Transformation doesn't fail because of strategy. It fails because execution breaks down.
For 20 years, the pattern in my career hasn't simply been bigger titles. It's been bigger problems. From leading customer communications through the 2011 Japan tsunami, to a quick fix that kept a 300-journalist press briefing on air during a signal outage, to helping lead a 4,300-person carve-out from Bosch into private equity ownership, every role has come with the same brief: turn uncertainty into momentum.
That's where I do my best work: aligning leadership when the ground is moving, building trust fast and turning ambitious strategy into what actually happens on Monday morning.
As part of the Extended Management Team (EMT), I worked through the Bosch → Keenfinity carve-out across four businesses, 90+ locations and 50+ countries. Employee attrition stayed under 10% from announcement to close and customer relationships held through blackout periods. Built the new group identity while strengthening the established brands, made an unprecedented licence agreement happen after three failed attempts with the CEO, and built the new corporate LinkedIn channel from zero to 15,000+ followers in under three months and nearly 40,000 in its first year.
Built a concept showcar with a small team in four months so customers could experience what slides couldn't explain. It drew crowds CES could barely contain, helped drive a 50% increase in customer engagement over three years, and was followed by two more showcars and a show truck. Our products won multiple CES Innovation Awards every year during my marketing leadership.
Turned a digital mandate into adoption: 95% uptake of a new collaboration tool across 22 departments in two months, 90% weekly followership on Microsoft Teams, and an 11-person team transformed into one known for marketing excellence.
Gave 50+ communicators across 19 countries the skills, tools and access to operate at the same standard. Designed and built a 3-day communications training program whose original structure is still in use 15 years later. Along the way, led customer communications through the 2011 Japan tsunami and helped keep a 300-journalist automotive press briefing on air when an unexpected signal outage threatened the live event.
"Together, we organized several CES appearances at the Bosch booth... All of this would have, bluntly speaking, been impossible without Barbara. She was inspirator, driver, motivator and perfectionist organizer of everything."
Thomas Kropf, President, Bosch Corporate Research
First female referee to officiate a men's lacrosse world championship. Assistant Tournament Director for the largest World Lacrosse Championships ever held (logistics for 46 national delegations), and Tournament Director for the European Women's Lacrosse Championship, stepping in mid-event to run it. Two decades in the sport: on the field, on the mic, behind the scenes.
"Above all her noticeable natural leadership quality, independence, resourcefulness and engaging courage of conviction... are rare traits sought for and to be fostered."
Hermann Kaess, Executive Vice President, Bosch Group
Executive MBA, Temple University (Fox School of Business), Tokyo (Leadership & Change Management focus)
BA International Business & Mass Communication, London Metropolitan University
English, German, Czech: Bilingual proficiency
Slovak: native
Japanese, Spanish, Polish: beginner