If you ever spot a cyclist zipping around before 8 a.m. with enterprise data strategy on his mind, there’s a good chance it’s Manfred Weis. He’s Syngentic’s Chief Operating Officer, and a man who moves fast both on two wheels and in transforming how businesses think about data.
With over 20 years of experience, including a major chapter at SAP, Manfred brings a rare blend of deep technical knowledge and people-first leadership. His career has included building teams from scratch, designing solutions for Fortune 500 companies, and even creating a real-time game data platform for the NHL. Yes, that NHL.
What Makes Syngentic Different?
At Syngentic, Manfred sees a clear mission: to help companies at every stage of their data journey, whether they’re just starting to collect data, or already knee-deep in analytics but unsure how to level up.
“Most companies are in one of three buckets,” he explains. “They don’t collect relevant data yet, they collect data but don’t know what to do with it, or they’re already using data effectively, but want to go further.”
Syngentic steps in to bridge that gap, with AI, predictive tools, and real-time systems that help businesses not just make decisions but make them faster and smarter. With solutions built on platforms like Databricks and SAP’s Business Data Cloud, the company is turning raw information into real-world results.
Leading with Curiosity
When asked what keeps him motivated, Manfred doesn’t hesitate. “All of the above,” he says. “Working with customers, delivering successful projects and providing value to them is very rewarding and what I really enjoy. Being on the forefront of new technologies is also of great interest to me, and in turn allows me also to coach our team members on those topics.”
That passion for mentorship also shows up at home. Recently, Manfred dusted off his PC-building skills (once a college side hustle) to help his son build a gaming rig. “Since my son wanted a gaming PC, I started to ‘geek out’ on new PC technology and needed to develop an understanding of what makes a good gaming PC. So now I am building a gaming PC with my son. It was quite interesting to see what has changed since I built my last PC and how technology has evolved since then. Yet, it was funny to see that assembling a PC is almost the same as it was 20+ years ago.” It’s this balance of old-school grit and future-forward thinking that defines his leadership. He’s hands-on, curious, and unapologetically technology-obsessed, despite building PCs for fun.
What’s Next for Syngentic?
The next 12 months are shaping up to be big for Syngentic. As companies rush to adopt AI and data-driven processes, Manfred sees an opportunity to help them do it right; not with hype, but with strategy.
“At Syngentic we will focus on customers that have a need to get a better understanding of their data, how to collect the data, analyze it and get actionable insights out of the data they have, to inform and support their future business growth,” he says… “Our goal is to help customers grow and now is the perfect time for this.”
And if you ask him to sum up Syngentic’s culture in one word? “Customer Focus,” he says without another thought. “Our whole organization is focused on the customer to achieve value from our solutions.”
Whether he’s leading a high-stakes data transformation or squeezing in a ride before meetings, Manfred leads with humility, sharp thinking, and a genuine excitement for what’s next for Syngentic.
What does Syngentic’s future look like? It’s safe to say it’s in good hands and probably moving fast.
