Thomas Hawighorst Profile Picture

Keynote SpeakerThomas Hawighorst

Leading Practitioner and Adviser to Fortune 500 Companies

Thomas Hawighorst is a leading practitioner and trusted adviser to senior executives of Fortune 500 companies on the topics of transformational change, leadership and team effectiveness. He coaches and serves C-suite leaders on their most pressing organisation and transformation issues. His focus is on helping business leaders increase their impact... Read more

Biography

Thomas Hawighorst is a leading practitioner and trusted adviser to senior executives of Fortune 500 companies on the topics of transformational change, leadership and team effectiveness. He coaches and serves C-suite leaders on their most pressing organisation and transformation issues.

His focus is on helping business leaders increase their impact by implementing practical expertise as well as proven tools and methodologies. He has extensive knowledge and experience in organizational matters from previously having been an Expert Associate Partner in the Organisation Practice of McKinsey & Company and an HR executive at Royal Dutch/Shell and Oracle.

Thomas Hawighorst holds a B.Sc. in Business Administration from the University of Mannheim (Germany) and a M.Sc. in International Economics from Maastricht University (The Netherlands). He is fully fluent in English, Dutch and German.

“Thomas turns abstract leadership and organizational challenges into clear, concrete actions that everyone can understand and implement. His approach inspires people to not only embrace change but also take pride in what they achieve.” Alexander Lind, CFO Merck Electronics
“Thomas combines the rigor of top-tier consulting, the pragmatism of industry leadership, and the vision of venture capital innovation. He has a rare ability to make complex transformation challenges not only clear, but exciting. Translating strategy into action, his sessions are catalysts for real change, blending sharp business acumen with a deeply human touch.” Placid Jover, Chief Talent Officer, Unilever
“Thomas has a rare ability to break complex organizational and leadership challenges into clear, manageable components. He synthesizes information quickly and gets to the heart of the matter in a very professional, inspiring and trustful way. He brings clarity, focus, and a practical path forward in situations that often feel overwhelming.” Michael Brandkamp, General Partner, European Circular Bioeconomy Fund (ECBF)

Popular Talks by Thomas Hawighorst

  • Leading Transformational Change

    70% of transformations fail, mostly because people simply don’t go along with the change. Complex transformation issues need to be made tangible, getting everyone aligned and moving in the same direction. A combination of proven frameworks and practical approaches, however, make ambitious transformations achievable and measurable. The result is real...

  • Strategy into Action – Execution Excellence

    Even the best strategy fails if it’s not executed well. Strategy execution falters when people don’t trust the process or their leaders. Building trust, turning ambition into concrete actions, clarifying responsibilities, and maintaining momentum ensures strategy is delivered, not just written down. Practical tools and problem-solving methods help translate complexity...

  • Unlocking Top Team & Leadership Effectiveness

    Congratulations, you have made it to the top leadership team. But then you find out it is full of other very successful leaders, and it can feel like herding cats. Many top teams struggle with alignment, decision-making, and accountability. Making priorities clear, building trust, and improving how leadership teams work...

  • Structured Problem Solving for Executives – The McKinsey Way

    Complex problems can paralyze organizations without a clear approach. Proven problem-solving techniques break issues into manageable parts, enable better decisions, and align teams on solutions. Applying structured thinking allows organizations to tackle even the most challenging issues with confidence and speed.

  • What corporations can learn from successful scaleups

    Large organizations often struggle to become more agile. This session shows how to apply lessons from successful startups to corporate growth, balancing flexibility with operational discipline, and aligning teams to execute at speed. Executives learn practical approaches to foster innovation without losing control or focus.

  • How VC investors can guide scaleups to sustainable growth

    Are you on the Board of a startup? Are you wondering if the founders hit the right balance between scaling too quickly or too slowly? You know from experience it can make or break a startup. This session focuses on how to evaluate leadership teams and their ability to build...