People who make a difference.
ista Progress Report 2025/26
Where dedication meets expertise
Every year, our employees show what can be achieved when dedication, expertise and strong teamwork come together. Whether in our local teams or across borders, their commitment plays a key role in reliably supporting our customers, driving innovation and helping shape change.
At the heart of this is mutual trust and an open, respectful corporate culture. To strengthen this culture, we support the professional development of our employees while also creating opportunities for personal connection and team spirit through events such as the ista Soccer Cup.
Outstanding employer
In 2025, ista France was named a “Top Employer” in France for the 12th consecutive year. This international award is given to companies that meet strict criteria in the areas of HR policy, talent development, corporate culture, employee well-being as well as diversity and inclusion. The fact that ista France has been recognized once again demonstrates how the company creates an every-day environment where every employee can thrive, grow, and make a valuable contribution to the company. Laurent Sireix, Country Manager for France: “This award reflects our commitment to creating an exceptional employee experience, fostering continuous professional development, and attracting, developing, and retaining new talent.”
Strong growth in learning worldwide
Continuous learning is a central part of our corporate culture. It supports the personal development of our employees and strengthens ista’s capacity for innovation. In 2025, ista employees worldwide completed 5,055 training days.
A total of 53,139 training courses were successfully completed on our learning management platform, Learn – an increase of more than 75% compared with the previous year. The growing number of completed courses reflects a strong awareness of the value of continuous development. In particular, compact learning formats that are directly relevant to employees are becoming increasingly popular.
Strong growth on the Learn platform
Our state-of-the-art learning management platform, Learn, continues to grow rapidly: in 2025, 53,139 training courses were successfully completed worldwide (2024: 29,570). With a wide range of learning formats – from e-learning and webinars to face-to-face training – employees can learn in ways that suit their individual needs and preferences.
New ‘Discover’ feature: learning reimagined
In early 2026, the new ‘Discover’ section was added to the platform, offering a curated selection of recommended learning content. Users can explore topics independently and dive deeper into areas that interest them. The focus is on self-directed learning – flexible, personalised and free from fixed learning paths.
Learning together for the future
By continuously expanding our learning programmes and digital learning opportunities, we are creating the conditions for learning to become a natural part of everyday working life at ista. In doing so, we are strengthening skills across the organisation and helping shape the future of our company together.
Focus on Leadership: “Leading with AI”
Following the successful launch of “Leadership Spotlights” in early 2025 – with more than 500 participants across five sessions – the programme entered its next phase in the second half of the year.
Leadership Spotlight #6 took place in October and focused on one of the most pressing topics of our time: artificial intelligence. The strong turnout of around 120 leaders reflected the high level of interest in the subject.
How do I lead my team through the AI transformation?
The central question was how leaders can guide their teams confidently and effectively through ongoing change. The focus was deliberately not on the technology itself, but on the evolving role of leadership in the age of AI.
New demands on leadership
Through practical approaches and concrete methods, participants explored key topics such as data-driven leadership, ethical responsibility in the use of AI and process automation. A recording was made available on the training platform after the event for those unable to attend, ensuring that all leaders had the opportunity to benefit from the content.
AI at ista: a key topic for the future
Beyond the Leadership Spotlights, AI remained a major focus throughout 2025. Whether through regular AI breakfasts, AI training sessions, expert talks or interactive AI promptathons, artificial intelligence has become an integral part of everyday work and professional development at ista.
Diversity drives our success
At ista, diversity is more than just a buzzword – it is a key driver of our success. We firmly believe that only by recognising, valuing and harnessing our differences can we take innovation, creativity and team spirit to a whole new level.
We are committed to diversity and actively bring this value to life, for example through our signing of the Diversity Charter. Our senior management demonstrates what true equality can look like: the Management Board is gender-balanced, with an equal number of women and men – far exceeding the average for DAX and MDAX companies. This balance is also reflected across our workforce: 47.2% women and 52.8% men (full-time, permanent) work side by side at ista.
Diversity shapes how we work together every day. In Germany alone, our employees come from 47 different countries. Together, we foster an open and inspiring working environment that helps drive our success.
Au revoir everyday life – Bonjour Soccer Cup 2025
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The ista Soccer Cup, our annual football tournament, brings colleagues from all over the world together and is the highlight of the year for many of our staff. In 2025, the City of Love provided the perfect stage for the event.
The matches took place in Paris in glorious sunshine. 31 teams from across the ista world once again competed for the trophy. As always, alongside goals and sporting ambition, it was all about team spirit. Between matches, there was plenty of time for chatting and making new connections. Whether on or off the pitch – team spirit was the focus.
The best moments were captured on video and offer a glimpse of the amazing atmosphere.
Responsibility in action
At ista, we believe in work arrangements that adapt to life, not the other way around. A range of flexible work models helps employees balance their professional and personal commitments. Around one in eight of our colleagues worldwide works part-time, benefiting from these options. This flexibility extends beyond day-to-day working arrangements: last year, 24 employees in Germany took a sabbatical – a one- to three-month break to recharge their batteries and broaden their horizons.
Supporting our employees' mental well-being is a priority for us. Through the Fürstenberg Institute, we offer all colleagues and family members living in the same household a valuable support service: external, anonymous and free counselling available 24/7.
Whether it's professional concerns, mental health, family matters or personal development, the service provides personalised, confidential and easily accessible support whenever it is needed, helping employees gain new perspectives and build resilience.
We make it easier for employees to make sustainable choices in practical ways: from charging private electric vehicles at work to well-equipped bike parking facilities and a variety of vegetarian meal options in our cafeteria. For business travel within Germany, rail is our preferred mode of transport, and electric vehicles from our fleet are available for local appointments. We also actively promote social engagement – for example through our Volunteering Day in Essen, where many teams come together to support community initiatives.
Greater autonomy empowers people to make more conscious decisions. At ista, we strive to create the conditions that make this possible.