THE MOST INFLUENTIAL WOMEN LEADERS OF THE YEAR 2024
Margot Konigshofer
CEO-Founder, Procfit GMBH
In recent years, the push for gender equality and the narrowing of the gender wage gap has gained significant momentum. Despite notable progress, the underrepresentation of women in leadership roles remains a persistent issue. However, research indicates that companies with a higher proportion of women in leadership positions tend to outperform their counterparts. For instance, analysis of the Fortune 500 list reveals that only 15% of CEOs are women, yet companies with greater gender diversity in senior leadership positions often experience greater profitability.
This trend underscores the importance of highlighting exemplary women leaders who break through barriers and excel in their respective fields. One such remarkable individual is Margot Königshofer, the CEO and Founder of PROCFIT GmbH. Margot’s leadership stands as a testament to the transformative impact of women in positions of authority. Her innovative approach, coupled with a dedication to fostering inclusivity and diversity, has propelled PROCFIT GmbH to new heights.
Margot’s achievements haven’t gone unnoticed; she has been recognized as one of The Most Emerging Women CEOs of the Year 2024. Through her leadership, Margot exemplifies the qualities of resilience, vision, and determination that are essential for driving success in today’s dynamic business landscape.
From the Scratch
Being that someone who comes from a very happy upbringing, Margot grew up in a peaceful farm in the countryside with her parents and grandparents. Her folks kept her in-sync with the traditions and roots, which resulted in her long lasting closeness to nature and a strong affinity towards local/regional food.
“When I was 6 years old, I had a very serious accident in Italy, a traumatic brain injury – I felt like I had 100 guardian angels that everything turned out well in the end – I now celebrate my birthday twice a year”, Margot recalls.
Growing up for a long time, Margot was clueless about what she wanted to be when she grew up, but entrepreneurship was something she always dreamt of, with a clear intention of making a difference to the society. She ventured into central purchasing for a retail company, right after her studies, and after a point she wanted to try her luck at the other side of sourcing. She then worked in Germany/Frankfurt at Nestlé and during this period Margot traveled a lot because she was buying herbs and spices for Europe. “Then I returned to my home country, Austria, where I was Head of Purchasing at Nestlé Austria before I founded my company Procfit”,
Margot shared.
Journey towards Procfit
Margot’s path into business was motivated by her deep-seated passion of freedom and self-determination, as well as her desire to share her abundance of supply chain management knowledge and effect change. She worked for years in the world of multinational organizations before founding Procfit, and she longed for a change toward more independence. During this time, eight years ago, Margot accepted parenthood for the first time, a transformative event that sparked her business endeavor.
Recognizing the invaluable flexibility that comes with managing one’s own time, especially with a growing family, Margot was inspired to create Procfit, driven by a vision to cater specifically to the needs of startups and young entrepreneurs in optimizing their supply chains. Observing a gap in the market for tailored supply chain solutions within this demographic, Margot seized the opportunity to fill
this void.
Embracing the challenges inherent in founding a company for the first time, Margot likens the experience to constructing a house—learning through trial and error and discovering opportunities for improvement along the way. Despite the inevitable missteps, Margot remains undeterred, fueled by her unwavering belief in the vast potential for growth and innovation.
In recent years, Procfit has undergone a notable evolution, transitioning its focus from building supply chains predominantly in Asia to specializing in European markets. This strategic shift reflects Margot’s astute recognition of emerging opportunities and her commitment to adapting to changing industry dynamics.
As the CEO
Margot’s work ethic is centered on process optimization and sharp attention to detail since she thinks that well-defined roles and clear organizational structures are essential for long-term, sustainable operation. Since the beginning of her business endeavors, she has methodically arranged every service offering—lead generation, sales conversion, and delivery—like an assembly line.
Recognizing the complexity inherent in sourcing and supply chain management, Margot emphasizes the necessity of continuous learning and expertise development. Within her team, she exclusively recruits project managers with extensive purchasing experience, ensuring the ability to negotiate with suppliers on equal footing and possess relevant specialist knowledge. Margot’s commitment to fostering a stable workforce is reflected in the company’s notably low turnover rate, preserving a wealth of knowledge and fostering a strong team spirit.
Moreover, Margot’s proactive approach to staying abreast of industry trends and innovations is exemplified through regular attendance at international trade fairs and the integration of AI technologies to augment operational efficiency. Each project undertaken by Margot and her team is approached with a bespoke strategy, tailored to accommodate the unique requirements of the product and the customer, considering factors such as certificates, country of origin, and individual client profiles, whether they be early-stage startups, scaling enterprises, or established retailers like FBA/Amazon.
On a Personal Note
Beyond her professional avatar as a Boss Woman, Margot is a hardcore pleasure seeker at heart. Anything which guides her away from the mundane way of life, be it cooking, food, architecture, fashion, good music or even exercise, Margot is all in for it.
Through this conversational interview when we asked Margot how she balances her personal life and her professional life, she exclaimed – “I could say “walks in the woods”, I could say “eating a piece of chocolate”; I could say “when I look into my children’s eyes I forget all the stress” – but none of that is true”.
Finding the delicate equilibrium between personal and professional life has been a profound challenge for Margot, a lesson learned through years of intentional “me time” pursuits. Recognizing the importance of self-care, she regularly carves out brief respites from the demands of work and family obligations to indulge in solitary activities that replenish her spirit. Gratefully, Margot credits her supportive husband and parents for facilitating these moments of rejuvenation.
Reflecting on her journey, Margot acknowledges the significant impact of childhood experiences on professional growth and conflict resolution. She firmly believes that effective leadership begins with mastering self-leadership, a journey rooted in self-understanding. Margot’s evolution as a leader has been markedly influenced by her roles as a mother to two daughters, instilling a newfound gentleness and empathy into her leadership approach.
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