FUTURIST
TANJA SCHINDLER
Tanja Schindler is an internationally active keynote speaker, futurist, and strategic foresight expert. She is currently Foresight Lead at Kaufland, where she works directly with the executive board on strategic future issues. She also contributes her foresight expertise at the corporate level to the Schwarz Group. As former Chair of the Association of Professional Futurists, she speaks worldwide on futures mindset and future resilience —including for the European Commission, the WEF Global Foresight Network, and ministries in Dubai.
„The future is not something that happens.It is something we create“
KEYNOTE SPEAKER & INSPIRATIONAL SPEAKER
Why futures thinking is crucial today
We do not live in times of a lack of information, but rather a lack of orientation.
Futures Thinking creates precisely this space: a structured, creative, and strategic approach to uncertainty. Not to predict the future, but to make better decisions today.
Keynotes
Inspiring. Clear. Provocative. For executives, conferences, and organizations that don't want to sit out the future.
Future competence as a skill: How organizations learn to deal with uncertainty—and regain their creative power.
ZUKUNFt NEU DENKEN
-
I support executives, organizations, and institutions in translating uncertainty into strategic action—with futures thinking, positive visions of the future, and collective imagination.
Zukunft wirksam gestalten.
I have worked with international organizations, public institutions, and global companies, including:
European Commission · World Economic Forum · UNESCO · Dubai Future Foundation · L’Oréal · Mondelēz · PwC · OSRAM · EON · Handelsblatt · Vitra · Handelsblatt · Schufa · TED-ED · SWR · TIER
Selected projects & collaborations:
– Strategic foresight processes for European institutions
– Futures mindset training for ministries in the Middle East
– Scenario work for global consumer goods and industrial companies
13 years into the future
2013–2014 Corporate Foresight in Industrie & Technologie
Aufbau und Umsetzung von Szenario- und Foresight-Prozessen in der Industrie,
u.a. bei OSRAM und weiteren Technologieunternehmen.
2015–2016 Master of Strategic Foresight & MBA
Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne (Australien)
Fokus auf strategische Zukunftsforschung, Szenarien, Preferred Futures und Entscheidungsfindung unter Unsicherheit.
2017–2020 Strategische Foresight-Projekte in Europa & Australien
Tätigkeit als Futurist in Residence und externer Berater für Unternehmen und Organisationen zu Zukunftsstrategien, Szenarien und Innovation.
2021–2023 Internationale Führungs- & Beratungstätigkeit
Vorstandsvorsitzende der Association of Professional Futurists (APF).
Beratung der Europäischen Union zu partizipativen und spekulativen Futures. Durchführung von Foresight-Trainings und Zukunftsprozessen für internationale Institutionen u. a. in den Vereinigten Arabischen Emiraten, den USA und Asien. Gründung der Futures2All GmbH -für partizipatives Foresight.
2024–heute Keynote Speaker & Strategic Foresight Lead bei Kaufland
Keynotes, C-Level Sparring und strategische Foresight-Arbeit mit Fokus auf Retail, Futures Intelligence, Künstliche Intelligenz und authentische Führung in Zeiten von Unsicherheit.
TESTIMONIALS
“Tanja is very open-minded and has a strong ability to solve problems. Impressive way of positive thinking but being realistic. Was a pleasure to work together with her!”
— Christoph Peitz, Product Development, Sales, Strategy, General Management
“I've had the pleasure of working with Tanja on various projects over the past 10 years, and every engagement illustrates why she is one of my favorite foresight professionals. From hosting a multi-day foresight and futures thinking training for executives and leaders (on a boat sailing up and down the Berlin River!), to building a global network of foresight practitioners as a tool for democratizing futures thinking among individuals and companies, to advising corporate leaders on trend scouting and scenario building for improved strategy and innovation, Tanja is a multi-layered, multi-skilled, and multi-talented futurist - academically-trained and practically-honed - that represents the best of the field. As someone who has worked in foresight and futures thinking with all industries over the past 25 years, I'm happy to say that Tanja is my "go-to" for collaboration when we need to expand the brain and brawn of our team at TFSX. Connecting with her, networking with her, working with her, and hiring her will be one of the best decisions you ever make!”
— Frank W. Spencer IV, Founder & Principal at TFSX
“Tanja is a knowledgeable futurist, a skilled foresighter and an excellent problem solver. She worked with us in two projects where she did a brilliant job designing and managing creative engagement platforms and foresight processes and delivering high quality products. She is easy to work with, positive, reliable, a great project manager and a valuable contributor to every aspect of the work. I highly recommend her.”
— Nikos Kastrinos, Policy Officer, European Commission
“Tanja is a critical thinker unafraid to speak her mind. You will always learn something new from Tanja. She is driven and structured, while demonstrating creativity as well. Interpersonally, it's always a joy to touch base with her.”
— Katelyn Anderson, Product Manager at TIER Mobility
“Tanja has contributed to our event with interesting insights about the potential of the creative industries for the future of Europe. Her perspective as a futurist brought an important dimension to our discussion”!
— Charline Munzer, Creative Impact Research Centre Europe