Rethinking Strategy: with Prof. Müller-Stewens

What Does Strategic Leadership Mean in Times of Change? At Marbach Castle, Prof. Müller-Stewens offers fresh perspectives on corporate strategy—sharing insights on cultural transformation, the use of AI, and strategic agility. In the inspiring setting of Lake Constance, he delivers practical, thoughtful, and forward-looking knowledge that empowers companies to shape a sustainable future.

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Leadership Talk with Prof. Müller-Stewens

Prof. Dr. Günter Müller-Stewens is one of the most renowned thought leaders in strategic management in the German-speaking world. He served for many years as Director of the Institute of Management at the University of St. Gallen (IfB-HSG), where he significantly shaped research and teaching in corporate strategy and strategic leadership.

His academic focus includes topics such as strategic agility, corporate architecture, stakeholder management, and the role of culture in the strategy process. He is the author of numerous internationally recognized publications, editor of standard works in the field of strategy, and a sought-after speaker at conferences and executive education programs.

Beyond his academic career, Prof. Müller-Stewens also acts as a consultant and advisory board member—particularly for companies undergoing profound transformation. With his ability to make complex strategic relationships understandable, he has inspired leaders in business, government, and society for many years.

In times of global uncertainty, increasing complexity, and deep transformation, strategic leadership requires a new mindset. In our Leadership Talk, Prof. Dr. Günter Müller-Stewens—an experienced expert in corporate strategy—shares key principles that help organizations navigate turbulent times.

Question: Why do you consider learning speed the most important competitive factor for the future?

Answer (Prof. Müller-Stewens):

In a world of constant upheaval, planning certainty is no longer a given. What truly matters is how quickly an organization can process new information and turn it into actionable options. Learning ability outweighs predictive power. Scenario planning isn’t about forecasting the future—it’s about expanding the realm of possibilities. Those who learn faster than their competitors gain an invaluable edge.

Question: What prevents companies most from repositioning themselves strategically?

Answer (Prof. Müller-Stewens):
Often, it’s not markets or technologies that hold companies back—but their own past. Success tends to cement patterns of thinking and behavior—what I call “cultural stickiness.” Meaningful change only happens when existing routines are consciously questioned and cultural barriers systematically dismantled. This requires leadership that’s willing to engage with uncomfortable processes.

Question: What role can artificial intelligence play in strategy development—without becoming a risk?

Answer (Prof. Müller-Stewens):
AI can be a powerful source of inspiration—generating hypotheses or scenarios at speed. But AI does not replace strategic thinking. The key is to integrate it wisely as a tool, without outsourcing human judgment. Strategic leadership means using technology—without becoming subordinate to it.

The greatest challenge for leadership, in my view, is managing the tensions between different stakeholders.

Marbach Leadership Talks

Every day, we welcome outstanding experts to Marbach Castle, who share their knowledge in trainings, meetings, and conferences. In our Marbach Leadership Talk, we introduce these experts and their leadership expertise to enrich your leadership practices. We also ask them why they, too, are captivated by Marbach Castle as a conference hotel on Lake Constance.

Conclusion:

Strategic leadership in times of change requires more than traditional planning tools. It’s about breaking mental models, critically examining cultural imprints, and fostering a conscious approach to technologies like artificial intelligence. Prof. Müller-Stewens makes a powerful case: future readiness emerges where companies are willing to rethink themselves—with openness, courage, and strategic foresight.
His message: Leadership today means actively navigating tensions—between profit and responsibility, between short-term success and long-term values.

What can I learn from Prof. Müller-Stewens as a leader?

Prof. Günter Müller-Stewens, former Director of the Institute of Management at the University of St. Gallen, is one of the most distinguished experts in strategic management in the German-speaking world. His teaching and research have helped shape the foundations of modern corporate leadership—rigorous, practice-oriented, and internationally relevant.

For executives, working with him offers a unique opportunity for advanced professional development at the highest level. His lectures and workshops at Schloss Marbach combine hands-on management experience with academic depth. His approach is grounded in a profound understanding of corporate transformation processes—from identifying strategic options and driving cultural change to integrating new technologies such as artificial intelligence.

As a long-standing professor at one of Europe’s leading business schools—the University of St. Gallen—he has also participated in international programs, including exchanges with institutions like Harvard Business School. His expertise is shaped by decades of research in areas such as competitive strategy, organizational transformation, and internal leadership systems.

Executives benefit from his systemic view of the enterprise, his ability to make complex concepts accessible, and his methodological clarity. An encounter with Prof. Günter Müller-Stewens is not a theoretical exercise—it’s a direct enrichment for practice. Those who aim not only to develop strategies but to embed them sustainably will find valuable inspiration here.

What are the three strategic pillars conveyed by Prof. Müller-Stewens?

The approach of Prof. Müller-Stewens—emeritus head of the Institute of Management at the University of St. Gallen—is rooted in a well-founded combination of academic theory and practical application. In his lectures, he conveys three essential pillars that are indispensable for effective corporate management in times of change.

The first pillar is strategic early awareness. According to Müller-Stewens, companies must continuously monitor their environment to detect relevant changes early. In times of growth, stagnation, or crisis, the ability to quickly integrate new insights determines long-term success. Tools such as scenario planning and targeted case studies help reveal strategic options.
The second pillar emphasizes cultural transformation as a fundamental success factor. Organizational change only succeeds when cultural patterns are actively questioned—especially in contexts like mergers or acquisitions, where strategic alliances can fail if integration meets resistance.
The third pillar concerns the conscious use of new technologies. Artificial intelligence is reshaping corporate leadership, but it does not replace human decision-making. As a scientifically grounded practitioner, Müller-Stewens points to concrete examples of how AI can spark strategic initiatives—in areas such as talent management or the development of new strategies.

Through his internationally recognized contributions and publications, Prof. Müller-Stewens is regarded as one of the most distinguished thought leaders in business administration, with a particular focus on strategic leadership.

Why is Marbach Castle an ideal setting for his strategic insights?

Marbach on Lake Constance is located just about an hour’s drive from St. Gallen—the city where Prof. Günter Müller-Stewens led the Institute of Management at the University of St. Gallen for many years. This regional proximity creates a natural link between academic excellence and practical application. Schloss Marbach offers an ideal setting for Prof. Müller-Stewens to share his strategic insights effectively. Surrounded by nature and removed from daily distractions, the environment fosters a deliberate space for deep reflection on leadership and management.

Müller-Stewens has been a key architect of strategic thinking. His programs at Marbach—on topics such as corporate transformation, the role of culture, or strategic options—complement academic research with practical relevance, as published in leading journals and high-profile anthologies.

Participants—often executives with a master’s degree—use this space to step outside short-term logic, such as stock market pressures, and gain fresh perspectives on long-term value creation and strategic positioning.

How does he integrate current topics like AI and corporate culture into his work?

Prof. Günter Müller-Stewens, a long-standing thought leader in strategic management at the University of St. Gallen, combines technological innovation with cultural transformation. His work is deeply rooted in industrial management and corporate leadership, while also embracing current developments such as artificial intelligence as a value driver for new business models.

In his programs at Schloss Marbach, he demonstrates how AI can be used not as a disruptive threat, but as a source of inspiration—for example, through interactive workshops where AI-based tools like ChatGPT generate scenario options. This integration not only enhances efficiency but also promotes sustainable value creation when accompanied by cultural reflection.

He also explores the tension between technical feasibility and organizational reality—far from fiction, yet with foresight. For founders, investors, or executives with a master’s background in accounting, business informatics, or classical business administration, Müller-Stewens offers a deep understanding of the interplay between strategy, technology, and culture. His perspective is not a contribution to a marketing glossary or a purely encyclopedic body of knowledge—but a practice-oriented approach to corporate leadership that impacts real businesses and organizations: grounded, relevant, and current.

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