Standing in front of the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur, I can’t help but wonder:
What can Germany learn from Asia, and from Malaysia in particular?
I first visited Kuala Lumpur almost 25 years ago. I’ve returned many times since then. On my most recent trip I felt inspired to reflect on the following: Although people often face similar challenges everywhere in the world, they tend to respond very differently.
Three learnings for urban development
Since 2001, Kuala Lumpur has moved forward with speed and pragmatism. Hamburg, where I live, has improved a lot too, but often too slowly, too process-driven, in a too “German” way.
There are three lessons that I believe Germany must absorb:
- Diversity as daily normality: markets, festivals and multilingual signs.
- Green infrastructure: forests, pocket parks and green corridors.
- Designing for the climate, not cars: providing shade and water and ensuring short distances.
Three learnings for team development
The same lesson applies to corporate learning and entrepreneurship.
- Diversity is the fabric of resilience: teams, like cities, thrive when multiple perspectives shape solutions.
- Green loops equal learning loops: growth is sustainable when learning is continuous rather than a “one-off training”.
- Design for human beings, not systems: focus on energy, flow and rapid prototyping.
Whenever I am in Asia, I get this impression: In many respects, most Asian countries are much more pragmatic than Europe. They get things done, learn quickly and adapt where needed.
The KLCC skyline with a green corridor behind me is proof of what is possible in a relatively short time span.
Seizing opportunities
In Germany, we tend to debate until the window of opportunity has closed.
The deeper question is: Will Germany learn with humility and create with the same courage? Or will we continue polishing concepts while others are already testing prototypes? What transforms us is the courage to begin before we think we are ready.
Whenever I visit Asian cities, I see action and pragmatism: try, adapt, move forward. Across Germany, I often see the opposite: caution, process, hesitation.
I am wondering: What are Germany’s biggest blind spots?
