Portrait of Dirk Kartes
Profile

Creative, analyst, strategist - and conversation partner.

For eight years, I have worked independently as a kind of architect for companies in transition - and as a mentor for people who want to move forward.

For me, architect stands for strategist and analyst. The strategist creates an exceptional architecture that makes a company distinctive and relevant. Within it, many different spaces can take shape - some familiar, others built for the future.

Internal experts and specialists I bring in from outside are like the trades involved in building a real house. This metaphor may explain what I do more clearly than the label “management consulting.”

My roots are in communications, followed by the full breadth of marketing - including pricing, service, product, and people.

Education

Craft and schools of thought.

Foundations
Commercial communications & graphic design

Two completed vocational qualifications.

Marketing
McDonald’s Marketing University, Chicago

International advanced training in marketing.

Analysis
INSEAD, France

Advanced training with an analytical focus.

Mediation
FernUniversität in Hagen - Faculty of Law

Certified mediation studies based on the Harvard Negotiation Concept.

2025
International Association of Coaching Institutes (ICI), St. Gallen

Diploma in mentoring.

2026
Certified Mental Health First Aid

MHFA, Adult program.

Career

82 projects. 400+ employees.

Throughout my career, I have led more than 400 employees across diverse teams and 82 major projects, both strategically and operationally. My roles have included Vice President at Scout24 during due diligence; management responsibility for or at ProSieben, McDonald’s, Coca-Cola, and Disney; and Managing Partner at a leading strategy and design firm supporting Lufthansa’s future strategy and the Mercedes-Benz/BMW car-sharing joint venture.

“Connection before competence.”

Projects usually do not lack expertise. They lack connection and a way for people to work well together. Connection grows from authenticity - and I can only be authentic when I am allowed to be who I am. Always enough.

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VALUES
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