Dr. Stefan Wachtel

Dr Stefan Wachtel is one of the leading experts in leadership communication and strategic rhetoric. He has learnt that language is power - and he knows how to use it effectively. His own story is proof of this: He spent six months in the notorious Schwedt military prison for ‘public disparagement’. But that didn't stop him. He studied speech and German studies, fled the GDR in 1989 in a spectacular night-time operation and quickly made a name for himself in the West. Stefan Wachtel became the voice behind the voices: He coached ARD and ZDF presenters and trained pilots for their announcements. Today, he prepares top international managers for their appearances, including 16 of the DAX 40 companies. TED Talks, financial communication or election campaigns - when it comes to rhetoric and impact, he is the one that decision-makers consult. As an author for Manager Magazin and Handelsblatt, he shapes public discourse. The Süddeutsche Zeitung described him as the ‘puppeteer of the bosses’, the FOCUS as one of the ‘gurus in the boardroom’. He sets standards with his award-winning approach to leadership communication. Stefan Wachtel is the author of 9 books, 2 of them international: Executive Modus and Reversed Pyramid (The Target Set Principle). He is the initiator of the ‘Best Manager Appearance’ study and holds the annual laudatory speech at the awards ceremony. Every autumn, he holds the Funnel Conference in Cannes. His conviction: If you want to lead, you have to be heard - and if you want to be heard, you need more than just words.