A First Step That Lasted 20 Years: Michael's Journey at Hilti

Written in collaboration with Michael Tschirky, and the employer brand team

Development Made Real through the Apprenticeship Program

For many young professionals, an apprenticeship is a first step into their career, a way to gain experience before taking on a more permanent role.

At Hilti, it’s something more. Our apprenticeship program at Hilti’s HQ in Liechtenstein is designed to spark long-term careers, fueled by mentorship, mobility, and a culture that invests in people for the long haul.

Michael Tschirky’s journey brings this philosophy to life.

What began as a three-year commercial apprenticeship at Hilti’s global headquarters in Schaan, Liechtenstein, has grown into a 20-year career spanning continents and functions.

His story shows how Hilti’s approach to people's development can turn an early opportunity into a lifelong career built on curiosity, collaboration, and continuous learning.

Discovering Hilti: An Early Beginning

As Michael approached the end of secondary school in Switzerland, he came to a crossroads: continue full-time education or begin an apprenticeship. Being hands-on by nature, an apprenticeship felt like the right path.

He’d imagined himself working in finance until his parents encouraged him to check out another industry for a broader view of his options.

A trial day at Hilti was all it took to change his entire trajectory.

It was love at first sight. The environment was full of opportunities and fascinating people from different cultures. I had two offers on the table, one from a bank and one from Hilti. I chose Hilti and never looked back.

Learning by Doing

Hilti’s apprenticeship program gives young professionals the chance to rotate across departments, combining practical experience with a deeper understanding of how the business operates.

"I gained a lot of hands-on experience," Michael explained, "but I was also learning how everything connects. By the time I finished my apprenticeship, I understood how each function supports the customer and how we all depend on each other."

In year three of his apprenticeship, Michael and his peers were challenged to run what was known as a Junior Company, a real business within the business. 

"We were about 20 to 25 apprentices with different backgrounds and functions, and we had to establish our own mini company," he explained. "We got funding from the vocational department, chose our CEO, CFO, and CMO, defined products, pricing, and marketing, built a website, and actually sold to Hilti employees."

Profits went toward team-building activities and a local social institution, but the true reward was the experience itself.

"At 17 or 18, you’re suddenly running your own company," Michael recalled. "It taught me responsibility and how cross-functional departments have to work together for the team to succeed."

Building a Strong Foundation through Education

Alongside his on-the-job training, Michael spent two days a week at business school, studying subjects ranging from mathematics and languages to politics and economics.

"Three days a week I worked at Hilti HQ," he said. "The other two days I was in school, learning the fundamentals you need in your backpack before stepping fully into business life."

From Apprentice to Employee

After completing his apprenticeship, Michael’s next step took him halfway around the world. He accepted a six-month internship with Hilti New Zealand. He was eager to expand his perspective and apply what he’d learned in a new environment, far away from home.

When the internship ended, he returned home to Switzerland for six months of mandatory military service. And as that chapter closed, a friendly face brought him back to Hilti. His former manager called to offer him a full-time role and he rejoined the Global Finance Team as an Account Specialist.

Because the last year of my apprenticeship was in finance, it felt like a smooth transition, I already knew the people, the processes, and the expectations.

That familiarity gave Michael the freedom to think bigger and to explore where his curiosity could take him next.

Building a Career through Continuous Growth

Motivated by that curiosity, Michael soon felt ready for a fresh challenge beyond finance.

I’d learned a lot, but I was ready to move beyond the numbers.

That yearning for growth led him to the Business Unit Power Tools & Accessories where he stepped into a Junior Product Manager role. It was his first experience combining technical and marketing knowledge with customer-focused storytelling, a skill that would shape his future path.

A few years later, Michael pursued an 18-month international rotation program sponsored by the Martin Hilti Family Foundation. After applying, he was selected and relocated to the U.S., studying at the University of Tulsa before joining the regional brand and communications team at Hilti North America.

When his visa ended, Michael returned to Switzerland and took on another new challenge as an Account Manager.

"Sales pushed me far outside my comfort zone," he recalled. "You’re on your own, driving the red Hilti car, meeting customers every day. But it gave me a deep appreciation for how our tools, software, and services make a real difference and understand the true needs and pain points of our customers."

Coming Full Circle

After two years in sales, Michael came back to Hilti headquarters in Liechtenstein where his journey had first begun.

He joined the Global Brand Management team, spending six years helping shape Hilti’s global identity before moving internally to Marketing Communications. In January 2026, Michael stepped into his latest role as Communications Manager for the Hilti Foundation.

Over more than two decades with Hilti, Michael’s career has spanned various functions, countries, and unique challenges, each one building on the last.

Every step taught me something new and Hilti has always made sure there’s another step to take.

Why Apprenticeship Stay: Development Made Real

At many companies, apprenticeships are temporary, a short chapter before moving on. At Hilti, they’re often the beginning of something lasting.

Through structured onboarding, rotational learning, international mobility, and leadership development, Hilti creates clear pathways for people to grow with the company, not away from it.

That commitment has kept Michael inspired for 20 years. He said "Every time I thought I’d reached a peak, another opportunity was waiting."

From apprentice to manager and from Liechtenstein to the U.S. and back, Michael’s journey shows how early potential can turn into lifelong growth.

That’s development made real.