere, and I, personally, deeply care for harmony and mutual respect between the employees.

When she looks back, she says that there were many expectional moments in her life. Although she cannot single out a turning point, she is maybe the proudest of her business success.

(Photo: lična arhiva)

Pet guardian

As we learn, Edith dedicates her leisure time to a noble cause. Namely, she is engaged in the protection of animals

- Few years ago I founded an animal protection organization. In a very short time, this organization managed to implement few projects, hold several debates and get recognized as a promoter of respect, care and responsibility towards animals.

In all that she sees but one goal - to provide even the poorest being with a chance to lead a happy and pain-free life.

Plans

And while she slowly walks toward a success in the Serbian market, Edith Illmaier hopes for the construction of new shopping centers and the penetration of new markets. Privately, this lady from Austria wishes to afford her family "as many happy and pleasant moments as possible."

Jelena Djelic