Leadership Forum 2025
Courage to Change: Leading Successfully in Uncertain Times
Under the guiding theme of “Courage to Change: Leading Successfully in Uncertain Times”, the 6th Leadership Forum of Executive Interim Partners, in cooperation with the international law firm Eversheds Sutherland, took place on May 22, 2025, in Munich.
More than 75 leaders from business and industry openly discussed the challenges of modern leadership in a time characterized by uncertainty, upheaval, and complexity. The event was moderated by Michael Hengstmann, Managing Partner of Executive Interim Partners, and Dr. Matthias Heisse, Partner at Eversheds Sutherland. Special insights came from Prof. Dr. Herbert Henzler, former European Chairman of McKinsey, who delivered a talk on the relationship between Baby Boomers and Generation Z – calling for more mutual understanding and respect in the leadership context. Prof. Dr. Günther Schuh, Professor at RWTH Aachen University and entrepreneur, critically examined the future viability of the German automotive industry, posing the provocative question: “Can we still make cars in Germany?”
The panel discussion focused on the topic “Made in Germany – Is our industrial location still competitive?”, featuring contributions from Dr. Thomas Sedran (Volkswagen Group), Susanna Schneeberger (SKF Group / Executive Interim Partners), Prof. Dr. Henzler, and Prof. Dr. Schuh. To conclude, Denise Schindler, Paralympic cyclist, resilience coach, and moderator, captivated the audience with her personal and moving speech on resilience and diversity: “The Luck of Having Bad Luck.”
The speakers:
- Prof. Dr. Herbert Henzler, former European Chairman of McKinsey, Entrepreneur
- Prof. Dr. Günther Schuh, Professor at RWTH Aachen University, Entrepreneur
- Dr. Thomas Sedran, Head of Performance Program Group Companies, Volkswagen Group, Supervisory Board MAN Energy Solutions
- Susanna Schneeberger, Supervisory Board SKF Group, Partner at Executive Interim Partners
- Denise Schindler, Paralympic Cyclist, Resilience Coach, Moderator
We would like to thank all speakers and participants for this inspiring forum – and we look forward to the next Leadership Forum.
