Susanne K.

Susanne practices a partnership-oriented, cooperative style of consulting. By challenging existing ways of thinking and doing things, she helps her clients in the private and public sectors to develop systems, approaches, and methods which generate desired results and lead to sustainability. Her approach includes direct consulting, coaching, and training, which is individually tailored to client needs and expectations.

Susanne began consulting in 1996 and is managing partner in her own consulting company. She is now an acknowledged expert in the area of Sustainable Excellence – which focuses on the balance of long-term financial, environmental, and social factors for the sustainably excellent results which are based on sound and strategically focused approaches in all areas of management. Initially focused on Environmental Management, Susanne is now a specialist in Sustainable Excellence. This concept is based on the Excellence Model of the EFQM and includes several focal areas such as Leadership and Values, Environmental and Social Responsibility, Stakeholder Management. Susanne has been instrumental in developing new methods and tools to increase the level of economic, environmental, and social sustainability through integration into organisational strategy.

Susanne has over 11 years of international consulting and training experience. In addition to Environmental, Economic, and Social Sustainability, Susanne is also an expert in the areas of Corporate Social Responsibility, Total Quality Management, Leadership, Strategic Management, etc. Susanne has assisted dozens of organisations in implementing holistic management systems (the Excellence Model as well as ISO-based integrated management systems), performing self-assessments, as well as coached organisations applying for the European Excellence Award. With her experience in the planning and implementation of various management issues, Susanne has assisted organisations in both the private and public sectors - ranging in size from SMEs to large organisations. Susanne has developed expertise in a number of related areas such as: the development and integration of quality and environmental management systems based on ISO 9001 and ISO 14001, establishment of continuous improvement processes and continuous learning, implementation of process management and improvement, strategic management, intercultural conflict management, etc. Susanne is an experienced Team Leader / Senior Award Assessor as well as a Validator for "Committed to Excellence" for the European Foundation for Quality Management, as well as a Certifying Auditor for ISO 9001.

Susanne received her Bachelor's Degree in Economics and Finance from the University of Washington, Seattle, in 1986, completed her Master's degree in Environmental Ethics and Resource Management at New York University in 1995, and in 1997 finished her Degree in Environmental Science from the University of Bielefeld, Germany. In line with continuing academic education, she is a doctoral candidate at the University of St. Gallen in Switzerland in the area of Multicultural Management (specifically Sustainability of SMEs) and teaches at the University of Applied Science in Munich.

Susanne also spent 9 years working for a German bank with assignments in Munich, New York, and Hamburg. Her positions within the bank included Correspondent Banking Officer, Credit Specialist, Corporate Banking Officer, and Money Market / Foreign Exchange Specialist.