UK: +44 20 7871 1829
    ES: +34 919032576 ES: +34 956737527 PE: +51 17071599 UK: +44 2078711829
    Promotivate-New-Logo
    Martin Gutmann - Speaker - By Promotivate Speaker Agency

    Martin Gutmann

    Conference Speaker Martin Gutmann - By Promotivate Speaker Agency

    Martin Gutmann

    Is an acclaimed leadership speaker, author, and professor who provides global boards and C-suite executives with frameworks for effective, sustainable leadership.


    Business BusinessTransformation BusinessTransformation/Leadership ChangeManagement DigitalLeadership

    Europe

    Switzerland

    • Fee Range:

    • €
    • £
    • $
    • P.O.A
    To Shortlist

    Business & Corporate Strategy Business Transformation Business Transformation / Leadership Change Management & Strategy Digital Leadership Digital Transformation Global Strategy & Leadership Human Potential & Future Leadership Leadership and Business Transformation Technology in Business

    View Videos & Related Speakers

    Inquire About Booking Martin Gutmann

      Martin Gutmann

      Historian, Executive Educator & Leading Authority on Action-Oriented Leadership

      Core Intelligence Domain: Leadership
      Location: Lucerne, Switzerland | Languages: English, German
      Representation: Represented globally by PSpeakers Global Intelligence

      Martin Gutmann is an acclaimed historian, executive educator, and best-selling author whose pioneering research challenges the traditional archetype of the charismatic, extroverted leader. As a Professor at the Lucerne School of Business and former Managing Director of the Swiss School of Public Governance at ETH Zurich, Dr. Gutmann applies rigorous historical methodologies to contemporary executive challenges. He provides C-suite executives and global boards with proprietary frameworks for effective, sustainable, and action-oriented leadership, proving that the most transformative figures in history succeeded not through loud rhetoric, but through pragmatic, behind-the-scenes execution.

      With a Ph.D. in History from Syracuse University, Dr. Gutmann has dedicated his academic and professional career to deconstructing leadership myths. His highly influential book, The Unseen Leader: How History Can Help Us Rethink Leadership, offers a paradigm-shifting perspective on executive effectiveness. By analysing the behavioural patterns of history’s most successful yet under-appreciated leaders, he equips modern decision-makers with actionable strategies to drive sustainable organisational growth in times of volatility.

      In addition to his focus on leadership dynamics, Martin Gutmann is a recognised expert in corporate sustainability and strategic foresight. He has co-authored and edited pivotal works, including Building a Sustainable Business, which provides business leaders with a historical and practical roadmap for integrating ESG principles into their core operations. His unique ability to bridge the gap between historical analysis and modern corporate strategy makes him a highly sought-after advisor and keynote speaker for global enterprises navigating complex transitions.

      Major Achievements and Professional Roles

      • Professor and Executive Educator: Serves at the Lucerne School of Business, designing and delivering cutting-edge programmes for senior executives and public sector leaders.
      • Former Managing Director: Led the Swiss School of Public Governance at ETH Zurich, shaping the strategic direction of public sector leadership training.
      • Author of “The Unseen Leader”: Published a critically acclaimed framework that redefines successful leadership, advocating for action-oriented, pragmatic management over superficial charisma.
      • Sustainability Strategist: Editor and co-author of Building a Sustainable Business and Before the UN Sustainable Development Goals, providing historical context and strategic implementation tools for corporate sustainability.
      • Global Academic Contributor: Holds a Ph.D. in History and has lectured extensively on the intersection of historical crises and modern business resilience.

      Primary Speaking Themes and Frameworks

      • The Myth of the Charismatic Leader: An evidence-based exploration of why loud, charismatic individuals often fail to deliver long-term results, and how organisations can identify and nurture genuine, action-oriented talent.
      • The “Unseen Leadership” Framework: A proprietary methodology teaching executives how to lead effectively from behind the scenes through strategic alignment, delegation, and focused execution.
      • History as a Strategic Tool: Leveraging historical data and past geopolitical crises to build resilient, future-proof corporate strategies.
      • Building a Sustainable Business: Moving beyond ESG compliance to embed true, long-term sustainability into the DNA of an organisation, drawing on historical successes and failures.
      • Navigating Global Complexity: How modern leaders can utilise strategic foresight to manage teams through economic volatility and rapid technological change.

      Key Takeaways

      • Executives will learn to abandon the flawed reliance on “charisma” and instead cultivate a culture of pragmatic, action-driven leadership.
      • Organisations will gain proprietary frameworks to identify “unseen leaders” within their ranks highly effective individuals who drive results without seeking the spotlight.
      • Audiences will acquire strategic foresight methodologies derived from historical analysis, enabling them to anticipate and navigate global market disruptions.
      • Business leaders will leave with actionable, evidence-based blueprints for integrating genuine sustainability into long-term corporate governance.
      A PSpeakers Global Intelligence Briefing
      WWW.PSPEAKERS.COM

      • “Martin is an incredibly conscientious, passionate, and engaging professor. I had the pleasure of taking a course in Global Environmental History with Martin. In the classroom, he is poised and collected, and presents well organized, though-provoking, and engaging material. I particularly appreciated Martin’s ability and awareness to moderate class discussions. By utilizing a Socratic-like teaching method, students were allowed the freedom to think through concepts and course material in an independent and critical manner, guided by Martin’s subtle and delicate interjections of context to steer discussion. In doing so, Martin’s teaching synthesized our individual academic interests as students and drew relevance to the course material, heightening our learning in a multidisciplinary and engaging way. Additionally, Martin allowed for flexibility in the course content, and was responsive in shaping the readings and assignments to meet our needs, requests, and particular areas of coursework that we found interesting as students. Beyond the classroom, Martin is easily approachable and is readily available to provide students with help outside of the allotted office hours. His feedback, guidance, and support given for assignments demonstrates his keen ability to mentor students in a way that encourages the development of writing skills and the communication of ideas. I would not hesitate to take another course with Martin or to recommend him to others.”

        Eric D., Outdoors Professional and Digital Storyteller

        • Martin Gutmann “Martin is an incredibly conscientious, passionate, and engaging professor. I had the pleasure of taking a course in Global Environmental History with Martin. In the classroom, he is poised and collected, and presents well organized, though-provoking, and engaging material. I particularly appreciated Martin’s ability and awareness to moderate class discussions. By utilizing a Socratic-like teaching method, students were allowed the freedom to think through concepts and course material in an independent and critical manner, guided by Martin’s subtle and delicate interjections of context to steer discussion. In doing so, Martin’s teaching synthesized our individual academic interests as students and drew relevance to the course material, heightening our learning in a multidisciplinary and engaging way. Additionally, Martin allowed for flexibility in the course content, and was responsive in shaping the readings and assignments to meet our needs, requests, and particular areas of coursework that we found interesting as students. Beyond the classroom, Martin is easily approachable and is readily available to provide students with help outside of the allotted office hours. His feedback, guidance, and support given for assignments demonstrates his keen ability to mentor students in a way that encourages the development of writing skills and the communication of ideas. I would not hesitate to take another course with Martin or to recommend him to others.”
        5 / 5

      • “Great Lecture in #negotiationskill for the #MASMTEC Class – thanks”

        Livio Realini, Bring people, processes and technologies together

        • Martin Gutmann “Great Lecture in #negotiationskill for the #MASMTEC Class – thanks”
        5 / 5

      • “Martin has many strengths as a professor, but his ability to facilitate critical thinking in students is unmatched by any other professor I have taken a class with. He is able to bring students to question traditional thinking and make their own conclusions on complicated issues by skillfully guiding debates and discussions. In addition, he is an excellent lecturer and gives thorough and useful feedback on assignments. I took Environmental History with Martin, but would recommend taking any course with him based on his overall ability as a professor.”

        Tyler Heilman, Research Fellow at Quest University Canada

        • Martin Gutmann “Martin has many strengths as a professor, but his ability to facilitate critical thinking in students is unmatched by any other professor I have taken a class with. He is able to bring students to question traditional thinking and make their own conclusions on complicated issues by skillfully guiding debates and discussions. In addition, he is an excellent lecturer and gives thorough and useful feedback on assignments. I took Environmental History with Martin, but would recommend taking any course with him based on his overall ability as a professor.”
        5 / 5