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Ilja Grzeskowitz is an economist, SPIEGEL bestselling author and globally sought-after keynote speaker on transformation. His clients and the media call him "Mr. Change", and his mission is to show organisations that change is the greatest opportunity of our time, as long as they act on it early.
From the Department Store to Global Stages. Ilja started his career as Germany's youngest managing director and went on to lead 10 locations for Karstadt, Hertie, Wertheim and IKEA, with thousands of employees and a sales volume of over 500 million euros. In a time of permanent restructuring, threatened store closures and massive staff cuts, he learned what really matters in change: putting people at the centre. Because only when people lose their fear of change do they start shaping the future. That experience is the foundation of everything he brings to the stage today.
Author and Thought Leader. To date, Ilja has published 14 books in 7 languages. Among them are his two English originals, "Think it. Do it. Change it." (iUniverse) and "The Changemaker Mindset" (Mango Publishing, Miami, 2019), the 2025 SPIEGEL bestseller "Freedom Starts in Your Mind" and "Just Do It!", which received the Business Book Award at the Frankfurt Book Fair for over 100,000 copies sold. He is a Certified Speaking Professional (CSP), a Fellow of the Professional Speaking Association UK & Ireland and the first German speaker inducted into the C-Suite Book Club. Ilja is also the founder of the Change Leaders Academy, home to his Change Ambassador Certification Training and Change Leader Mastermind, and a former guest lecturer at the Berlin School of Law and Economics and SRH University.
Trusted by Global Brands. Ilja has delivered 1,200+ keynotes across 27 countries and 5 continents, and the Austrian newspaper OÖ Nachrichten called him "Germany's most successful change expert". His clients include Accor, Allianz, Audi, Bayer, BASF, Biogen, BMW, Cancom, Capri Sun, Continental, DPD, Kao, Lufthansa, Nespresso, Marriott, Mercedes, Orange, O2, SWISS, T-Mobile, Zalando and Zara, alongside three-quarters of Germany's DAX companies and the who's who of European mid-sized enterprises.
Built for Execution. Ilja's keynotes combine northern German humour, bold ideas and a clear focus on action. He makes complex connections tangible, and his audiences leave with practical impulses they can put to work in their business the very next day. His tagline says it all: Making. Change. Happen.
The Person Behind the Brand. When Ilja isn't on a stage somewhere in the world, he's passionate about playing golf (usually looking for his ball), rooting for Hamburger SV (despite everything) and enjoying his favourite drink, coffee (lots of it and always black). Some things simply never change.
Keynote 1 — Making. Change. Happen. A high-energy, story-driven keynote for audiences in the middle of transformation. Why most change initiatives fail, what actually moves people, and how to turn resistance into momentum. Built on the Change Adventure Blueprint.
Keynote 2 — Leading Change A leadership keynote for executives, senior managers, and team leads navigating uncertainty. The modern leadership edge versus status-quo management. How to lead transformation while the ground keeps shifting under your feet.
Keynote 3 — The Digital Mindset For organisations navigating digital transformation. Not about the tools. About the human operating system underneath. How to adapt, evolve, and stay relevant in a permanently disrupted economy.
Keynote 4 — The Psychology of Change For HR, people, and culture-focused audiences. Why people resist change, what unlocks them, and how to design environments where transformation becomes the default, not the exception.
All keynotes are fully customised to the client's industry, audience, and event objective. Standard length: 45-90 minutes. Workshop formats (Standalone or Keynote plus Workshop) available on request.
Keynote 1 — Making. Change. Happen. A high-energy, story-driven keynote for audiences in the middle of transformation. Why most change initiatives fail, what actually moves people, and how to turn resistance into momentum. Built on the Change Adventure Blueprint.
Keynote 2 — Leading Change A leadership keynote for executives, senior managers, and team leads navigating uncertainty. The modern leadership edge versus status-quo management. How to lead transformation while the ground keeps shifting under your feet.
Keynote 3 — The Digital Mindset For organisations navigating digital transformation. Not about the tools. About the human operating system underneath. How to adapt, evolve, and stay relevant in a permanently disrupted economy.
Keynote 4 — The Psychology of Change For HR, people, and culture-focused audiences. Why people resist change, what unlocks them, and how to design environments where transformation becomes the default, not the exception.
All keynotes are fully customised to the client's industry, audience, and event objective. Standard length: 45-90 minutes. Workshop formats (Standalone or Keynote plus Workshop) available on request.
