We combine former top executives and an award-winning method to accelerate transformations. This unique “double helix” of capabilities allows us to help our customers deliver results faster against demanding business goals.
We combine former top executives and an award-winning method to accelerate transformations. This unique “double helix” of capabilities allows us to help our customers deliver results faster against demanding business goals.
This is us.
- Our senior advisors & experts are located in 10 cities within 6 countries, spanning 3 continents. The team has planned, led, and support international projects in over 30 countries.
- We have won 5 awards for our innovation & excellence.
- We are a family-owned business. Our freedom and objectivity are not restricted by anyone. We work with those who share our belief that leadership is the ultimate lever for positive change and value creation.
We are on a mission.
When René Esteban founded FocusFirst, he found that too many transformation projects take too long, waste money, and annoy stakeholders – and that there must be a way to accelerate business transformations, sustainably. This belief unites an international FocusFirst team consisting of former top executives and subject matter experts. Today, we are honoured to serve senior leaders across many of their most critical leadership challenges.
All Senior Advisors were former executives and were responsible for international organisations.
CEO, Founder, Senior Advisor
Entrepreneur, Father, Frank Sinatra Singer.
Over 20 years of experience in the global corporate environment, including several senior leadership positions. International keynote speaker, author and senior advisor for achieving goals and accelerating complex transformations.
Art Director
Sense Activator, Flamenco Dancer, Storyteller.
Over 16 years experience in corporate design, such as Merck, E.ON, BASF, Novartis, Lanxess, etc. Run a design agency. Master in Communication Design.
Manager
Strategist, Dot-Connector, Traveller. Over seven years in management consulting in various functions, industries and projects. Holds an MSc in Management from Católica Lisbon and an MSc in Psychology from the University of St. Andrews. Rich intercultural experience and a passion for strategic change, communications, and organisational development.
Senior Advisor
Twenty-six years with Merck, SVP, global and regional roles, responsible for driving business transformation. Expert in Leadership, Communication and Stakeholder Engagement. Besides his Senior Advisor role at FocusFirst, David is Owner of Beganya Business Services Ltd.
Senior Advisor & Coach
Senior Leader and Coach with 30+ years of experience in Financial Services. Expert in sales, business growth and employee development and engagement. Highly skilled in building high-performing teams. Former CEO and Branch Manager Bank of New York Mellon, Frankfurt SA/NV. Besides her Senior Advisor role at FocusFirst, Kathie is Executive Coach for Teams and Leaders.
Senior Advisor & Coach
Executive Coach and Partner for Business Transformations, over 20 years of professional experience in the automotive and machine vision industry, including more than a decade in senior leadership roles like Head of Digital Marketing at Opel, and CMO at the SDAX company ISRA Vision. Besides her Senior Advisor role at FocusFirst, Sandra is Owner of Cameron Coaching & Consulting.
Senior Consultant
Certified Change Manager. Organisational Psychologist and Coach with a passion for understanding systems and motivating people.
Senior Advisor
Lawyer by profession. +35 years of experience in communications management, primarily in the tech industry. Former Director of Communications, Member of the Management Board, Microsoft Germany. Besides his Senior Advisor role at FocusFirst, Thomas is Founder of KommunikationNeuDenken!
Senior Advisor
Digital intrapreneur, change agent, storytelling coach.
Over 30 years of digital transformation leadership roles in global companies. Has worked across and with a wide range of corporate roles and executives in various industries. Expert coach specializing in helping executives improve their data storytelling, communications, and application of OKRs.
Expert
Strategist, storyteller, and triathlete.
More than ten years of experience in advising on and leading in internal communications and employee engagement. Passionately dislikes l’art pour l’art, but loves listening to challenges of decision makers, developing communications strategies and delivering emotionally appealing formats.
Senior Advisor & Coach
Executive Coach, Change & Transformation Consultant and Communication Expert with over 20 years of experience in multinational companies in the sectors Chemicals, Energy, Industry, Software & Digitalisation. Former Head of Change & Transformation at Körber AG, and Head of Corporate Communications at tesa. Besides her Senior Advisor role at FocusFirst, Carolin is Founder of Carolin Adler Coaching. Change. Communications.
Expert
Twenty-five years of successful IT project management worldwide, from the telecom industry to the automotive industry. Passionate in the field of digital communication and web-based information technologies.
Expert
An agile, curious, creative and empathetic leader and coach. Over 30 years of experience in the global corporate world, holding several positions, including eight years of leading a multinational learning and development team. Always striving to stretch my comfort zone through lifelong learning.
Senior Advisor & Coach
Systemic Executive Coach and Master in Organizational & Clinical Psychology
Former Global HR Manager Leadership Development at a Fortune 500 company, COO Bellenet.net. Besides his Senior Advisor & Coach role at FocusFirst, Darius is Owner of Commitis.
Expert
Systems Thinker, outdoor enthusiast, passionate surfer. Over 20 years of experience in digital environments, including project management, HR and senior leadership roles. Agile leadership coach and expert in mindful transformation and organizational design. Mindfulness and resilience trainer, New Work enthusiast, and podcast host. Besides her Expert role at FocusFirst, Susanne is Founder of ICH & WIR.
Expert
Expert, Senior Strategic Program Manager
Program ownership and delivery of transformational & strategic change founded in lean six sigma principles. Expert in delivering accelerated change in a range of environments & across disciplines. Sectors covered: Banking, Chemicals, Healthcare, Financial Services, Energy, Technology, Medical, Automotive, Commercial and Professional Services.
Expert & Coach
Entrepreneur, Effective Altruist, Optimist by choice. Over 14 years of experience in the global corporate environment, holding leadership positions. Executive coach, mentor, and expert in brand strategy, product marketing, business development, global key account management and agile transformation. Besides her Expert & Coach role at FocusFirst, Susann is Owner of LeadAtLife.
Expert
Ali is passionate about growth, change and people. In his 15 years of leadership experience, he had executive roles in large companies (e.g. Robert Bosch) and midsize hidden champions. He is driven by a result-oriented and transformational mindset and is a big fan of emerging markets. Ali is also an executive and leadership coach (ICF) and loves to spend time with his wife and his three kids, as well as go surfing and hiking.
Expert
Over 25 years in management consulting and training in various industries and countries. Strategy Consultant, trainer, and coach for project and transformation management. Besides her Senior Advisor role at FocusFirst, Petra is Managing Partner at DKC GmbH.
… and many more Senior Advisors & Experts.
We would be honoured to help.
Transformation success by design... not by chance.