More than just a job: Thomas Dreyer on leadership and science fiction

In the second part of the interview with Thomas, Head of R&D at Kontron AIS, things get personal.
In conversation with Susann Städter, Marketing Manager at Kontron AIS, he talks about the books and films that shaped him, what good leadership means to him, and why Star Trek was sometimes more important than lectures. Thomas also reveals why his life motto is “Better to ask for forgiveness than permission” and which childhood dream he still hasn’t given up on. The full interview is also available as a video right below the text. 

Susann:
Hello Thomas, great to see you. Let’s dive straight into the second round of the interview: If you had an unlimited budget, what dream project or research project would you invest in?

Thomas:
If I had an unlimited budget, I would invest it in projects related to artificial intelligence – a topic that has fascinated me since my university days. I even wrote my thesis on it over 25 years ago. Later, when the technical development had advanced enough for AI to become practically feasible, our team made the first attempts. We quickly realized that training artificial networks requires enormous computing power – and thus a lot of budget. If money were no object, there would be many exciting things we could realize in this field.

Susann:
Which books and films have had a major influence on you?

Thomas:
Since I could read, I’ve been fascinated by the science fiction genre. I devoured almost everything on the subject that I could find in our library. I was intrigued by how future technologies, social developments, and human challenges were explored. Movies and TV shows were equally influential, especially the series Star Trek. During my university days, it was mandatory viewing – sometimes even more important than lectures. Much of what I do professionally today is inspired by those visions of the future and the attempt to make real the technologies imagined decades ago.

Susann:
As Head of R&D, what is particularly important to you when it comes to your team?

Thomas:
It’s important for me to understand what my team is working on – both technically and in terms of the challenges they face in their daily work. That’s why I keep myself up to date technologically, so I can join the conversation and provide targeted support. At the same time, I want my team to enjoy coming to work, to feel comfortable, and to have an environment where good work is possible. That’s what I work on every day.

Susann:
What was the best piece of advice you ever received, and how has it influenced your career?

Thomas:
The transition from developer to manager was more difficult than I initially thought. I was used to doing tasks myself – even after taking on a leadership role. A friend then gave me the decisive hint: If you’re overloaded but your team doesn’t have enough to do, you’re doing something wrong. That was a key moment. I learned that leadership means enabling others, not taking everything on yourself. Since then, I’ve thought about leadership differently.

Susann:
Do you still do any coding in your daily work?

Thomas:
Not very often, and if I do, then usually out of personal interest – to stay connected to the developer’s world. My colleagues view it with mixed feelings because they know my calendar is often full and my coding projects sometimes take longer. It’s usually just small tasks.

Susann:
Is there something you’ve been wanting to do privately for a long time but haven’t gotten around to yet?

Thomas:
As a child, I actually wanted to learn a musical instrument, but it never quite worked out. Either there wasn’t a music school nearby or the opportunity just wasn’t there. Later, I did buy a keyboard and intended to teach myself. But free time is scarce, and I haven’t really gotten very far yet. Maybe this year will finally be the right time to start.

Susann:
What motto guides you through life?

Thomas:
My motto is: “It’s better to ask for forgiveness than to ask for permission.” When you want to try something new, you often encounter doubts or resistance. Sometimes it’s easier to just do it and later prove that it works – rather than spend a long time debating beforehand. Courage often pays off. If it turns out well, you end up with a convincing result.

Susann:
Thank you for the exciting insights!

Thomas:
My pleasure! Thank you.
 

If you’d like to see and hear Thomas in person, you can find the interview video right here …
 

I want to understand what my team is working on – both technically and personally.

A sentence that perfectly illustrates how Thomas thinks and leads. In the second part of the interview, he not only shares insights into his daily work but also into the mindset that guides him. Whether it’s science fiction as a source of inspiration, coding as a link to practice, or the courage to simply try things out – for Thomas, technology and team spirit are inseparably connected.

Before things got personal, Thomas shared his journey through 25 years of software development in the first part of the interview: from international projects and technological milestones to his passion for smart ideas. If you’d like to learn more about the foundation of his career and his enthusiasm for innovation, you’ll find the beginning here: To the first part of the interview with R&D Director Thomas Dreyer

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