For me, the Cologne Cathedral is more than just a landmark. It stands for history, for transformation – and for resilience.
Over the past decades, I’ve had the privilege of living and working across different parts of the world: Europe, the US, Asia. I experienced new cultures, languages, and ways of working – and each time, I had to adapt. Every change was both a challenge and an enrichment.
Just like the Cathedral has endured wars, environmental damage, and generations – yet constantly needed renewal – change in our lives and in organizations is a constant. The Cathedral is never “finished”: it remains a living structure that preserves the old while embracing the new.
That is exactly what I see in today’s industries. Companies face fundamental shifts: new technologies, sustainability, digitalization, cultural change.
Like the Cathedral, they need to preserve their tradition and strengths – while having the courage to constantly realign. Change management is not a one-off project but a continuous journey that needs to be actively shaped.
For me, being back in Cologne brings the journey full circle – in a place that reminds me of the power and necessity of change.
I look forward to bringing my experiences across cultures and industries into helping organizations view change not as a threat, but as an opportunity.
How do you deal with the “permanent construction site” of change in your organizations?