Carsten Linz

Dr. Carsten Linz is leading organizations to transform for the digital-intelligent age. In almost 20 years in Executive roles focused on software-, data-, and digitally fueled growth, he has built-up several €100 million businesses and led company-wide transformation programs affecting more than 60,000 employees. His most recent capacities include Group Digital Officer at BASF, Business Development Officer at SAP and Global Head of the Centre for Digital Leadership.

He holds various advisory board seats, e.g. for the World Economic Forum’s ‘Accelerating Digital Transformation’ and ‘Digital Platforms and Ecosystems’ projects, for various fast-growing companies, serves on the committee of Europe’s largest seed stage fund and is an active business angel. He acts as adviser to Executive and Supervisory Boards and CxOs around the world.

He is a sought-after keynote speaker (listed at London Speaker Bureau) and frequent panelist at public conferences and corporate leadership team gatherings. The unique combination of his practical leadership experience and his academic foundation as senior lecturer at leading business schools, make his keynotes entertaining, thought provoking and equip senior leaders with actionable insights.

His most recent book “Radical Business Model Transformation: Gaining the Competitive Edge in a Disruptive World” has been published by KoganPage London, translated into several languages, and is considered a standard reference in business model literature. His articles appeared in renowned journals such as Forbes, Harvard Business Review/Manager, ZDNet, CIO Magazine, Computerwoche, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, D!gitalist Magazine. Dr Linz teaches in executive programs at European School of Management & Technology Berlin, Mannheim Business School, University of St. Gallen, and Stanford Graduate School.

Dr. Linz holds a PhD in Innovation Management from University of Bern/Switzerland and a Diploma degree in Economic Engineering from Karlsruhe Institute of Technology. He studied System Dynamics and Entrepreneurship at MIT Sloan School of Management, Leading Change and Organizational Renewal at Harvard Business School, and Corporate Strategy at INSEAD Fontainebleau.

He was named “Top-100 Digital Influencer”, awarded as “Innovation Landmark” by the German President, honored with the coveted “Award of Excellence” from the Global Institute of Logistics and ranked as “Leader” in the Gartner Magic Quadrant.

He supports Social Entrepreneurs as Advisory Board Member of Social Impact, Berlin.

He is married, has one daughter, and lives with his family in Frankfurt/Main.