Executive Coaching · Advisory · Leadership Teams · Board Work
Leadership, seen from the inside.
Over 25 years running HR at the highest level, most recently as SVP People Solutions for Zalando, one of Europe's largest DAX-listed companies. Now I bring that experience to leaders, leadership teams and boards navigating their own toughest moments.
"Steph is exactly the kind of partner you want in the room when things need to get done: solution-focused, driven, and always pushing toward the actual accomplishment rather than getting lost in process. What really set her apart, though, was her ability to build genuine trust at every level, including with me and with the board. She took the time to understand people, not just the org chart, and that's what let her give real guidance and support in the moments that mattered most. The best partners make your job easier and your team stronger at the same time. Steph did both."
Robert Gentz, Co-Founder & CEO, Zalando
"She rebuilt the leadership team in Northern Europe from the ground up, putting the right talent in every seat and ensuring our values were genuinely lived, not just stated. Any organisation bringing Steph in today, as coach, advisor or board member, is getting someone who combines strategic rigour with a genuine gift for developing people and leaders."
"When I was the board member leading Europe for Beiersdorf, Steph was our HR Vice President — and one of the most impactful people leaders I worked with. She rebuilt the leadership team in Northern Europe from the ground up, putting the right talent in every seat and ensuring our values were genuinely lived, not just stated. In doing so, she built a culture of real engagement, high performance and people-centricity that showed directly in our results. She also coached our General Manager directly, sharpening his leadership and helping him execute our strategy and operational plans with far greater confidence. Any organisation bringing Steph in today — as coach, advisor or board member — is getting someone who combines strategic rigour with a genuine gift for developing people and leaders."
Thomas Ingelfinger, Chairman, Tengelmann Group
"Steph has an incredible ability to create a space where you feel genuinely heard while gently challenging you to see what's possible. At a time when I was rebuilding both my confidence and my career after a major life transition, she helped me rediscover my strengths, be kinder to myself, and believe in a future I couldn't yet imagine. Looking back, I would never have predicted the fulfilling career I have today in deep tech. Steph wasn't just my coach—she was a trusted thinking partner, and I'm incredibly grateful for the role she played in helping me find my way."
Lizzy Harmstorf, Senior Program Manager, Impossible Founders (Hamburg)
"Steph is a rare leader who effortlessly bridges high-level business strategy with genuine human connection. Steph and I worked closely together in the Zalando leadership team, and her business acumen and strategic instincts made her an indispensable advisor across the entire executive team. She approaches complex organisational challenges, and wider business discussions with authentic emotion, strong conviction and a clear vision. Steph is a transformative coach because she balances poise and vulnerability. Her executive presence naturally earns trust, while her deep empathy and emotional authenticity create a safe, courageous space for real growth. She challenges you to think bigger, act with conviction, and lead with heart. Any executive fortunate enough to work with her will see immediate, elevated results in their leadership. Steph played a major role in bringing me to Zalando and setting me up for success."
James Rothwell, SVP Marketing, Zalando
"I had the privilege and the pleasure to work with Steph over many years side by side. With her closeness to the business and her deep understanding of how effective leadership teams operate, she has made the difference to many teams and individuals along her career. I know many senior leaders (including myself) who have benefitted from the coaching and advice that Steph has provided, and leadership teams who have grown under her guidance to be more collaborative, more complementary and more impactful. With her open and embracing mind she listens deeply, seeks to understand the context, and coaches based on the strength that every individual and the team as a whole can bring to the table to maximize their impact both personally and professionally."
Nicola Lafrentz, CHRO, Beiersdorf
"Steph has a rare ability to immediately build trust across every level of an organization, from senior executives to frontline team members. When she enters a room, she reads the dynamics instantly, pinpoints the underlying organizational challenges, and articulates them with absolute clarity. What truly sets Steph apart is her bias for action: she never lingers on the problem—she cuts through the noise and delivers clear, actionable next steps. Senior leaders listen to Steph because she earns their trust and drives real results. I miss working with her tremendously and cannot recommend her highly enough as a leadership coach."
Sarah Guerrier, Chief People Officer, Sunday Natural
