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In the latest episode of “Hope Is Not a Strategy”, Christian Underwood speaks with Deniz Schütz and Dr. Sascha Haggenmüller about a critical question: Why are companies still hiring despite the AI boom—and how is AI really transforming M&A and value creation?
The discussion centers around one key insight: technology is not the bottleneck—data is. Without clean data, efficient processes, and a solid infrastructure, AI often falls far short of its potential.

Together, the three experts explore data-driven deal sourcing, AI-powered financial due diligence, the importance of data warehouses, and the role of human expertise in an increasingly automated world....

In this episode of “Hope Is Not a Strategy”, Christian Underwood is joined by Prof. Ben Bensaou from INSEAD Business School to explore a fresh perspective on innovation - one that moves beyond Silicon Valley buzzwords and elite R&D departments.

Ben Bensaou shares insights from over 20 years of research with more than 100 companies across the globe - from hidden champions to global corporations. His key message: Innovation isn’t limited to a select few — it’s a way of thinking and working that everyone can embrace.

Together, we dive into the myths surrounding innovation, how to unlock creative potential...

In this episode of Hope is Not a Strategy, Christian Underwood and Jürgen Weigand welcome strategy consultant Prof. Willie Pietersen, whose “Strategy Frame” model has strongly influenced their work. Pietersen, a renowned expert in strategic learning and business management and a long-time lecturer at Columbia Business School, has used his philosophy to inspire leaders around the world to put their values at the center of their work.

A central aspect of the “Strategy Frame” model is strategic flexibility. Pietersen explains how important it is for companies to remain adaptable in a fast-moving world and to develop their strategies on a...

In this episode of "Hope is Not a Strategy" Christian Underwood is interviewing Sharon Birkman, Owner and Chair of the Board of Birkman International. We delve deep into the world of strategy and leadership. Join us as we explore the essence and uniqueness of the Birkman method, a transformative assessment approach that enhances deeper self-awareness as well as awareness for the needs of others. Learn how that has the potential to bring your strategy from creation to a successful implementation.

Discover the fascinating history of the Birkman method, pioneered by Dr. Roger Birkman starting his entrepreneurship in the fifties. Learn...

In the latest episode of "Hope is not a Strategy," hosts Christian Underwood and Prof. Dr. Jürgen Weigand explore the fascinating world of strategy consulting and take a look at the ever-evolving landscape of this industry. At a time when the business world is characterized by uncertainty, strategy consulting is becoming increasingly important and relevant. Here are some of the key points from this insightful episode:

1. the evolution of strategy consulting.

The hosts begin by examining the evolving role of strategy consulting. They point to the significant growth of the global strategy consulting market, particularly in Germany, where the...

In this episode of HOPE IS NOT A STRATEGY, we host Pedro Stark, the founder and brain behind gotely, the first AI-powered strategy platform for startups. Pedro tells us how he went from his music career to strategy consultant and finally to the development of gotely.

gotely originates from Sweden, complies with German data privacy laws, and is focused on helping startups answer all their strategic questions in a fully digital and AI-powered way. To do this, the SaaS solution offers modules for idea validation, benchmarking, market insights and a capital raiser. Currently, the focus is still on the industries:...

In this English-language episode of "HOPE IS NOT A STRATEGY," we take you on an exciting journey recorded live at StrategySummit 2023 in Düsseldorf, Germany. Steffen Bersch, CEO of SSI SCHÄFER Group, shares fascinating insights into the strategic development of the company in a Fireside Chat with Christian Underwood.

Experience how the SSI SCHAEFER Group is dealing with current trends and challenges. In a time of volatility, the global company has had to cope with events such as the Corona crisis, the supply chain crisis and even a cyberattack over the past year and a half. The latter temporarily forced...

In dieser englischsprachigen Podcast-Folge vom StrategySummit 2023 sprechen Prof. Jürgen Weigand und Christian Underwood live über das fesselnde Thema "Made in Germany" in Zeiten des zunehmenden Wettbewerbs und der volatilen globalen Märkte.

Der Klimawandel, neue technologische Entwicklungen in den USA und China sowie die Übernahme deutscher Unternehmen werfen Fragen auf: Kann "Made in Germany" international noch mithalten?

Lerne, welche klaren Strategien bereits von anderen Regierungen verfolgt werden und ob Deutschland neben der Hoffnung auch eine fundierte Strategie besitzt, um im globalen Wettbewerb zu bestehen.

In this strategy interview, badenova Co-CEO Hans-Martin Hellebrand reports on the two-year journey of a municipal energy supplier with more than a century of roots to become the digital platform for the energy and heating transition in southern Germany. Christian Underwood and Prof. Dr. Jürgen Weigand get to the bottom of the secret behind the success of this strategic realignment: from the participative strategy process, to shared leadership in the highest corporate office, to agile target management with Objectives & Key Results (OKR).

Shownotes:
Website badenova: https://www.badenova.de/
Christian Underwood on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christianunderwood/
Hope is not a strategy podcast: https://www.strategy-frame.com/pages/strategiepodcast
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