“Focus on what you can influence”: 10 lessons from Mario Konrad, Co-Founder & CEO of Ryzon

The E-commerce Berlin Expo celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2026. To mark this milestone, we interviewed some of the world’s most influential leaders about the future of online retail, asking them to share their 10 valuable lessons in e-commerce. Their insights were featured in our special album, showcasing the most powerful voices in online retail, which we decided to share with you on E-commerce Germany News.

This time, we’re featuring an exclusive interview with Mario Konrad, Co-Founder & CEO of Ryzon. See what e-commerce lessons he shared with us below!

What first drew you to this industry?

MARIO: It was the realization of a gap. We saw that the market offered highly functional gear, but it often lacked a certain aesthetic soul. We were drawn to the idea of combining the highest technical standards with a minimalist, timeless design. We didn’t just want to sell clothes; we wanted to create a brand that resonates with the lifestyle and identity of the community – something that feels right, both in function and in values.

Quote / Mario Konrad, Co-Founder & CEO of Ryzon

Focus on what you can influence. You can get lost worrying about competitors or market shifts, but the only thing you truly control is your own execution: your product, your team, and your honesty and values. If you do your job well, "seam by seam," the rest follows.

Which early failure taught you something that still guides you today?

MARIO: In our early days, bootstrapping without external investors felt like total madness at times. We often felt a little pressure to believe that “professionalism” was something you had to buy. We frequently felt that to be taken seriously, we needed expensive agencies & big budgets. We thought we were missing out because we couldn’t afford those things. But that limitation turned out to be our greatest lesson. We realized that true professionalism has absolutely nothing to do with seniority or high costs. It is defined purely by drive, focus, and reliability. We learned that a committed team with the right mindset can out-execute a big budget any day.

Do your job well, the rest will follow

When you think of the past decade of e-commerce, what do you miss – and what are you glad we left behind?

MARIO: I don’t miss much about the “old ways” as we are constantly evolving. However, I am glad we are leaving behind the mindset of constantly operating at the absolute limit of our resources. For a long time, efficiency meant having to turn over every single pebble just to make things work. Today, I am glad that we have reached a point where we can lift our heads. Real efficiency now means having the stability to stop micro-optimizing every detail and instead having the confidence to place bigger, strategic bets that truly move the needle – without ever losing sight of our passion for details.

What is the single most important business lesson you have learned throughout your career?

MARIO: Focus on what you can influence. You can get lost worrying about competitors or market shifts, but the only thing you truly control is your own execution: your product, your team, and your honesty and values. If you do your job well, “seam by seam,” the rest follows. Also, you cannot lock people in an office for 8 hours and expect creativity. Trust and freedom yield better results than control.

How would you define success in e-commerce today, and how has your view of it changed over time?

MARIO: In the beginning, success was survival – simply proving that our idea had a place in the market. Today, I define success differently. It’s not just about revenue or profitability (though those are necessary); it’s about how we achieve them. Success means building a “large project” that has a positive impact on our employees, our producers, our community, and the environment. If we are profitable but our team is burnt out, or our supply chain is unethical, that is not success to me.

What do you see as the biggest opportunity in e-commerce today?

MARIO: The biggest opportunity lies in genuine community building and direct connection. The Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) model allows us to bypass the noise and speak straight to the athlete. There is a huge opportunity in “social commerce” not as a sales channel, but as a feedback loop. Using the “onion principle” – starting with your core community and letting them carry your message outward – is more powerful than constantly chasing the next “viral hit”.

Quote / Mario Konrad, Co-Founder & CEO of Ryzon

The next decade will be defined by "substance over noise." Consumers are becoming smarter and more critical; they can spot inauthenticity miles away. Brands that are purely transactional will struggle, while those that stand for something will thrive.

Working flexibly drives high performance

What’s the most counterintuitive or unconventional thing your company does today that actually works?

MARIO: From day one, we never introduced time tracking or mandatory attendance. We also view leadership not as a hierarchy, but as a support function. In an industry often obsessed with “hustle culture” and 80-hour weeks, this seems counterintuitive. But we found that time and control are simply not the correct metrics for output. By giving our team freedom to live their lives, they are more focused, creative, and motivated. It proves that working flexibly actually drives high performance.

What guiding principle do you personally refuse to compromise on, no matter the trend or pressure?

MARIO: “Everything that is nice for us founders should be nice for the employees too.” This principle of equality and fairness is non-negotiable. Whether it’s transparency, flexibility, or how we treat each other, I refuse to build a company where the leadership lives by different rules than the team. We also refuse to compromise on honesty in our product: we do it as honestly and sustainably as we can, even if it costs more or takes longer.

Looking ahead, what will define the next decade of e-commerce, and how does thinking about the future make you feel – optimistic, excited, concerned, or something else?

MARIO: I feel optimistic but grounded. The next decade will be defined by “substance over noise.” Consumers are becoming smarter and more critical; they can spot inauthenticity miles away. Brands that are purely transactional will struggle, while those that stand for something will thrive. It won’t be easy, but the challenge of merging commerce with genuine responsibility excites me.

If you could leave a message for future e-commerce leaders, what would it be?

MARIO: Don’t measure your success by the hours you work or the speed of your growth. Build something that lasts. Be honest with your community and your team. And most importantly: Build bridges that allow you to be brave. If you create a culture where people feel safe to fail and free to think, the business results will come naturally. Step by step.

Mario Konrad’s bio

Mario Konrad is the co-founder and CEO of Ryzon, a Cologne-based sports apparel brand redefining the standards of triathlon and endurance wear. With a background as a competitive athlete, he leads the company with a philosophy centered on merging high-performance gear with distinct aesthetics and a modern, community-focused corporate culture.

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