About Stefan F.
Digital Strategy, Innovation & Transformation | $4B+ Impact
As a global thought leader and creator of the UNITE Models, I help organizations unlock growth, drive transformation, and deliver measurable results-fast.
What I Deliver:
- Future-Proof Strategy: Develop actionable roadmaps, business models, and innovation programs.
- Venture Building: Launch and scale new business units, disruptive ventures, and digital products.
- Digital Transformation: Align technology, culture, and business goals for maximum ROI.
- Leadership & Execution: Support CxOs in high-stakes transformation and turnaround projects.
- Turnaround: realign or restructure challenging initiatives and business units / divisions.
Why Clients Choose Me:
- Proven Impact: Delivered $4B+ new revenue, 32% channel growth, and 5M+ new customers for Fortune 500s.
- Global Experience: Led programs for Amazon, Google, IBM, BMW, Pfizer, UBS, Vodafone, and more.
- Recognized Authority: Lead author of “How to Create Innovation” and the UNITE Models (adopted by 100,000+ professionals).
- Academic & Thought Leadership: Lecturer at top universities; advisor to global organizations.
Sector Experience:
Banking & Financial Services | Pharma & Life Sciences | Retail | Technology | Automotive | Telecom | Consumer Goods | Startups
Core Competencies & Skills
✔ Digital Strategy ✔ Digital Transformation ✔ Innovation Management ✔ Strategy-Execution ✔ Project, Program & Portfolio Management ✔ Corporate Venture Building ✔ Business Model Innovation ✔ AI & Emerging Technologies ✔ Customer Experience Transformation ✔ Operating Model Transformation ✔ Interim Executive Leadership ✔ Organizational Change ✔ Go-To-Market (GTM)
# Let’s connect to drive your next breakthrough in innovation, transformation, or turnaround.
I very much look forward meeting you! 🚀
German
Native or bilingual
English
Native or bilingual
French
Native or bilingual
Spanish
Conversational
Russian
Basic
Can work on-site
Zurich (up to 50km), Bern (up to 50km), Winterthur (up to 50km), Lucerne (up to 50km), Basel (up to 50km)
Experience
- Defense-Tech scale-up at the intersection of AI, Robotics, and Industry 4.0Board Member with focus on AI Innovation & Scale StrategyDEFENSE AND MILITARYJanuary 2025 - Today (1 year and 5 months)Defense-Tech scale-up at the forefront of autonomous cognitive systems, leveraging computer vision, AI, and ML to transform robotic process automation.
- Advising on innovation, international scaling, and strategic go-to-market plans for AI-based industrial applications with key global accounts.
- Supporting leadership with high-impact decision-making, positioning, and organizational development for hypergrowth (>100% p/a)."
- Leading Asian BankChief Innovation Officer (Interim)BANKING AND INSURANCEFebruary 2024 - November 2024 (9 months)Led the setup of an Incubator, Accelerator, and Corporate VC arm for a leading Asian bank, building a core innovation team of 45+ people.
- Developed the Innovation Target Operating Model (iTOM) and implemented it across the organization.
- Established an end-to-end Incubator and Accelerator function, scaling it to nearly 50 people within 6 months.
- Conducted deep customer research using Jobs to be Done (JTBD) methodology to identify unmet needs.
- Launched 18 innovation initiatives, with 12 progressing to MVP stage.
- Delivered innovation training programs to over 240 employees."
- Global AEC software leaderGroupwide Innovation Portfolio LeadARCHITECTURE AND URBAN PLANNINGNovember 2023 - June 2024 (7 months)Led the innovation and portfolio strategy for a global AEC software leader, enabling a €200M+ future revenue stream through bold transformation levers including CVC, Company Builder, and product rejuvenation.
- Defined the foundational innovation strategy, including the Innovation Target Operating Model (iTOM), capability mapping, and strategic search fields.
- Repositioned the Corporate Venture Capital (CVC) fund and launched a group-wide Company Builder to renew the aging portfolio and unlock long-term growth.
- Enabled cross-brand synergies and introduced strategic mechanisms for building a scalable product and business model portfolio across the ecosystem."
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Education
- Driving Digital StrategyHarvard Business School2021Driving Digital Strategy
- Master of Business AdministrationHenley Business School2012Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.), General Management
Certifications
- Driving Digital StrategyHarvard Business School2021
- Enterprise ArchitectStrategic Intelligence2020