45. Dr. Roger Gothmann

Shownotes

45. Dr. Roger Gothmann, Co-founder and Managing Director of Taxdoo

When market leadership isn't enough: How Taxdoo is reinventing its business model

Success doesn't necessarily make change any easier. Yet Dr. Roger Gothmann took the risk: he gave up a tenured civil service position, built Taxdoo into a leading provider of VAT compliance for e-commerce with his co-founders – and then shut down the very business that had made the company a success.

In this episode, he joins podcast hosts Joy Edwin Thanarajah and Harald R. Fortmann to discuss the psychology behind this decision, leadership after growth, and perfectionism as both a strength and a danger. Roger Gothmann speaks candidly about how the company grew to around 230 employees during the e-commerce boom of the lockdown years, only to later shrink to 50. He describes why employees cannot be motivated by "perks" alone during a crisis, how founder coaching and 360-degree feedback have transformed their leadership culture, and why an open feedback culture must start with the founders themselves.

With EU regulations set to render a significant portion of their previous business obsolete by July 2028 and AI fundamentally changing accounting, Taxdoo is now focusing on AI-powered, real-time accounting – combined with professional accountability from experts. For Roger Gothmann, this "Service as a Software" approach is the ultimate competitive moat: efficiency through AI, accountability through people.

Episode highlights:

• Freedom over security: Leaving a tenured civil service career
• Perfectionism as a competitive advantage – and a danger
• Heterogeneous founder teams as a success factor
• Linear growth thinking during boom phases leads to overcapacity
• Restructuring requires consistent, honest communication
• Discontinuing a successful core business before regulation forces your hand
• Leadership after the hype: Constructive feedback instead of perks
• AI is changing role profiles in design, data, and accounting
• Service as a Software: Expert accountability as a competitive moat
• Tax consulting in transition: From bookkeeping to strategic design

Further links:

• Dr. Roger Gothmann on LinkedIn
• Taxdoo Website
• Joy Edwin Thanarajah on LinkedIn
• Harald R. Fortmann on LinkedIn
• Harald R. Fortmann on Instagram
• Deininger Website
• Five14 Website
• Suits & Sneakers on LinkedIn
• Suits & Sneakers on Instagram

About Suits & Sneakers

Suits & Sneakers is a podcast for decision-makers. Deininger Group CEO Joy Edwin Thanarajah and Harald R. Fortmann, Managing Partner of executive search consultancy Five14 and Vice President of the BDU, talk to business leaders about the evolution of leadership, new working environments, digital transformation, and artificial intelligence. The focus is on personal experiences in building and managing companies—and the question of how to lead successfully in times of technological change.

About Deininger

Deininger, headquartered in Frankfurt am Main, is one of Germany's leading executive search consultancies, operating with a global network of partners. Since its founding in 1981, Deininger has specialized in identifying and recruiting top executives for companies across various industries. With its economic and industry expertise, Deininger supports clients in filling key positions in a dynamic market environment and an evolving world of work. Through years of experience and a focus on quality and sustainability in collaboration, Deininger has established itself as a trusted partner for national and international companies, from startups to larger medium-sized enterprises and corporations. Deininger – Frankfurt, Berlin, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, China, Dubai, Great Britain, India, Poland, and USA.

About Five14

Five14 is an executive search boutique that connects companies with individuals who drive change. From digital transformation to the AI era, we identify leaders who combine technological expertise, strategic foresight, and cultural leadership.

Traditional "post and pray" recruiting is no longer effective here. Five14 stands for a new kind of search: targeted, discreet, networked, and always as equals. Our team – multi-award-winning consultants with decades of experience in marketing, sales, and corporate management in the digital industry – supports startups, SMEs, and corporations in actively shaping the world of work of tomorrow.

We fill for impact, not just positions. As partners to our clients, we act openly, transparently, and in accordance with the principles of proper HR consulting (BDU). Sustainability and social commitment are firmly embedded in our DNA: Since our founding, we have operated climate-neutrally and invest 14% of our profits in social projects.

Five14 – Executive Search for leaders who drive the future.

About this podcast production

• The podcast intro voice-over was recorded by Chérine De Bruin.
• The "Suits & Sneakers" podcast is a TON.EINS production.

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