HOCHSCHULE REUTLINGEN

Leadership Talent Academy

In an exclusive support programme, the Leadership Talent Academy (LTA) empowers young talents on their path to responsible and value-based leadership. Particularly committed and qualified students of the MBA programmes and participants in the part-time programmes at ESB in cooperation with the Knowledge Foundation (education foundation at Reutlingen University) can apply for the programme. Alumni of ESBBusiness School are also eligible to apply.

 

Practical. Value-based. Future-oriented.
Do you see yourself as tomorrow's leader?

Any questions?

The key facts provide a general overview on the programme. For more detailed information check the modul information. 

 

Still unsure? Get in touch!

Leadership Talent Academy, project coordination

[Translate to English:]

Bsc International Management Double Degree (IMX)

What is the Leadership Talent Academy (LTA)?

The Karl Schlecht Foundation's Leadership Talent Academy gives talented young people access to ethical and humanistic leadership perspectives that go beyond their professional training. The aim is to promote the holistic personal development of tomorrow's leaders according to the principles of ‘good leadership’. ESB Business School is one of five partner institutions of the Karl Schlecht Foundation and offers a compact semester programme with an individual focus. 

What to expect

At the Leadership Talent Academy, you will

  • consciously develop your own role as a leader, 
  • try out new methods of team leadership and communication, 
  • deepen your strategic thinking and ethical behaviour at the organisational level, 
  • network with like-minded people and become part of a committed alumni network. 

 

Key facts

All key facts about the Leadership Talent Academy 

Participants

25 participants

Language

German

Next start

End of March 2026
 

Scope & effort

4 module à 3 days
+ 1 module by individual appointment

 

Admission requirements

Apply for admission. 

 

Costs

Attendance is sponsored by  Karl-Schlecht-Stiftung 

Compulsory attendance

In order to achieve the best outcome for yourself and a steady base for cooperation within the group your attendance is compulsory throughout all modules. 

 

 

Costs

Participation in the programme is fully funded by subsidies. This also includes meals during the course programme. 

Costs for hotels and travels are not included. 

 

Module information

(Starting at 3 pm on 20 March)

 

Karin Dutschmann: Leading Yourself

  • Further development of personal leadership skills and understanding of leadership within the context of internal and external conditions.
  • Self-management tools: values, attitude, personal resources, self-reflection, authenticity and resilience, with a focus on people, performance and values.
  • Expansion of one's own repertoire of actions in close alignment with the values and goals of the Karl Schlecht Foundation and the holistic, systemic, solution-oriented approach.
  • The power of personal presence: clarity and impact in body language and dialogue.
  • Recognising and activating one's own resources in crisis situations.

 

Sebastian Rux: Leading Your Team  

  • Professional conversation techniques & setting goals for employee appraisals
    • Conducting efficient and goal-oriented employee appraisals
  • Conducting employee appraisals: role play with live feedback
    • Putting what you have learned into practice
    • Receiving professional feedback
  • Authentic and motivating communication
    • Using employee- and target group-oriented communication strategies
    • Getting to know different leadership styles
  • Leadership through motivation: intrinsic vs. extrinsic motivation and smart goal setting
    • Motivating employees to achieve agreed goals in the best possible way
  • Strategic and operational leadership communication
    • Conducting goal-setting and motivation meetings

 (starting at 4 pm on 27 May, ending at 12 pm  on 31. May)

 

Christiane von der Heiden & Lena Garbers: Synercube Leadership

  • Value-oriented leadership behaviour

You will learn about a leadership model that combines ethical principles with sustainable success.

  • Developing personal leadership skills

You will learn how to improve your leadership performance, promote trust and achieve top performance.

  • Sustainable goal achievement

You will develop strategies for implementing your goals in a value-based and long-term manner.

  • Practice meets theory

Scientific findings, economic experience and modern training methods are effectively combined.

  • Application of the Synercube model:

You will reflect on and discuss how the model can be used in real leadership situations.

 

 

Prof. Dr. Dr. Ulrich Hemel: Digital Leadership

Content:

  • Digital learning and digital leadership: What is really changing?
  • How does digital leadership go wrong and how does it succeed?
  • How can we deal with ethical conflicts and dilemmas surrounding AI?
  • What does critical AI competence mean and how can it be achieved?
  • ‘Ethics by Design’ or: The company as an ethical resonance chamber

Methods:

  • Content input, interactive work in small groups and in plenary sessions

Take-aways:

  • Using the Global Ethic Institute's ‘Ethical Toolbox’ to deal with conflicts
  • Dealing with data power: How can we achieve digital fairness?
  • Ethical conflicts and dilemmas surrounding AI
  • The humanistic imperative in the digital world
  • Entrepreneurial and personal AI competence profiles
  • Digital ethics competence: The goal of ethical language and action skills

 

Professor Dr. Peter Gehler: AI drivers and tools

  • Understand the main drivers of rapid AI development.
  • What are the building blocks, and will these drivers continue to exist in the future?
  • Develop your own AI agent that solves tasks for you.
  • An overview of the AI tool landscape and how you can use it in your daily work.

 

Monika Laun: Leadership in a family business

5 core components 

Leadership in succession

Taking responsibility, managing expectations and addressing uncertainty within the team.

Positive leadership as a basic attitude

Clearly identifying challenges and adopting a solution-oriented, realistic perspective.

Communication that provides stability

Orientation, support and energy in everyday communication.

Mental strength & reframing in everyday life

Stopping negative spirals, changing perspectives and making small successes visible.

Using strengths instead of focusing on deficits

Focusing on resources, skills and progress instead of deficits.

 

Methodology:

  • Interactive and practical – based on our own entrepreneurial experience and succession practice.
  • Methods from NLP and non-violent communication (NVC).

 

Take-aways:

  • An understanding of what constitutes positive leadership, especially in challenging phases.
  • An inner attitude that radiates confidence without glossing over problems.
  • Practical approaches for everyday leadership to remain stable, solution-oriented and capable of acting in difficult situations.
  • Impulses for open, empowering team communication that provides trust and orientation.
  • Entrepreneur check for self-analysis – as a personal takeaway.

 

Tim Vollmer: Family businesses in transition

  • Personal insights into the path of a third-generation family entrepreneur: from business succession to strategic development.
  • Reflection on leadership responsibility and the particular challenges and opportunities in family businesses.
  • Insights into how family businesses can strike a sustainable balance between tradition and innovation.
  • In-depth understanding of the interactions between ownership, family and business in landmark management decisions.
  • Discussion of how values, identity and corporate culture shape long-term business success.

 

Karin Dutschmann: 2 coaching sessions à 90 min by individual appointment 

  • Coaching sessions with a systemic, solution-oriented approach
  • Reflection on topics related to the individual learning process and sustainable integration into everyday working life
  • Solution-oriented work on individual practical examples of leadership topics
  • Solution steps for the further development of the leadership role
  • Resources and solutions for change/crises

The Team of the Leadership Talent Academy

Head of the Leadership Talent Academy

Prof. Dr. Jörg Büechl

Project coordination - marekting

Samanta Hatic

Project coordination & evaluation

Jia Gu