For Workplaces with More Wellness and Equality

On a mission to transform workplaces into hubs of both wellness and equality, Sara Mari-Strasser, a Bocconi graduate, is very busy in Vienna, where she is co-founder of Schrankerl, a startup that offers an innovative solution for providing employees with healthy meals at work. 

After earning her bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Bocconi University, Sara dove into the world of consulting in Milan. After two years she took a pause in her career to follow the MBA program at INSEAD. Before returning to consulting in Vienna, prompted also by her Austrian boyfriend whom she had met at Bocconi.  “I was enjoying my work, travelling a lot, but then Covid struck, and the world of consulting entered a difficult phase,” she recalls. With the pandemic prompting a reevaluation, she decided it was finally time to take a leap she had long considered but never dared—starting her own business. “It always felt too risky or too early. Now the time felt right.”

Through a mutual friend, Sara met Stephan Haymerle, and together they co-founded Schrankerl at the end of 2020. The company has developed a smart fridge system designed for office communal spaces, so companies can offer employees, also as an additional benefit, convenient access to healthy meals and snacks. Using AI, the fridges adjust food offerings based on the actual needs of each company, ensuring less waste. And any leftover items are donated to local charities, reflecting Schrankerl's commitment to sustainability.

“Our vision is to promote health and well-being in the workplace. We are convinced that better nutrition also leads to increased productivity and satisfaction,” Sara says. “Our system also makes it easier to enjoy meals together as a team.”

However, her passion doesn’t end at promoting healthy lifestyles. Sara is equally dedicated to advocating for women’s leadership in the workplace. As President of Vienna’s Professional Women’s Network, she actively encourages businesses to create supportive environments where women can thrive and lead. Reflecting on her own career, she notes, “we need to talk more about female empowerment and the need to increase women in leadership roles. At university, we are all equal, but in the workplace, meritocracy fades, and inequality emerges. It’s present even before we become mothers - imagine after…”

Sara's experience has exposed her to the gender disparity that often exists. “The consulting sector is very masculine – most of my points of reference were men. The startup world is a bit more equal - but investors and negotiation counterparts are also almost always men. I feel women have to work harder to be heard.”

Yet, she remains hopeful and inspired by the progress she sees. To young women, she offers a simple yet powerful piece of advice: “Be bold - don’t settle for less. Follow your dreams—it may take time, but you can reach them. Through a spirit of resilience and achievement I see how me and other colleagues from Bocconi managed to do so.”