nilsjeners consulting

You know that moment when everything just clicks? When you realize you're exactly where you're meant to be? That's where I am right now as a self-employed consultant.

It's not about the glamorous "laptop lifestyle" that floods your social media feeds. It's about something far more valuable: alignment.

Here's what that looks like for me:

- Collaborating with clients who inspire me and challenge my thinking
- Experiencing a constant stream of learning through different industries, company cultures, and business challenges
- Building meaningful relationships across various organizations and sectors
- Having the flexibility to be there for my family and kids

Every new project is like opening a different book, each with its own story, characters, and lessons. The beauty? I get to write my own chapter in each one.

The best part? This isn't a destination - it's an evolving journey. Each new company, each new challenge, each new culture adds another layer to my professional DNA.

Innovation Management and Agile Business Design

TH Köln

I teach several courses at the Technical University of Cologne:
- Business Design in the Master's program Media Informatics
- Cooperation Systems in the Master’s program Web Science

Adjunct Professor

Technical University of Munich

A coincidence of my consulting position was teaching in the Executive MBA program at Technical University of Munich (TUM). 

My students? Up to C-level executives and senior managers who challenge every concept, question every assumption. They force me to evolve my teaching with each batch. Their real-world experience adds layers to theoretical frameworks that no textbook could provide.

The best moments? When a student's perspective completely shifts my own understanding of a concept I've taught for years. That's the magic of executive education - everyone in the room is both teacher and student.

It reminds me: True expertise isn't about having all the answers. It's about staying curious enough to recognize that every interaction is a learning opportunity.

Uniper

Ever notice how learning curves flatten over time? That moment when your daily "aha!" moments become monthly, then yearly? That's not stagnation - that's your growth compass pointing to change.

My entrepreneurial heart was beating louder again, but this time, I was determined to make a smarter exit. No dramatic leaps - just strategic steps.

A one-year interim management contract, three days a week. Simple math: that left two days to build my freelance practice. Who said transitions had to be cliff jumps?

But here's the plot twist: Those years in an 11,000-employee corporate giant? Pure gold. They taught me three invaluable lessons:

The View from Inside: Transforming from "outside consultant" to "internal manager" completely rewired my understanding of corporate dynamics. I earned corporate DNA: Understanding how large organizations actually work (not how consultants think they work) became my secret weapon. Network Architecture: Learning to build and leverage vast corporate networks - a skill that pays dividends daily in my freelance life.

Sometimes, the best way to embrace your entrepreneurial spirit is to first master the system you're leaving.

Innovation Consultant (external)

Orange Hills GmbH

When my startup hit a dead end, so did I. Rock bottom makes every path look equally appealing - or terrifying. One wrong turn could have sent me spiraling into a completely different career trajectory.

But here's what made all the difference: I didn't just accept the first lifeline thrown my way. Before joining a boutique consulting firm, I met EVERY. SINGLE. EMPLOYEE. Yes, you read that right. Because when you're rebuilding, the foundation matters more than the facade.

What I discovered was more than a job - it was a masterclass in everything I wish I'd known during my startup days:

- A methodical framework that addressed precisely where my startup had stumbled
- A team where every single person had something unique to teach
- The ability to dive deep into multiple industries, each with its own lessons

The irony? Sometimes you need to hit rock bottom to build something stronger. Those startup "failures" became valuable war stories in consulting. That entrepreneurial spirit? It transformed into innovative solutions for clients.

Years later, I realize that not knowing what comes next isn't a weakness - it's an opportunity to adapt and grow. Every industry, every project, every challenge adds another tool to your toolkit.

Senior Innovation Consultant

Qwingo – Sports & Performance Analysis

My $0 MBA: What building (and failing) a startup taught me

I am enthusiastic about creating things and didn't want to make innovation solely. That burning desire led me from the structured halls of academia into the wild west of startup life. Little did I know I was enrolling in what I now call my "Private MBA" - except this one came with real stakes and real consequences.

The highs? Landing that dream client everyone in the industry knows. The lows? Watching my company hit a dead end. But here's the thing about startup life - every moment, even failure, is a masterclass in business.

Three expensive lessons I'll never forget:

1. Diversity isn't a buzzword - it's survival. We were three IT nerds with similar mindsets. Great for tech talk, terrible for challenging assumptions. Today, I know: diverse perspectives aren't just nice to have - they're essential for innovation.
2. Tight budgets are secret weapons. When resources are scarce, you learn to execute fast, think lean, and never lose sight of your goals. No theoretical framework can teach you what a dwindling bank account can.
3. Product development isn't just about the product. Building from scratch taught me that great products aren't built in isolation - they're born from understanding markets, users, and business models simultaneously.

Years later, these lessons still shape every business decision I make. Sometimes the most valuable education comes without a diploma.

Founder & CEO

RWTH Aachen University

What seemed like a formal transition to RWTH Aachen turned into one of the most transformative chapters of my professional journey.

As a research assistant, I discovered three passions that would shape my career forever:

First, the joy of teaching returned to my life. There's something magical about standing in front of eager minds, sharing knowledge, and watching that 'aha moment' light up in students' eyes.

Then came the challenge of managing complex projects independently. No safety nets, no hand-holding - just pure responsibility and the thrill of steering projects from concept to completion.

But the most unexpected turn? This role planted the seed for my PhD journey. What started as a position soon evolved into a calling.

They say the best career moves often don't feel like massive leaps when you make them. Sometimes, it's those "simple switches" that lead to the most profound transformations.

Research Assistant

Fraunhofer FIT

You know: Choose your boss, not your job!

It couldn't have been more true for my first real job. The opportunity to work with Professor Prinz wasn't just a job offer – it was an invitation to join an inspiring journey to learn and grow.

What made this so special?

First, there was the incredible diversity. Imagine working alongside people with vastly different experiences and backgrounds, each bringing their unique perspective to every challenge. It wasn't just about what we knew but how differently we thought.

Then there was the environment itself. Not just an office but more a creative lab. The open mindset paired with the resources fostered innovation and collaboration.

But what really made the difference? Working on industry projects that went beyond theoretical concepts. Every day, we were creating solutions that made real impact in the real world.

Looking back, my first job already led to my enthusiasm for innovation.

I support corporates in all activities focusing on INNOVATION: 
Creating new ideas and transforming them into businesses, products, or services.

IDEATION
With my help, you and your employees will come up with new ideas to move your business forward.

INNOVATION SPRINTS
I support your team in the concrete implementation of ideas from project planning all the way to the market.

INNOVATION STRATEGY
Together we develop an innovation strategy to lead your company into the future.

INNOVATION ECOSYSTEM
I assist in building an innovation culture and an innovation ecosystem, which fosters creative work and implementation of innovation in your company.

INNOVATION TRAINING
I train your employees to enable them to perform better innovation activities.


My background: 

I am a digital native with over ten years of experience in the field of innovation. I support companies in implementing innovation strategies and new business models. I catalyze ideas from corporate leaders in the areas of strategy and innovation and provide advisory from the initial thought to market entry.

I have studied computer science and business administration with a focus on human-computer interaction and management accounting at RWTH Aachen University. I continued as a scientist at the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Information Technology FIT. I hold a Ph.D. (Dr. rer. nat.) in computer science and founded a start-up for algorithmic sports performance analysis based on big data.

Furthermore, I hold several teaching positions at the TU Munich, TH Cologne, and TU Dortmund. 

Dr. Nils Jeners

Follow me for leadership insights | I've worked with 1300+ leaders to achieve breakthrough results | Together we fuel high-performance in your team | We close the strategy to execution gap | We unlock your full potential

As a leader, you constantly strive for creating a high-performance organisation where people thrive and grow.  Where full engagement, consistent results, and personal fulfilment is the norm.

Through a career spanning over two and a half decades, two continents and multiple industries, I tried to create that environment for every organisation I led. Never easy, but always rewarding and ultimately essential to achieve results.

After leaving my last corporate role end of 2020. I decided to create a company that would focus on helping individuals, teams and organisations leverage untapped potential to drive performance.

At the heart of every organisation are teams.  We developed our HIGH-PERFORMANCE TEAMS program to help leaders and teams create exceptional results by addressing the topics of trust, conflict, and accountability.  We provide the tools and environment for teams to build a rock-solid and authentic foundation together.

When I ask leaders the question "What's your perspective on the strategy to execution gap?" - leaders consistently recognise that there is one.  To help you address this head-on we leverage a proven approach implemented in over 500 organizations, to dramatically enhance your STRATEGY-TO-EXECUTION PERFORMANCE.

Last but not least, I also work with leaders on a 1:1 coaching basis - to help you LEAD AUTHENTICALLY AND WITH CONFIDENCE. Leadership is a journey, and my coaching aims to help you understand yourself, where you want to go, and who you want to be as a leader. It is about aligning your actions with what truly matters to you and those you care for.

Since starting LEADING2RESULTS in 2021, I have had the privilege of working with over a thousand leaders across dozens of companies globally, assisting them, their teams & organisations in unlocking their full potential.

To learn more visit our website at http://www.leading2results.com.

To talk with me about your business' opportunities and challenges - you know what to do.

Feel free to follow me for insights & ideas.

Jakob Bovin

"What is micro-management and what are the consequences?"




These are questions that I am often confronted with.


So, I felt compelled to make it clear what the consequences of micro-management are and what you should do instead, and how to deal with it – if you’re being micro-managed.


MICRO-MANAGEMENT IN A NUTSHELL

Micro-managers are characterized by excessive control and close monitoring of every detail of their employees' work. They intervene often and provide constant opinions on how things should be done. They tend to ask for continuous updates. Finally, they typically make most decisions without involving the team.


WHAT IS THE OPPOSITE?

Effective management balances guidance and support, allowing employees to use their skills and judgment. Effective managers trust team members to perform their roles independently, aligning on clear goals and expectations. They offer constructive feedback and encourage professional growth. These practices foster growth, innovation, and a great workplace culture.

Often people confuse clear goals with follow-up as micro-management. But it’s not. Clear goals and disciplined follow-up are common sense and crucial to performing effectively.


HOW TO DEAL WITH IT…IF YOU’RE BEING MICRO-MANAGED?

The challenge often is that the micro-manager doesn’t realize it themselves. So, the only way to address it is by setting clear expectations of what constitutes an effective collaboration and work environment for you. Otherwise, the micro-management will prevail.

A good exercise is to ask your manager what they expect from you, when you’ve listened, you then ask if you can share what you expect from your manager.
 
I am keen to hear your take on micro-management!

Jakob

#micromanagement

PS. Thanks Mike Leber for the great graphic!

I work with leaders to achieve breakthrough results | 1,800 leaders can’t be wrong | Together, we fuel high performance in your team | We close the strategy to execution gap | We unlock your full potential

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The Battle

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