Abstract
The talk goes back to the nineteenth century founding by Werner Siemens of the Siemens electrical business in Germany, resting on the understanding of the Siemens Corporations current role as a global innovation powerhouse. Werner's dual role as inventor and entrepreneur is explored as he created one of the world's first multinational enterprises, whose growth initially rested on its pioneering role in the new telegraph industry. Key lessons for current entrepreneurs are derived from Werner's successes.