Embracing a wealth of experience in executive assessment and development, I have witnessed the progress we made over the years in how we approach leadership. I do recognize that leadership and leadership development hold a much more significant stance than they did just a few years ago. The growing importance of human aspects in leadership such as self-awareness, vulnerability, and the ability to embrace diversity has become evident.
Yet, I am convinced that there's untapped potential in leadership, in how we guide and inspire others. I deeply believe in the transformative power leaders hold in motivating teams and creating a purpose that fuels success. The pivotal role effective teamwork plays in shaping organizational dynamics is close to my heart and in my eyes still today not as high on the agenda as it should be.
I thrive on the interactions with my clients along their personal journeys. They are opportunities to share stories, alleviate worries, and nurture dreams. Being entrusted with their narratives is not just a privilege; to me it is a source of personal inspiration.
I firmly believe that by fostering leadership grounded in humanity and purpose, and by embracing the evolving facets of empathy, authenticity, resilience, appreciation, and collaboration, we open doors to limitless possibilities for individual and collective success.
T H R I V E is a coaching and leadership development boutique focused on supporting clients in Leadership Assessment and Development, Executive Coaching and Career Transitions, as well as Team Development. At the core, I focus on helping individuals, teams, and organizations to become the best version of themselves.
I am an experienced leadership development advisor, executive coach, and team facilitator with almost 20 years of experience working with clients across Europe, North and South America, and the Middle East. I believe that, with the right leadership, companies can be a force for positive change in the world, and I am dedicated to supporting executives in expanding their capacity to lead in uncertain, turbulent times. I deeply care about people and I am convinced that – now more than ever – the world needs more leaders who can connect with themselves to achieve results that make the world a better place and enable greatness in others.
In my coaching, I work with executives on becoming the type of leader they strive to be. With high belief in the power of personal, human leadership, it is my purpose to enable leaders, teams, and organizations to thrive and grow. I help my clients finding clarity to master critical challenges by discovering and accessing the full richness of their inner strengths.
What is holding them back from achieving their goals and unlock untapped resources? From a place of care, I guide my clients to raise self-awareness and identify choices. I also enable them to find their own solutions, develop their own skills, and change their own attitudes and behaviors, by working together to clarify and appropriately evolve their identity and purpose.
Previously, I spent 15 years at Egon Zehnder and a few years at Accenture. Most recently I was the Managing Director of Kienbaum’s Family Business Advisory Division. I hold a Master’s Degree in International Management from the University of Maastricht in the Netherlands.
I am a curious mind and I place high emphasis on continued learning. I am a Meyler Campbell-certified Executive Coach and a member of the EMCC and have been certified in systemic intelligence and organizational constellation work, Paul Ekman’s ‘evaluating truth and credibility’, PERMA Lead, Bob Kegan’s Immunity To Change, as well as in various psychometric tools such as Hogan and 16PF. In addition to my native German, I love emerging into new cultures and languages and have lived in the Netherlands, in the US, and in Peru. As such I am also fluent in English, Spanish, and Dutch. I am a loving mom to three kids and live in the outskirts of Düsseldorf, Germany.
I've been privileged to meet and collaborate with many exceptional practitioners over the course of my career. Particularly when working with executive teams or in assignments that benefit from more eyes than just mine, I tend to partner with select individuals from my network. Their unwavering support is something I deeply appreciate, and it's an honor to acknowledge them here:
Manuel previously held commercial and General Management roles at Shell and Holcim-Lafarge and is a former Egon Zehnder partner. He has decades of experience advising CEOs and executive teams on a global level. Manuel works from homes in Washington, DC, Lisbon, and Paris.
Each client's individuality is at the core of my approach, shaping every engagement in co-creation to suit the distinct needs. We work towards the desired goal through a combination of self-reflection using the head, heart, and hands, embracing techniques and activities inspired by adult development, somatic work, family systems and constellation work, as well as art.
Having said that, the majority of my engagements span about six months and often draw on the following building blocks:
Goal Setting: In-depth goal setting and definition of the desired change.
Baselining: Definition of the starting point by understanding perceptions on strengths, development opportunities, and perceived leadership style through stakeholder interviews.
Psychometric tools: for deeper insight and to support self-awareness, we may utilize psychometrics to support self-reflection on personality, motivators, trigger points and identity.
Development Conversations: Recurring monthly one-on-one virtual or personal coaching sessions, accompanied by individually-defined field-learning for the time between the sessions.
Measure progress: A revision of the aspiration and progress regarding the set goals, which may entail another round of conversations with the referees at the end of the journey.
Sustain the change: Together, we will make a plan to uphold and deepen the development and fix follow-up conversations.
"We all need people who will give us feedback. That's how we improve" - Bill Gates
Clients look to us for assistance with making selection decisions for senior leadership roles or to generate insights to make informed decisions about developing next generation leaders.
Shaped by many years of experience at Egon Zehnder, our Executive Assessments are deeply business and future oriented, focusing on what kind of person an executive can become with a goal to gain insights into the individual’s potential future self, then together crafting a path toward that vision.
We place a strong emphasis on the executive's long-term progression, taking a holistic approach that accounts for their past experiences, as well as their personal and professional objectives and ambitions. We give candid feedback on current perceptions and together, we develop concrete and efficient next steps in a candid, compassionate, and respectful manner.
Typically, this involves the following key building blocks:
Preparation and communication: We set up the process, decide on assessment criteria and communicate the approach
Personal interview: We conduct an in-depth, personal behavioral interview, focusing on leadership competencies, achievements, sources of motivation, and personal development ambitions.
Use of psychometrics: We often enrich the process by using psychometric tools for deeper insight and to support self-awareness on personality, motivators, trigger points and personal identity.
Reference taking: We complement the process with 360-degree reference interviews to collect feedback from supervisors, peers, and direct reports, which not only helps us to understand how the executive is perceived within their environment, but which also helps the individual reflect on their impact and the accuracy of their self-perception.
Feedback and report: We conduct a personal feedback meeting with the relevant sponsor(s) and the executive in which we play back the key messages of the assessment. We approach these sessions with care and empathy and always do our best to make this a rich and positive experience for the individual, also in cases where messages may not just be positive. This can act as a transition into the development phase.
Development planning: After finishing the assessment phase we can speak about creating a structured development plan or engage in supplemental development coaching.
Our efforts boost energy levels AND performance. One key outcome is the development of a wider organizational perspective, disrupting the common issue of top teams being confined by vertical, isolated thinking. Equally, our top team development work begins with each individual, where our emphasis is on addressing the obstacles, entrenched mindsets, and behaviors that lead to interpersonal conflicts and stifle innovation. Only when the collective strengths are brought together in an appropriate way it is that the sum will be larger than its parts.
While there are common themes of issues teams tend to face, we design a team journey that is relevant and unique to each client’s situation and challenges.
Most of our team development journeys span from 6-18 months and follow these building blocks, in varying depths:
Assess:
Adapt
Act
By leveraging a strategic blend of human resources expertise and organizational psychology, we work to create and refine systems that empower individuals, foster collaborative environments, and drive overall organizational success.
From talent acquisition and development to performance management and employee engagement, our focus is on cultivating effective and dynamic people-centric systems.
Through a tailored approach that aligns with the unique needs of each organization, we strive to create workplaces where leaders thrive, teams excel, and the organization as a whole achieves sustainable success in a rapidly evolving business landscape.
Executive Learning Journeys and Leadership Trainings (e.g. Resilience, Interviewing, and Making People Decisions)
Succession Planning
Competency Model Design
Navigating the intricate landscape of family businesses requires a delicate touch and a deep understanding of the unique dynamics involved. In my work with family businesses and owner families, I have specialized in fostering smooth transitions, particularly in the crucial phases of succession planning and the generational handover.
I work closely with family business leaders and owner families to craft personalized succession plans that honor the legacy of the past while paving the way for a vibrant future. Tailored strategies ensure a seamless transfer of leadership, allowing the business to evolve with resilience and purpose.
The generational handover is a pivotal moment, often laden with emotions and complexities. I serve as a mediator, facilitating open and constructive communication among family members. By creating a supportive environment, I guide them through discussions, helping to bridge generational gaps and ensuring a harmonious transition that preserves family bonds.
My approach involves not just advising but also coaching individuals within the owner family. Through personalized coaching sessions, I empower family members to find their personal purpose, hone their leadership skills, and foster personal and professional growth. By delving into individual strengths, values, and aspirations, my aim is to illuminate a path towards the future that each family member finds comfort with.
In all of our client work, we blend the pursuit of business goals with personal development aspirations, offering a balanced strategy that empowers individuals to achieve success in both their professional endeavors and personal growth.
Generally, our approach is highly customized, with a few common themes. In any engagement, our clients' situation, challenges, and opportunities always sit at the center of our focus.
All engagements are developed fit for purpose with a concrete end in mind. We always operate in the context of individual and/or collective goals and strategies.
Our work is grounded in values such as empathy, openness, and comprehension to foster mutual trust. Our aim is to create an environment where leaders can freely confide in us, sharing their aspirations and challenges with confidence.
Less is more. To build individual commitment and create accountability, we focus on a select number of development themes at a time.
Very often, sustainable change and transformation can only be achieved through addressing both the collective and individual levels.
I work on a global scale and if needed partner with select professional advisors to address client needs.
We do not engage in Executive Search, but have a vast network of professionals that we can connect you to.
Leadership Development Advisor | Executive Coach | Team Facilitator
Düsseldorf, Germany
