My academic background is in Psychology (Ph.D. in 1982) and Human Medicine – obtained at RWTH Aachen, Germany between 1978 and 1983. After my doctoral degree in 1983 I was a Professor at the Department of Psychology at RWTH Aachen.
In 1987, I joined Henkel KGaA, a global German DAX company based in Düsseldorf. A globally responsible Corporate Vice President since 1997, I was responsible for their Market Research function until end of 2012.
In 2013, I founded „MindChainge“ – a business consulting firm focused on successful consumer-centric new product development.
Besides my business career, I always kept up strong ties to academia. Since 1999 I have been a faculty member at the Faculty of Business Administration of RWTH Aachen – first as a Lecturer, as of 2004 as (Honorary) Professor of Business Administration.
I have been appointed twice as a Visiting Professor at the Tuck School of Business in 2013 and 2014.
Since 2017, I became an Affiliated Professor at the European Business School (EBS) in Oestrich-Winkel.
Besides that, I have the honour to teach on and off at Executive Programs at the Harvard Business School, INSEAD Fontainebleau, the Wharton Business School, and the London Business School.