In the nearly five decades since I started my career, I've embraced the wisdom of the famous quote attributed to Philip Mountbatten, husband of Queen Elizabeth II , that “change is a challenge and an opportunity, not a threat.” Accordingly, I've worked hard to cultivate both a skill set and a mindset that facilitates change - in technology, in culture, in business climates, in me - to benefit my colleagues and myself.

Now, as a seasoned executive with over 40 years’ management experience, I look back and see just how integral these skills have been to my journey. I've held leadership positions in commercial, wholesale and retail financial services, been a partner at Accenture and served as the Managing Director of a Financial Technology start-up in Berlin. Much of my work has been in transforming organizations and even the industries I've worked in.

I've held a number of different titles, including CEO, CFO, Strategy Head, Business Development, Treasury, Sales and Product Manager. Regardless of my official title, my work has always been centered on strategy development and implementation as well as coaching, with an eye towards building organizations and developing people who can survive and flourish in an unpredictable world.

In parallel to my jobs I have been coaching students at the European Business School for the last 15+ years. It is a joy to work with the younger generations - I have learned as much from them as I hope they might have learned from me.

My career has taken me all over the world, and I've learned to cultivate and cherish the flexibility and openness that is crucial when working in cross-cultural contexts. I've learned several languages: I am fluent in German and English; my Spanish and French are passable.

I was born in Germany and educated in England. Today I live with my wife just across the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco in a small community surrounded by the sea, steep hills and mighty redwoods and an ideal place for our fondness for hiking in nature, practiced over many years and countries. I’m also a bit of a speed demon and enjoy the thrill of racing my car as part of HPD Events at nearby Sonoma Racecourse.

As the next stage of my life as an external advisor and coach progresses, I look forward to connecting with many new people, especially new entrants into this exciting multi-generational workforce that brings such new energy and bold ideas to the table.

Change is hard, but it doesn't have to be a struggle.