Successful Companies in Uncertain Times

How can companies operate successfully in a world increasingly characterized by geopolitical tensions, technological upheavals, and conflicting sustainability goals? This question is at the heart of the international conference “Strategic Leadership in a Fragmented World” on October 14 and 15, 2026, at TUM Campus Heilbronn, organized by the TUM School of Management in collaboration with HEC Paris.

Leading researchers and practitioners will come together to discuss three intertwined transformation processes: increasing political fragmentation, the rise of artificial intelligence, and the ever-more-urgent need for sustainability. The conference offers a platform for exchange between research and practice and provides insights for decision-makers seeking to position their organizations for the future.

New Answers to Pressing Questions

This raises questions such as: How do organizations reconfigure resource allocation in response to sustainability imperatives? Under what conditions does AI adoption support versus undermine sustainability transitions? How does regulatory divergence shape firms’ AI adoption strategies, and when do firms leverage fragmented governance to circumvent accountability standards? Building on these questions, conceptual frameworks will be developed to address these challenges. Additionally, the conference facilitates direct dialogue with leading German Mittelstand representatives from the Heilbronn-Franken region, as well as high-quality networking with international scholars and business leaders in a personal setting.

The event begins on Wednesday, October 14, from 7 to 10 p.m. with a get-together including a wine tasting and dinner at the Insel Hotel in Heilbronn. On Thursday, October 15, the morning session will focus on “Digital Technologies and AI & Sustainability”. The conference day at the Forum of Bildungscampus Heilbronn begins at 9 a.m. with opening remarks by Prof. Ali Sunyaev, Vice President TUM Campus Heilbronn, and the Dean of the TUM School of Management, Prof. Christoph Kaserer, followed by introductory remarks from the hosts Prof. Miriam Bird (TUM Campus Heilbronn) and Prof. Georg Wernicke (HEC Paris). This will be followed by several academic keynote speeches. These will lead into the afternoon, which will focus on “Sustainability & Political Fragmentation.” From 2 to 3 p.m., the program features the panel discussion “Digital Technologies, AI, Sustainability & Political Fragmentation”. This will be followed by roundtables with representatives from academia and industry, the results of which will be discussed and analyzed together starting at 4:30 p.m. The day will conclude with a joint conference dinner at the restaurant “Ratskeller” at 7:00 p.m..

At a Glance

The highlight of the program is the high-profile panel featuring:

• Ruth V. Aguilera, PhD (Northeastern University)
• Timo Gessmann (CTO, SCHUNK SE & Co. KG)
• Bonita Grupp (Managing Partner, TRIGEMA W. Grupp KG)
• Olivier Schiller (Chairman of the Board, Septodont Group)

The academic keynote speeches will be delivered by:

• Christiane Bode (Imperial College London)
• Witold Henisz (The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania)
• Thomas Zellweger (University of St. Gallen)

Timetable:

Wednesday, October 14, 2026, starting at 7 PM

Thursday, October 15, 2026, 9:00 AM–5:30 PM, followed by dinner at the Ratskeller at 7:00 PM.

Location:

FORUM Bildungscampus

Bildungscampus 1

74076 Heilbronn, Germany

Registration is now open via this link