“Presumably, I could find a story about ARGO for every day of the year. However, Shrove Tuesday 2023 has remained particularly vivid in my memory. Again and again, the team expressed a wish to see the consultants more often in person and to consciously spend time together – especially since we were still dealing with the aftermath of COVID at that time and searching for the famous ‘new normal.’ But one thing was clear: my team had a wish that should be possible to fulfill.

And so, one Tuesday evening, something very unexpected happened: suddenly, our office became a crime scene. Completely unsuspecting, the ARGOnauts arrived for a pleasant get-together – after all, the fairy-tale prince himself had sent out the invitations. And then this: dwarf number seven was murdered, found right in the middle of our seminar room table. What followed was a meticulous reconstruction of the crime scene, relentless witness interrogations, and the growing certainty that the culprit was actually among us.

To say it right away: unfortunately, we were unable to convict the perpetrator. But perhaps, when looking at the photos from this story, one might spot someone with a particularly suspicious smile? 😉

All in all, we had a truly unique team-building experience.

However, I should let you in on a little secret, the preparation was no small feat. Marie, our diligent student assistant, was tasked with crafting a dead dwarf (a task she will surely never receive again in her professional life). And of course, the roles also had to be assigned in advance: it was obvious that Dieter Bernold would be Goldmarie. Frau Holle, who always supports him in everyday ARGO life, was also quickly found with Silvia Potel. But who should play the evil stepmother? Who the witch? And who would take on the roles of the sibling pair Hansel and Gretel? Then the ideal casting for the fairy-tale prince, Bernhard Gattermeyer, also had to cancel at short notice. Who could possibly replace him in a role that felt tailor-made for him? Not to forget the brave little tailor. This role fell to Matthew Strauss, and simply by virtue of the background ‘seven at one blow,’ he had practically put himself on the list of prime suspects. Coincidence? Or perhaps an all-too-obvious fairy-tale motif? The discussions about this persisted, and Little Red Riding Hood in particular presented convincing arguments. Time was ticking, and at some point even I had to accept: it’s okay not to solve this problem.

In the end, however, it was precisely this improvisation — the shared laughter, puzzling, and switching of roles — that made the evening so special. No perfect script, no convicted culprit — but time together, new memories, and the realization that ARGO is more than just projects and deadlines.”

ARGO represents everyday corporate life in action: We practice what we preach; we make mistakes and improve; we neglect what we know and relearn it; we have conflicts and work through them – for 30 years. This experience creates understanding and perspective and is a valuable part of our work.