Dominik Sievert

CEO, CLADE; Co-founder and former CEO, inveox

Dominik Sievert is a serial entrepreneur and technology leader with deep experience in transforming scientific innovation into industrial solutions. After co-founding the medtech startup inveox, he now leads CLADE, a company with over two decades of expertise in MIR-based spectroscopy. CLADE combines proprietary hardware, software, and AI-driven algorithms to deliver fast and scalable bioanalytics for the biopharma and chemical industries. With a diverse team of more than 75 experts across Germany, CLADE supports quality control from basic chemicals to biopharmaceutical products. In his lecture, he discusses his entrepreneurial journey, CLADE’s innovation strategy, and the challenges of scaling breakthrough technology in competitive global markets.

Dr. Thorsten Löwer

Managing Director, pro-beam

With a background in engineering and leadership, Dr. Thorsten Löwer has guided pro-beam in integrating design thinking into advanced industrial processes. Under his leadership, the company has explored how attention to machine design can unlock unexpected benefits in innovation and performance. His talk highlights the role of design innovation at pro-beam, the importance of industrial product design, and how integrating design into the R&D process reshapes technological development.

Ana-Mariya Madzhurova

Policy Officer, Fair Standards Alliance

Ana-Mariya Madzhurova brings expertise at the intersection of sustainability, technology, and standards policy. She previously served as legal counsel at Fairphone B.V., an Amsterdam-based pioneer that challenges the electronics industry by building devices more fairly and sustainably. Drawing on this experience, she shares insights into the idea behind Fairphone, the pursuit of sustainability in the smartphone market and beyond, and the challenges of innovating as a small player among large competitors.

Daniel Föller

Vice President Global Key Account Management, Schaeffler Group 

Daniel Föller has expertise in procurement auctions and sales strategies, positioning him at the forefront of Schaeffler Group’s procurement and supplier management operations. In his role, he oversees strategic negotiation processes and contracting excellence initiatives. During his guest lecture, Daniel presented on Schaeffler’s “Negotiation Factory” – with several key takeaways: Before negotiations, achieve alignment across functions; define and weight selection criteria; translate trade-offs into monetary bonuses and maluses; get management approval for the selection criteria; get an internal commitment and decision mandate prior to final negotiation.

Daniel Föller was a guest speaker in our lectures also in earlier semesters.

Ming Huang

Advisor in International Negotiations; Rep. in China of TUM SOM Executive Education 

With over three decades of experience, Ming Huang has worked for the Bavarian State Ministry for Economic Affairs, including representative roles in Singapore and multiple key provinces in China. As a state-certified interpreter and intercultural trainer, Ming Huang specializes in facilitating joint venture and M&A negotiations, as well as post-merger integration for companies. 

During her guest lecture, Ming Huang introduced fascinating aspects of Chinese culture that lead to distinct characteristics and communication styles between China and Western countries, with important implications for negotiations between Western and Chinese partners. While Germans tend to prepare in detail, get straight to the point, and adhere strictly to contracts, the Chinese prefer to learn through experience, communicate more indirectly, avoid causing anyone to lose face, and adopt a more flexible approach.

Ming Huang was a guest speaker in our lectures also in earlier semesters.

Kay Kasper

Partner, Hoyng ROKH Monegier; Attorney, Patent Litigator and Negotiator 

With over 20 years of experience as an attorney, Kay Kasper has established himself as a leading authority in patent litigation and licensing negotiation, especially regarding standard-essential patents (SEPs). He is particularly renowned for his expertise in FRAND disputes and his ability to handle complex technical disputes across technology sectors. 

During his guest lecture, Kay Kasper generously divulged some of his negotiation tips: Ask open questions to learn about the other party; be curious rather than judgemental; try not to react if you do not like an answer; build a relationship – and be trustworthy.

Kay Kaspar was a guest speaker in our lectures also in earlier semesters.

Dr. Horst J. Kayser

Chairman of Siemens Portfolio Companies

Dr. Kayser serves as Chairman of Siemens Portfolio companies, where he leads the strategic development of Siemens’ portfolio businesses with a private-equity approach. With extensive international executive experience, Dr. Kayser holds advanced degrees in business engineering from TH Darmstadt and a Ph.D. in business administration from the University of Mannheim. 

During his session, Dr. Kayser provided outstanding insights into key negotiation principles: generating new options, understanding and strengthening your BATNA, and recognizing the critical role of individuals and relationships. As the holding entity for Siemens’ non-core businesses slated for divestment, POC was valued at a mere €1.5 billion by JP Morgan in 2019. By 2024, that valuation had soared to €7.5 billion—thanks to an unconventional strategy, aptly captured in the title of an HBS case study on POC: "A Private Equity Approach Within an Industrial Corporation?"

Dr. Horst J. Kayser was a guest speaker in our lectures also in earlier semesters.

Prof. Dr. Michael Ambühl

Professor at ETH Zürich, CEO Verhandlungsberatung  

Prof. Dr. Michael Ambühl is a distinguished negotiation expert who serves as CEO of Ambühl Meier Verhandlungsberatung AG, a specialized negotiation and conflict management consulting firm he co-founded. Prior to that, he was Professor of Negotiation and Conflict Management at ETH Zurich, where he developed the groundbreaking “Negotiation Engineering” approach – his trademark approach to negotiating that was tried and tested in several global affairs (e.g. Iran nuclear deal, Swiss mediation talks). Ambühl also spent over 30 years as a Swiss diplomat serving as State Secretary for Foreign Affairs and leading high-profile international negotiations (e.g. Swiss-EU bilateral agreements). 

During his guest lecture, Prof. Ambühl explained how he combines negotiation tools such as ZOPA and BATNA with formal methods from game theory and microeconomics.

Prof. Dr. Michael Ambühl was a guest speaker in our lectures also in earlier semesters.

Prof. Dr. Michael Ambühl

Professor at ETH Zürich, CEO Verhandlungsberatung  

Prof. Dr. Michael Ambühl is a distinguished negotiation expert who serves as CEO of Ambühl Meier Verhandlungsberatung AG, a specialized negotiation and conflict management consulting firm he co-founded. Prior to that, he was Professor of Negotiation and Conflict Management at ETH Zurich, where he developed the groundbreaking “Negotiation Engineering” approach – his trademark approach to negotiating that was tried and tested in several global affairs (e.g. Iran nuclear deal, Swiss mediation talks). Ambühl also spent over 30 years as a Swiss diplomat serving as State Secretary for Foreign Affairs and leading high-profile international negotiations (e.g. Swiss-EU bilateral agreements). 

Dr. Horst J. Kayser

Chairman of Siemens Portfolio Companies

Dr. Kayser serves as Chairman of Siemens Portfolio companies, where he leads the strategic development of Siemens’ portfolio businesses with a private-equity approach. With extensive international executive experience, Dr. Kayser holds advanced degrees in business engineering from TH Darmstadt and a Ph.D. in business administration from the University of Mannheim. 

Dr. Horst J. Kayser was a guest speaker in our lectures also in earlier semesters.

Kay Kasper

Partner, Hoyng ROKH Monegier; Attorney, Patent Litigator and Negotiator 

With over 20 years of experience as an attorney, Kay Kasper has established himself as a leading authority in patent litigation and licensing negotiation, especially regarding standard-essential patents (SEPs). He is particularly renowned for his expertise in FRAND disputes and his ability to handle complex technical disputes across technology sectors. 

Kay Kaspar was a guest speaker in our lectures also in earlier semesters.

Ming Huang

Advisor in International Negotiations; Rep. in China of TUM SOM Executive Education 

With over three decades of experience, Ming Huang has worked for the Bavarian State Ministry for Economic Affairs, including representative roles in Singapore and multiple key provinces in China. As a state-certified interpreter and intercultural trainer, Ming Huang specializes in facilitating joint venture and M&A negotiations, as well as post-merger integration for companies. 

Ming Huang was a guest speaker in our lectures also in earlier semesters.

Daniel Föller

Vice President Global Key Account Management, Schaeffler Group 

Daniel Föller has expertise in procurement auctions and sales strategies, positioning him at the forefront of Schaeffler Group’s procurement and supplier management operations. In his role, he oversees strategic negotiation processes and contracting excellence initiatives. 

Daniel Föller was a guest speaker in our lectures also in earlier semesters.