ESMT Berlin is regularly featured in national and international media outlets. In our newsroom, we showcase selected highlights that present the exceptional achievements of our faculty, including their research activities, and offer valuable contributions to discussions in business, academia, and broader societal debates.
For Harvard Business Manager, Bianca Schmitz's study why radical innovations often fail in the market despite being technically superior. There is a key barrier is salespeople’s fear of embarrassment and loss of credibility when selling highly novel products, which reduces performance especially in uncertain customer conversations. Stronger support systems are needed, selecting adaptable sales staff, and shifting the mindset from “expert seller” to collaborative “door-opener” who involves specialists in the sales process.
For Harvard Business Manager, Olaf Plötner commented on a case study about a German industrial company whose sales are growing, but profits are falling because its sales organization has become too complex and inefficient. He recommends creating specialized sales teams for different product lines, improving collaboration through shared incentives and digital tools, and finding the right balance between central control and local flexibility to increase speed and effectiveness.
For Wirtschafts Woche, Michael Weber was quoted on the European Central Bank's expected interest rate increase in response to rising inflation driven by higher energy prices following the Iran conflict. He argues that modern supply chains are so interconnected that energy and other supply shocks now spread quickly into core inflation, making inflation more persistent.
For Newsweek, Michael Weber was quoted on the disconnect between strong U.S. economic indicators. and Americans’ increasingly negative perceptions of their financial well-being and the economy. He argues that the economy and household finances appear stronger than consumer sentiment surveys suggest, but headline data mask important inequalities, as much of the spending growth is being driven by wealthier households whose investment portfolios have benefited from rising asset markets.
In WirtschaftsWoche, Hilde Rosenboom, Program Director at ESMT Berlin, highlights how trust, decisiveness, and communication help young managers overcome bias and lead effectively.
By opening the garden of its historic campus to everyone, ESMT Berlin is strengthening its ties to the local neighborhood and creating a new public space in the heart of Berlin.
Reporting on the latest Financial Times Executive Education rankings, The European Business Review notes that ESMT Berlin has steadily emerged as one of Germany’s strongest business education institutions.
In an interview with Harvard Business Manager, Konstantin Korotov, professor of organizational behavior at ESMT Berlin, explains why career regrets often stem from opportunities not taken rather than mistakes made.
In zdf Morgenmagazin, Jörg Rocholl, president of ESMT, said it is more important for the government to focus on the actual reform work for Germany’s long-term care insurance system rather than on deadlines or timelines for presenting the reform package.
In this weeks CEO Picks, Qiao Zhang Deputy Director of Executive Programs and Director of Women in Power Program at ESMT Berlin explores why women on executive boards often step down sooner than men, despite increasing efforts to improve diversity in corporate leadership. Her insights point to persistent structural challenges, cultural expectations, and workplace dynamics that continue to shape women’s experiences at the top.
In an interview with Handelsblatt, former Knauf CEO Alexander Knauf reflects on leadership transitions, and why entrepreneurs should continue building businesses in Germany. Drawing on his work with the Hidden Champions Institute at ESMT Berlin, Knauf argues that innovation, and industrial resilience remain key strengths of the German economy.
In QS Magazine, the “Say Ja to Germany” initiative, launched by Mannheim Business School, WHU – Otto Beisheim School of Management and ESMT Berlin, is highlighted. initiative The article presents Germany as an attractive destination for international students, emphasizing academic freedom, stability, and strong career opportunities.
For Bild, Lars-Hendrik Röller, professor of economic at ESMT, is calling for Germany to reconsider nuclear energy, arguing that new technologies such as nuclear fusion and small modular reactors make it worthwhile to keep the option open even after the country’s nuclear phaseout.
In this weeks CEO Pick, Joanna Radeke, Director of the ESMT Institute for Sustainable Transformation, argues that while AI improves efficiency and productivity, it also dramatically increases electricity and water consumption through growing data-center demand, making sustainability a core business and leadership issue.
Julia Langdon, assistant professor of organizational behavior at ESMT Berlin, has been selected as one of Poets&Quants Best 40-Under-40 Graduate Business Professors in 2026. The annual recognition highlights outstanding young faculty members teaching in graduate business programs around the world.
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