Effective transformation in the SME sector

The 3rd Transformation Conference 2026

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The Transformation Conference is the conference for business model and cultural change in practice and the major meeting place for executives in Germany. The unique format “Effective Transformation in SMEs” offers valuable fundamental insights and, above all, many concrete practical examples of how intentions can be turned into successes:
Concrete. Practical. Effective.

Pure practice: 2026 for the third time

On June 26, 2026, the Transformation Conference will open its doors for the third time to decision-makers from small and medium-sized enterprises. As usual, it will demonstrate in a practical way how successful transformation can be achieved in SMEs. This year, you can once again look forward to valuable presentations by renowned speakers, accompanied by parallel deep dive sessions for even greater depth.

Note for your registration: Places for the deep dives are limited to 15 people.

To register

Our speakers in 2026

Now in its third edition, the 2026 Transformation Conference offers even more in-depth knowledge in new formats this year. In inspiring presentations, speakers will take their usual practical approach to examining the topic of transformation from different angles: from leadership and teamwork as success factors in sports and business to successful strategy development in medium-sized companies and the question of how AI is changing leadership and collaboration.

This year, the presentations will be complemented by an exciting panel discussion and in-depth deep dive sessions taking place at the same time.

All details and information about the program, presentations, and speakers can also be found on the ifus Institute website.

More about the conference

Excerpt from our speakers for 2026

  • Dr. Henning Beck

    Neuroscientist, author, consultant, coach

    "Brain vs. AI – Creating an environment for better thinking"

  • Dr. iur. Bernhard Heusler

    Lawyer, entrepreneur, former president of FC Basel

    "A team always wins – leadership and teamwork as success factors in sports and business"

     

    To the SMP LeaderTalk

  • Jan Rodig

    Partner, Struktur Management Partner

    "Successful strategy development in small and medium-sized enterprises"

  • Astrid Schulte

    Chairwoman of the Board and shareholder, Berendsohn AG

    "The harsh truth about transformation"

    To the SMP LeaderTalk

  • Prof. Dr. Isabell Welpe

    University professor at the Technical University of Munich

    "TrAINsformation: How AI is changing leadership, work, and collaboration"

    About the Transformation Conference

    "Effective transformation in the SME sector"

    Digitalisation and sustainability are the big issues of our time and pose new entrepreneurial challenges, especially for SMEs. If this transformation and cultural change in companies is to succeed, then a fundamentally new culture of cooperation, initiative and taking responsibility is needed in companies. This will succeed if companies focus on cooperation between all those involved and enable them to act in a goal-oriented manner. We want to convey this systemic understanding to the participants of this conference and thus contribute to successful transformation in SMEs.

    With topics from practice for practice, our speakers actively provide impetus for successful transformation projects in medium-sized companies.

    The mission:

    Appeals, guidelines or the famous corporate values. We believe that this is not the way to create tangible and successful long-term cultural change in companies. But we also believe that it is possible if you create structures that not only allow change, but above all promote and enable it. This is why we support decision-makers who accompany transformation processes in practice with valuable impulses and offer an ideal platform for networking with other transformation experts with our transformation conference.

    Content focus

    • Cultural transformation:
      How do you actively involve employees in the change process and how do you create an atmosphere that is characterised by a willingness to change and the ability to innovate?
    • Digital transformation:
      Successful digitalisation of business models and processes.
    • Sustainable transformation:
      Successful approaches for companies to operate in an environmentally sustainable and yet profitable way.
    • Transformation in the SME sector:
      Learn from the best. With concrete practical examples from companies that have already successfully implemented transformation projects.
    • Strategic realignment:
      How companies can position themselves successfully and sustainably for the future.
    • Organisational transformation:
      Reduction of bureaucracy and other activities that stand in the way of value creation. Instead, focus on real value creation.

    The target group:

    The conference is primarily aimed at decision-makers who implement transformations in SMEs or actively support companies in their transformation. Special focus is placed on senior executives, interim managers and financiers.

    The initiators:

    The conference is a joint project of Prof Dr Henning Werner (ifus-Institut), Georgiy Michailov (Struktur Management Partner), Sebastian Bretag (Keyplayer) and Mark Poppenborg (intrinstify). We share the philosophy of a practice-orientated approach combined with a focus on medium-sized companies and the conviction of contributing to effective business model transformation with concrete impulses. 

    That was the Transformation Conference 2025

    On July 11, 2025, the second Transformation Conference took place in Heidelberg – with over 310 participants, exciting ideas, and inspiring exchanges. From the necessary change of perspective for successful transformation to an exciting panel discussion to the toughest bike race in the world – and what we can learn from it for transformation processes.

    Highlights included presentations by Stephanie Borgert (“Transformation without Buzzwords”), Prof. Dr. Kurt Matzler (“Superhuman High Performance”) and Mark Poppenborg (“Future Leadership”). Speakers such as Frank Steimel and Prof. Dr. Henning Werner also inspired the audience with powerful insights on humanity, leadership, and personal development in change processes.

    Particularly intense were the personal encounters—whether in discussion rounds or at the networking evening. Because transformation thrives on dialogue.

    Highlight from our Speaker 2025

    • Stephanie Borgert

      Complexity researcher, author, sparring partner - denkSystem

      „Follow the White Rabbit – Successful transformation begins with a change of perspective.“ 

      Stephanie Borgert loves friction—not on principle, but out of conviction. As a systemic management consultant, she gets stuck systems moving again and explores the question of what makes transformation successful. She provided one answer to this question in her presentation at the Transformation Conference. And in this SMP LeaderTalk with Georgiy Michailov. The two also discuss why transformation only begins when things get uncomfortable and why a desire for harmony and an aversion to conflict prevent further development.

      Listen here

    • Prof. Dr. Kurt Matzler

      University professor, bestselling author, extreme athlete

      „The high-performance mindset – What we can learn from the toughest bike race in the world“

      50 degrees Celsius and blazing sunshine, 400-kilometer daily stages on the bike, and little sleep: Race Across America demands almost superhuman high performance from its participants. As a solo finisher, Prof. Dr. Kurt Matzler knows exactly what that means.

      He revealed what high performance means to him and how to achieve the seemingly unachievable not only in his presentation at the Transformation Conference, but also in this LeaderTalks episode with Georgiy Michailov.
       

      Listen here

      That was the first Transformation Conference in 2024

      The 1st Transformation Conference was launched in 2024 with the aim of supporting people in complex transformation processes and networking with other transformation experts at the same time. Speakers such as Mark Poppenborg, Oliver Sowa and Tina Kleingarn gave practical reports on successful transformation work in SMEs. And Olympic rowing champion Andreas Kuffner translated his high-performance experience from competitive sport into practical tips for successful transformation projects. 
      Curious what 2024 was like? You can see more impressions in our recap.