ROLF SCHRÖMGENS
Rolf Schrömgens is a serial entrepreneur. Right out of university, in 1999, he started one of the best-funded European first wave internet companies ciao.com.
In 2005, he started his second company trivago.com, which became, within a decade, the most successful hotel search and one of the largest global consumer brands. He brought trivago public at Nasdaq in 2016 and moved from his CEO role into a board position in 2020.
Lately, Rolf co-founded leadership.sprouts, an NGO that aims to evolve leadership into the digital age.
Q & A with ROLF
DO YOU HAVE A ROLE MODEL OR LIFE MOTTO?
Live now.
What was your most powerful learning moment?
My psychedelic experience.
WHAT CAN YOU NOT LAUGH ABOUT?
Unnecessary suffering.
What was the last beautiful thing you bought?
20 pairs of the same black socks.
What is that one book that will stay with you forever?
None. The value of books for me is in reading not in keeping.
WHEN DO YOU FEEL ALIVE?
When I change my mind.
WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE IN?
The human potential to create, connect and love.
What is your peaceful place?
Deep in myself.
What was your last good deed?
Separating the egg tray this morning from the egg shells although it was pretty messy.
What was your last dream abaout?
Unfortunately did not keep track.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE MUSIC?
Depends a lot on my mood.
BEGINNING OR FINISHING? WHICH IS HARDER?
Stopping.