HOW WE WORK.

Your challenge is where we begin. Here’s how we’ve helped others – and how we can support you.

I want to shift my own leadership

  • I want to become a stronger leader – for myself and others +

    We help you …

    • Make smart decisions under pressure
    • Manage your priorities and time effectively
    • Delegate tasks and responsibilities
    • Deal with low performers
    • Lead through disruptive changes
    • Build resilience and regulating your emotions
    • Craft and communicate clear messages – especially when it matters most
  • I want to strengthen my communication skills in difficult situations +

    We help you …

    • Communicate clearly and persuasively – from the board room to the office floor
    • Master difficult conversations and giving valuable feedback
    • Prevent conflict escalation and dealing with conflicts
    • Manage demanding stakeholders
    • Structure your message and presence for high-stakes conversations and executive visibility
  • I want to take the next step in my career +

    We help you …

    • Specify your career goals and plan
    • Explore your personal values and strenghts
    • Discover your potentials for improvement in your hard und soft skills
    • Network strategically
    • Create a personal brand and positioning
    • Land your next role
    • Sharpen how you speak about your leadership – and how others perceive it

I want a shift in my leadership team

  • I want to have true leaders by my side +

    We help you …

    • Form a trusted, united leadership team
    • Clarify responsibilities and expectations and understand where ownership is missing
    • Turn your leadership team into role models
    • Strengthen how your leadership team communicates strategy and shows up together
  • I want to know what's going on +

    We help you …

    • Build efficient and effective meeting structures
    • Ask the right questions to get the information you need
    • Communicate complex content in a way that creates clarity and alignment

     

  • I want us to work on what's truly important +

    We help you …

    • Identify and prioritize the strategic goals
    • Translate strategy into daily business
    • Make data-based decisions in day-to-day business
    • Turn strategic priorities into clear messages that move people

     

I want to create a shift in my organization

  • I want to increase efficiency and effectiveness +

    We help you …

    • Eliminate bureaucracy and administrative processes
    • Implement digital tools to facilitate processes
    • Meet your goals to reduce cost and time
    • Communicate change initiatives clearly to accelerate adoption and engagement
  • I want to strengthen our market position through innovation +

    We help you …

    • Define and develop your product and service portfolio
    • Foster a culture of innovation and experimentation
    • Recognize trends and seize opportunities
    • Scale tested solutions throughout the business
    • Bring viable solutions to the market quickly
    • Shape how innovation stories are told – internally and externally
  • I want to improve collaboration and communication across the organization +

    We help you …

    • Redesign team structures to break up silos
    • Implement ways of working to foster collaboration
    • Attract and develop talent to decrease dependency on external service providers and consultants
    • Enable leadership communication that fosters trust and alignment across teams

WHAT WE DO.

We help you build a reliable leadership architecture for complex, uncertain times.

Today’s leadership challenges – A call for change

Executives today are expected to give direction while markets, technologies, organisations and societal expectations move faster than ever and often pull in opposing directions.

At the same time, organisations are being rebuilt while running at full speed: replacing legacy IT systems, integrating AI and automation, redesigning operating structures, moving towards new ways of collaborating, and responding to geopolitical uncertainty, increasing regulatory demands and shifting workforce expectations.

The pressure is not abstract. It shows up in executive teams that need to make decisions with incomplete information. In transformation programmes that compete with day-to-day performance targets. In leaders who are expected to empower people while still being held accountable for results. In organisations that need speed, clarity and trust all while decision-making and execution are increasingly distributed across people, data, systems and algorithms.

Future-ready leadership is about staying clear under pressure, navigating power and people in hybrid human-AI systems, focusing the organisation on real value, adapting strategy before disruption forces action, and making technology a leadership responsibility.

Executives, leadership teams and organisations need a practical architecture that helps them act with clarity and purpose in situations when leadership is most called for.

What sets us apart

SHIFT Leadership – An architecture for future-ready leadership

SHIFT Leadership is the proprietary leadership model developed by controlSHIFT founder Cristina Popa over more than a decade of work with leaders, executive teams and transformation contexts.

It closes the gap between leadership theory and the real situations where good intentions often break down: high-stakes decisions, conflicting priorities, political dynamics, technological ambiguity and the pressure to deliver while transforming.

SHIFT defines leadership as an integrated architecture of five capabilities:
Self-Regulation. Human Navigation. Impact Orientation. Fluid Strategy. Technological Fluency.

SHIFT makes visible where executive leadership succeeds or fails today: not in isolated methods, but in the strength of the overall leadership architecture.

How we work with SHIFT

We use SHIFT as a diagnostic lens, development framework and transformation architecture.

Together with executives and leadership teams, we identify where the current leadership architecture is strong, where it compensates and where it becomes fragile under pressure. From there, we translate the five SHIFT pillars into concrete leadership practices, decision routines, team conversations and transformation priorities.

Our work may include executive advisory, leadership team development, culture and transformation programmes, strategic workshops, as well as capability building and practical micro-experiments embedded in real leadership situations.

Our goal is measurable movement: clearer judgement, stronger collaboration, sharper prioritisation, more adaptive strategy and more confident technology decisions.

Ready to strengthen your leadership architecture?
Let’s identify where your leadership team needs to SHIFT.

  • Self-Regulation

    Self-Regulation is the ability to remain calm, clear and composed under pressure, especially in times of conflict or uncertainty. It allows leaders to stabilise rather than amplify emotional turbulence within a system. Without inner clarity and emotional control, no leadership role can hold the weight of real responsibility.

  • Human Navigation

    Human Navigation is the ability to understand and shape the social dynamics that determine how work really gets done. It helps leaders navigate trust, power, relationships and collaboration in increasingly hybrid human-AI organisations. Without this sensitivity to people and systems, leadership remains formal, but not truly effective.

  • Impact Orientation

    Impact orientation focuses leadership on what truly creates value rather than what merely fills agendas. It helps leaders reduce noise, prioritise relevance and align their actions with what matters most. In a world of infinite options, it is the ability to cut through and lead with strategic clarity.

  • Fluid Strategy

    Fluid Strategy is the ability to create direction while staying adaptive. It allows leaders to anticipate change, test options and adjust course without losing momentum. Without strategic fluidity, organisations risk holding on to plans that no longer match the world around them.

  • Technological Fluency

    Technological Fluency is the ability to understand technology as a strategic force, not just an operational tool. It enables leaders to ask better questions, make informed decisions and connect technology to business value. Without technological fluency, organisations risk delegating too much of their future to others.

WHO WE ARE.

Personalities behind controlSHIFT

Cristina Popa

Cristina Popa

Business Psychologist & Strategic Executive Advisor

Expertise
Cristina supports senior leaders and corporate organizations through periods of strategic realignment and transformation. With in-depth expertise in business psychology and business model development, she combines a deep understanding of human behavior with entrepreneurial thinking. Cristina is a valued partner to executives who seek to define their next career step.
Drawing on 18 years of experience and a proven systemic approach, she helps decision-makers achieve clarity, impact, and sustainable change.

Areas of Expertise

  • Executive Coaching
  • Organisational Architecture
  • Business Model Development
CONTACT ME
Dr. Gerrit Becker

Dr. Gerrit Becker

Senior Executive Advisor & VP Global IT at Mast-Jägermeister SE

Expertise
As a seasoned IT professional with over 15 years of experience, Gerrit has a proven track record ofleading large-scale IT transformations and delivering value to global organizations. Currently, he serves as the Vice President of Global IT at Mast-Jägermeister SE, where he oversees the strategic direction and operational excellence of the IT function. Prior to this, he advised clients on IT strategy and transformation as Associate Partner at McKinsey & Company. Gerrit holds a Ph.D.from Technische Universität Darmstadt and a Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology. He is passionate about leveraging technology to drive businessgrowth and innovation.

Areas of Expertise

  • IT, Digital & Data Strategy and Business Value Capture
  • Large-Scale IT Projects & Transformations
  • Product-Platform Operating Model
CONTACT ME
Odile Lueken

Odile Lueken

Communication Designer & Presentation Consultant

Expertise
Odile supports managers and teams in communicating complex messages concisely, clearly and effectively. Her work goes far beyond simply designing PowerPoint presentations: She translates your content into convincing pitch decks, high-level presentations and speaker decks in a strategically reduced and always CI-compliant manner. Through targeted storyline development and professional visual design, she helps to attract attention and anchor your core messages in a sustainable way.

Areas of Expertise

  • Communication Designer & Coach
  • Presentation Designer & Trainer
  • Keynote “On the point” Support
CONTACT ME
Sybren Raaijmakers

Sybren Raaijmakers

Executive Technology Advisor & CEO Contractuo

Expertise
Sybren advises executive teams on the design and implementation of complex technology, digital and transformation initiatives.  His focus: sustainable enterprise value and the systemic alignment of people, processes and technology.
He brings a rare combination of hands-on entrepreneurial experience and analytical depth. As former Managing Director of Europe’s largest hyperscaler, Programme Lead who led the Dutch division in the EU’s largest energy merger and founder of three tech ventures, he integrates backgrounds in datascience, law and econometrics with sharp operational acumen.

Areas of Expertise

  • Strategic Digital & Tech Transformation
  • Mergers & Acquisitions
  • Applied Deep Tech & AI
CONTACT ME
Sonja Hädicke

Sonja Hädicke

Social Psychologist & Leadership and Team Coach

Expertise
Sonja works with teams and their leaders to navigate organizational change and strengthen collaboration. Her work is rooted in an in‑depth understanding of social group dynamics, psychological safety and behavioral patterns in team settings. Whether in leadership development processes or cross‑functional team interventions, Sonja supports shaping constructive dialogue and collective ownership. With a systemic lens, she facilitates learning spaces where teams can reflect, realign and grow together. She interacts closely with HR and management to ensure that team development initiatives are strategically aligned, context-sensitive and sustainably embedded.

Areas of Expertise

  • Organization and Group Dynamics
  • Team Coaching
  • Cultural Change

 

CONTACT ME
Karsten Voges

Karsten Voges

CIO Advisor, Chief Architect, Greater Good Enthusiast

Expertise
Karsten brings 20 years of leadership experience, ranging from startups to Fortune 50 companies & consulting firms. His motto “lean & smart” together with his practical CIO Advisory is helping many CIOs and their IT organizations to thrive.
With a Master in Computer Science and a MBA, he has been combining IT and business for years. Karsten Voges coaches digital leaders in mergers & transformations, defines Target IT Landscapes and ensures transition and change is on track.
As a regular keynote speaker at public and company internal events like the LeanLeaderSummit, Forrester, Gartner, SAP, … and as host of the CIO Roundtable in Munich he can drive also your personal growth.

Areas of Expertise

  • IT Management & Strategy
  • Enterprise Architecture
  • Lean, Agile & AI
CONTACT ME
Hendrik Böttcher

Hendrik Böttcher

Executive Outplacement Advisor & CEO Hendrik Böttcher Beratungsgesellschaft

Expertise
As CEO of Hendrik Böttcher Beratungsgesellschaft mbH, Hendrik leads a team of expertsspecialized in professional layoff and downsizing management. With a focus on social responsibility and organizational reputation, his team helps organizations design and implement humane layoff procedures and supports office employees in re-entering the job market.
Hendrik is also a valued partner to executives who seek to successfully position themselves forpermanent or interim executive roles.

Areas of Expertise

  • Executive Outplacement
  • Executive & Employee Offboarding
  • Layoff Management
CONTACT ME

Cristina Popa

Business Psychologist & Strategic Executive Advisor

Expertise
Cristina supports senior leaders and corporate organizations through periods of strategic realignment and transformation. With in-depth expertise in business psychology and business model development, she combines a deep understanding of human behavior with entrepreneurial thinking. Cristina is a valued partner to executives who seek to define their next career step.
Drawing on 18 years of experience and a proven systemic approach, she helps decision-makers achieve clarity, impact, and sustainable change.

Areas of Expertise

  • Executive Coaching
  • Organisational Architecture
  • Business Model Development
CONTACT ME

Dr. Gerrit Becker

Senior Executive Advisor & VP Global IT at Mast-Jägermeister SE

Expertise
As a seasoned IT professional with over 15 years of experience, Gerrit has a proven track record ofleading large-scale IT transformations and delivering value to global organizations. Currently, he serves as the Vice President of Global IT at Mast-Jägermeister SE, where he oversees the strategic direction and operational excellence of the IT function. Prior to this, he advised clients on IT strategy and transformation as Associate Partner at McKinsey & Company. Gerrit holds a Ph.D.from Technische Universität Darmstadt and a Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology. He is passionate about leveraging technology to drive businessgrowth and innovation.

Areas of Expertise

  • IT, Digital & Data Strategy and Business Value Capture
  • Large-Scale IT Projects & Transformations
  • Product-Platform Operating Model
CONTACT ME

Odile Lueken

Communication Designer & Presentation Consultant

Expertise
Odile supports managers and teams in communicating complex messages concisely, clearly and effectively. Her work goes far beyond simply designing PowerPoint presentations: She translates your content into convincing pitch decks, high-level presentations and speaker decks in a strategically reduced and always CI-compliant manner. Through targeted storyline development and professional visual design, she helps to attract attention and anchor your core messages in a sustainable way.

Areas of Expertise

  • Communication Designer & Coach
  • Presentation Designer & Trainer
  • Keynote “On the point” Support
CONTACT ME

Sybren Raaijmakers

Executive Technology Advisor & CEO Contractuo

Expertise
Sybren advises executive teams on the design and implementation of complex technology, digital and transformation initiatives.  His focus: sustainable enterprise value and the systemic alignment of people, processes and technology.
He brings a rare combination of hands-on entrepreneurial experience and analytical depth. As former Managing Director of Europe’s largest hyperscaler, Programme Lead who led the Dutch division in the EU’s largest energy merger and founder of three tech ventures, he integrates backgrounds in datascience, law and econometrics with sharp operational acumen.

Areas of Expertise

  • Strategic Digital & Tech Transformation
  • Mergers & Acquisitions
  • Applied Deep Tech & AI
CONTACT ME

Sonja Hädicke

Social Psychologist & Leadership and Team Coach

Expertise
Sonja works with teams and their leaders to navigate organizational change and strengthen collaboration. Her work is rooted in an in‑depth understanding of social group dynamics, psychological safety and behavioral patterns in team settings. Whether in leadership development processes or cross‑functional team interventions, Sonja supports shaping constructive dialogue and collective ownership. With a systemic lens, she facilitates learning spaces where teams can reflect, realign and grow together. She interacts closely with HR and management to ensure that team development initiatives are strategically aligned, context-sensitive and sustainably embedded.

Areas of Expertise

  • Organization and Group Dynamics
  • Team Coaching
  • Cultural Change

 

CONTACT ME

Karsten Voges

CIO Advisor, Chief Architect, Greater Good Enthusiast

Expertise
Karsten brings 20 years of leadership experience, ranging from startups to Fortune 50 companies & consulting firms. His motto “lean & smart” together with his practical CIO Advisory is helping many CIOs and their IT organizations to thrive.
With a Master in Computer Science and a MBA, he has been combining IT and business for years. Karsten Voges coaches digital leaders in mergers & transformations, defines Target IT Landscapes and ensures transition and change is on track.
As a regular keynote speaker at public and company internal events like the LeanLeaderSummit, Forrester, Gartner, SAP, … and as host of the CIO Roundtable in Munich he can drive also your personal growth.

Areas of Expertise

  • IT Management & Strategy
  • Enterprise Architecture
  • Lean, Agile & AI
CONTACT ME

Hendrik Böttcher

Executive Outplacement Advisor & CEO Hendrik Böttcher Beratungsgesellschaft

Expertise
As CEO of Hendrik Böttcher Beratungsgesellschaft mbH, Hendrik leads a team of expertsspecialized in professional layoff and downsizing management. With a focus on social responsibility and organizational reputation, his team helps organizations design and implement humane layoff procedures and supports office employees in re-entering the job market.
Hendrik is also a valued partner to executives who seek to successfully position themselves forpermanent or interim executive roles.

Areas of Expertise

  • Executive Outplacement
  • Executive & Employee Offboarding
  • Layoff Management
CONTACT ME

WHAT DRIVES US.

Turning uncertainty into action, and action into impact

Today, transformation means letting go of control to create real impact. We help you do both.

Organisations today face pressure on all fronts – growing, going digital, becoming more sustainable, and attracting talent – all at once. This creates growing tension: between speed and stability, efficiency and meaning, control and trust.

controlSHIFT is not your typical consultancy. We are entrepreneurs and enablers in moments of uncertainty. We don’t work in the spotlight, but within the core of your organisation – where real transformation either takes root or fails.

Like the “Control” + “Shift” keys on your keyboard, we operate quietly – but with power. We bring together strategic focus, emotional intelligence and methodological rigour – through consulting, coaching, facilitation, training and thought leadership.

Our approach: We support leadership teams in regaining control amid conflicting demands – without losing sight of what truly matters: people, purpose, and the courage to change.

 

Ready to think differently about transformation — and make it work? Then let’s talk.

GET IN CONTACT

WHAT WE CARE ABOUT.

True transformation beyond business – our contribution to a more livable world for future generations

At controlshift, cultural change toward a more responsible and inclusive society is more than a business goal – it’s a conviction we hold as the entrepreneurs to actively contribute to that future.

Through our independent foundation, SHIFTsociety, we extend our impact beyond the corporate sphere – into the heart of society.

We support initiatives and organizations that promote recovery, education, and social participation, helping to build a fairer, more resilient, and sustainable world.

Whether you’re interested in learning more, exploring a collaboration, or contributing through a donation – we’d be glad to connect.

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