When Michael Kock founded R&K Ingenieure, he set out to do things differently in the realm of managing large-scale infrastructure projects, particularly in the tunneling and railway sectors.
While leading engineering consortia as an authorized officer at ZETCON Ingenieure GmbH, he observed a recurring issue: engineering firms often lacked sufficient on-site expertise. Too few specialists with real construction experience were assigned to the projects, which often led to inefficiencies and missed opportunities for added value.
This was the spark that led to him founding R&K Ingenieure, which aims to bring highly experienced professionals – engineers with strong backgrounds in construction companies, work preparation, and the execution of major projects – directly into the projects, to create tangible added value for the client and ensure the highest quality of project execution..
Starting with a focus on identifying and recruiting top-level engineers, his vision has evolved into a clear positioning: R&K Ingenieure stands for technical excellence on site, practical expertise, and a collaborative approach that bridges the gap between planning and execution. This mindset continues to shape its growth and role in complex infrastructure projects.
Forged in Challenge, Grounded in Integrity
In the early years of his career, Michael saw that engineers often faced a challenging environment. They had to prove their value under difficult economic conditions and learn how to operate successfully, even when circumstances were far from ideal. “These experiences taught us resilience, adaptability, and the importance of maintaining a clear focus on results, even under pressure,” Michael reflects.
They also had a profound impact on his leadership style. Having encountered both positive and negative examples of leadership, he learned the value of integrity, support, and collaborative teamwork from the good role models, and understood which behaviors to avoid – such as envy, resentment, or a lack of trust – from the negative ones. When building his company, Michael consciously embraced the positive aspects and left the negative ones behind.
“We focused on creating a cooperative culture that values partnership, mutual respect, and a family-like working atmosphere. This philosophy has become a cornerstone of how we lead, how we work together, and ultimately how we deliver value to our clients,” he affirms.
Empowering People, Driving Innovation, Leading with Purpose
Earlier in his career, Michael was often told that success came from being associated with a big company name. “But in reality, it is the individual who drives the business. Success in our field is truly a people’s business, and recognizing that every single team member contributes directly to the outcome has been a pivotal insight for us,” he reflects.
This understanding shaped the way he built R&K Ingenieure – from the company culture to its management approach – and it was this holistic development of the firm, grounded in the contributions of each person, that he is most proud of. “It has made us stronger as a company and has reinforced the value of empowering individuals within the industry,” he observes.
For Michael, innovation is essential – almost existential – in the context of engineering and business leadership. It represents progress and development in the right direction, both in technical engineering solutions and in how he leads and manages organizations.
“The engineering industry is constantly evolving, and so must the way we think, work, and structure our companies,” he notes, adding that innovation is not limited to technology; it also applies to management, processes, and organizational culture. Over time, leadership approaches have evolved significantly, and embracing new methods has allowed the company to become more agile and forward-thinking.
“We are proud that our commitment to innovation has been recognized externally as well,” Michael shares. “Winning the Top 100 Innovation Award was a major milestone for us. It confirmed that our efforts to continuously improve and think ahead are being noticed and appreciated – not just internally, but across the industry. Innovation is deeply embedded in our DNA and remains a driving force behind everything we do.”
In addition, sustainability and social responsibility principles are deeply embedded in the company’s culture and come from within – not something imposed by European regulations or external mandates. “We believe that acting responsibly toward society and the environment is a natural part of doing business. This mindset guides our decisions and practices every day, shaping the way we interact with clients, partners, and employees, and ensuring that our growth is both ethical and sustainable,” Michael elaborates.
Trust, Ownership, and Collective Decision-Making Drive Success
One of the key elements of R&K Ingenieure’s company culture is trust through reliability. Over the years, they noticed that many employees had previously experienced disappointment in other companies, often because promises were made but not kept.
“We took this insight very seriously,” Michael recalls. “For us, a person’s word carries real weight. A clear commitment and a sense of obligation are essential to building lasting trust within the team. That’s why our guiding principle is simple: we keep our word, no matter what. Or, as we like to say: We keep our word, even if it costs us our front teeth.”
R&K Ingenieure’s employees truly value this uncompromising approach to reliability, which has shaped a culture of mutual respect, honesty, and accountability, and has become one of its defining characteristics.
Another thing that Michael strongly believes in is cultivating an entrepreneurial mindset within every leader in the organization. “True motivation comes when business itself becomes a bit addictive – when people genuinely enjoy what they’re building and take ownership of it,” he points out.
R&K Ingenieure encourages this by giving its managers real responsibility and a tangible stake in the company’s success. They’re not just executors; they’re allowed and expected to acquire their own projects and see them through from start to finish. When they experience the direct impact of their efforts and see the fruits of their work, it creates a powerful sense of achievement and drives long-term commitment.
The next aspect of R&K Ingenieure’s company culture is always being open to offering its management team the opportunity to participate in the company. This shared ownership further strengthens motivation and ensures that personal success is closely aligned with the company’s long-term goals.
Another aspect of the company culture is how the team approaches decision-making when faced with complex technical or strategic challenges. “In our company, we go to great lengths to make well-founded decisions, and open communication plays a central role in this process. We believe that the best solutions emerge through dialogue. When facing complex technical or strategic challenges, decisions are made collectively,” Michael explains.
He notes that, within the management team, discussions can sometimes become quite intense, but this is precisely what drives the quality of its decision-making. Every opinion is heard and taken seriously, regardless of hierarchy. By considering different perspectives and engaging in honest, sometimes passionate debates, they can reach decisions that are both well thought-out and broadly supported.
“This collaborative approach strengthens not only the quality of our solutions but also the trust and cohesion within the leadership team,” Michael affirms.
From Setback to Strength: Lessons in Resilience
Michael reveals that one of the most transformative moments in his career occurred in 2015, when he was dismissed from his position as an authorized officer, despite having significantly contributed to the company’s success. The dismissal was the result of a personal conflict with the main shareholder, and it had serious consequences for his professional reputation, which was significantly damaged afterward.
Rebuilding his reputation from the ground up was a challenging but formative experience. “It taught me resilience, humility, and the importance of standing by my principles even in difficult times,” he reflects. Equally transformative was meeting his current business partner, Alfred Rüssel.
“Our partnership has been built on trust, mutual respect, and a shared vision, and it has proven to be exceptionally successful. Looking back, these two pivotal moments – the setback and the new beginning – shaped my career more than anything else. They taught me that true strength often emerges in times of adversity, and that the right partnership can open the door to entirely new opportunities,” Michael shares.
Recharge, Reflect, and Lead with Perspective
Not a big fan of the term ‘work-life balance,’ Michael does place great importance on his personal time. “I believe that having a strong sense of self and personal goals is one of the best ways to protect yourself from burnout. It’s essential to have activities and ambitions outside of work that give you energy and perspective,” he observes. For him, that means spending time sailing and hiking in the mountains – two activities that allow him to fully disconnect and recharge.
“My former passion was football, but unfortunately, my bones no longer cooperate with that. Whatever I do in my free time, I commit to it wholeheartedly,” Michael shares. “Sports, in particular, have taught me how to handle setbacks. Learning how to lose was a valuable lesson, and this mindset helps me in business as well – because things don’t always go smoothly there either.”
Rebuilding Infrastructure, Inspiring the Next Generation
Highlighting the alarming current state of European infrastructure, particularly in rail and road networks, Michael notes that part of R&K Ingenieure’s work is focused on rebuilding and modernizing these critical systems. At the same time, climate change presents new challenges, such as extreme weather events and flooding, which directly affect its construction projects. “For example, we now need to raise dikes and improve flood protection, and harbor and coastal construction will become increasingly important,” he shares.
Another key development is the growing role of BIM – Building Information Modeling. As construction costs continue to rise, there is a need to visualize planning more extensively to prevent errors and optimize project execution. This requires more skilled capacity in digital planning and simulation, which will become an integral part of modern infrastructure projects.
“On a positive note, we see a growing trend of young people seeking meaningful work, and infrastructure development – especially related to energy and climate challenges – offers exactly that sense of purpose,” Michael observes. “I am confident this renewed interest will attract more students to engineering programs, ultimately strengthening the talent pool and improving the state of the profession across Europe. This gives us reason to be optimistic about the future of engineering and the next generation of professionals shaping it.”
Lead Through Experience, Empathy, and Real-World Insight
Michael’s strongest advice to inspiring entrepreneurs or engineers looking to lead their own ventures is to gain practical, hands-on experience. He adds: “These lessons cannot be learned in school or at university – they come from being on the construction site, facing the real conditions of the work. You need to feel what it’s like to work in cold rain, maybe at three degrees, pouring concrete or overseeing a complex task – not just observing it from a blueprint.
Michael recalls how, early in his career, he was sometimes treated poorly at previous companies. That experience taught him a crucial lesson: understanding how not to treat people gives you the insight to lead in a way that empowers your team and fosters shared success. Later, once you’ve completed projects and built a solid network, you are ready to start your own company and pass on your knowledge. Only by having lived and felt the challenges firsthand – and by learning how to treat people with respect – can you truly guide others and create a venture that delivers real value.
Conclusion
As a leader and entrepreneur, Michael Kock’s most important guiding principle is actively showing appreciation in the workplace to help every person feel valued. He balances this with positive criticism, always delivered with tact and sensitivity. His leadership style of balancing recognition and constructive feedback builds trust, motivates the team, and fosters continuous growth, both for individuals and for the company as a whole. Michael’s journey proves that visionary leadership, grounded in integrity and collaboration, drives lasting impact.
