Erik Strückmüller is currently part of a Commercial Excellence Program at LANXESS managing the Project Management Office, based in Bratislava, Slovakia. With over five years of experience in various roles, focusing on enhancing project management and market intelligence initiatives across the EMEA region and consequently globally focused on commercial excellence activities. Erik has a proven track record in coordinating international cross-business projects, improving data collection, reporting and transparency, and representing the company in external engagements. His expertise includes stakeholder communication, HSEQ & Organizational management and digital transformation initiatives.

Anja Steinmetz is the Head of Marketing Excellence for the Coatings & Construction Solutions division at Synthomer. Since joining Synthomer in October 2021 her focus has been on driving strategic marketing initiatives to strengthen Synthomer's global market presence. She oversees divisional market intelligence and marketing communications, aligning them with corporate objectives. Prior to Synthomer, she spent several years in information management as a Technical Editor at Cognitas GmbH, and previously worked in marketing and sales roles at Chemetall GmbH, managing specialty chemicals products. Anja holds a Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry from the University of Essen, with research experience in rheology and colloid chemistry.

A market and competitive intelligence professional with 18+ years of experience in conceptualizing, leading and executing strategic market analysis and advisory projects, and advising companies on implementing market intelligence operations.

Key skills in:
- Strategy and Market Intelligence project management in international settings
- Market Sizing, Market Attractiveness Analysis, Competitive Intelligence and Profiling, Customer Intelligence, Primary and Secondary Research and Analysis, Proposal Writing
- Client relationship building, Account Management, Customer Success Management
- Industry Expertise in Automotive, Healthcare & Pharma, Financial Services, Consumer Electronics
- Fluent in English, Polish, German and French

Nick Friedberg is an experienced leader in corporate intelligence and strategy, currently serving as Vice President and Head of Global Intelligence at Vestas Wind Systems, a global leader in wind turbine manufacturing. With a career spanning various industries, Nick has held senior roles in strategy, corporate development, and intelligence across companies like Smith & Nephew, Coloplast, and HARTMANN Group. At Vestas, he leads a team dedicated to providing strategic insights and intelligence that inform critical decision-making and contribute to the company’s ongoing success. Nick’s expertise includes market forecasting, competitor analysis, and intelligence-driven business strategies, and he is passionate about fostering a collaborative, community-based approach to intelligence sharing within organizations.

As President and Co-founder of Proactive Worldwide, Inc., David Kalinowski leads the organization in developing and implementing global strategies and tactics to deliver world-class competitive intelligence research, analysis, training, and consulting services.

In 1995, David co-founded Proactive Worldwide, Inc., a leading specialty market research firm that concentrates heavily on competitive analysis, after spending the prior 5 years with a smaller, boutique consulting firm. In 2024, Proactive Worldwide earned a Gold Stevie Award® with its CI Blueprint® course in the Career and Workforce Readiness Solution category and a Global 100 Award from EMG Publishing as the Best Research & Consulting Firm.

A 34-year Competitive Intelligence (CI) veteran, David is a sought-after, dynamic keynote speaker known for his skills in helping clients recognize and transcend their business and competitive challenges. He has directed over 1,000 global research and consulting engagements for over 200 Fortune 1000 companies to help them gain and maintain a competitive edge covering industries such as Financial Services, Technology, Consumer & Industrial Goods, and Healthcare & Life Sciences.

David received a Business Titan Award in 2023 in Excellence and was inducted as a CI Fellow in the Council of Competitive Intelligence Fellows in 2022. He has deep experience in Competitive Strategy, Benchmarking, Market Entry and Defense, War Gaming, Early Warning, Intelligence Transformation, Counterintelligence, and CI Leadership Training.

David has trained over 3,000 CI practitioners from over 25 countries: US, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, China, Malaysia, Singapore, Brazil, England, Ireland, Czech Republic, Croatia, Poland, Denmark, Sweden, Switzerland, Finland, India, Thailand, Australia, Canada, Mexico, Spain, Portugal, Austria, Egypt and more.

He has co-written two, bestselling books: New Directions: A Competitive Intelligence Tale (2011) and The CI-Driven CEO (2022).

David holds a BS in Political Science/Public Law from Northern Illinois University.

Claire Buckwar has been Head of Strategic Business Field Battery Solutions at SCHOTT since 2018. In this role, she was working with business partners along the supply chain for Lithium-Ion ǀ Sodium-Ion ǀ All-Solid State ǀ Lithium Primary Batteries to improve their battery performance: that means faster charging, lighter weight, higher safety, better thermal management, longer service lifetime, smaller designs for more cell space and higher capacity, among others. After joining the company in 1999, Claire has been working in different leadership positions in the field of Strategic Marketing & Innovation Management. Currently, she is responsible for SCHOTT´s new business initiatives in the field of Augmented Reality.

The Pop in Your Job
Driving and implementing innovation & new technologies motivates me since day one of my professional life and developed into my forte. I am inspired by the dynamic creativity of the present battery industry, especially when it comes to co-developments with customers and suppliers. I am impressed by people or companies who - in a smart and practical way - implement projects / processes / new technologies for more sustainability, circular economy, and social advances. I believe that highlighting these to a broad audience may not only spark more engagement, but also increases the noise level of positive, uplifting news in media.

Sören Haubold is Head of Market Intelligence & Analyst Relations Mobile Security at Giesecke+Devrient. In this role, he combines a passion for innovation, marketing, and business development with extensive experience in promoting high-tech business solutions and managing analyst relations. With a strong background in market research, trend scouting, and competitor analysis, Sören brings deep expertise in strategic market intelligence and the identification of growth opportunities. He also plays a key role in the screening and management of startups for potential partnerships and M&A activities. Recognized for his initiative and creativity, Sören is a seasoned strategic marketeer and an accomplished presenter with an exceptional international network. His professional journey is marked by long-term experience in project management as well as leading both direct and virtual teams.

The Pop in Your Job
My motto: Be curious, stay authentic and play committed!

Jeroen Lustig is the founder of A-INSIGHTS, a leading SaaS provider that empowers food companies to build and scale their Market Intelligence capabilities. With over 15 years of experience, he has supported more than 300 organizations in transforming data into strategic insights and competitive advantage. Blending AI-driven analytics with real-world application, Jeroen shows how strong Market Intelligence helps businesses cut through the noise, outsmart the competition, and win in tomorrow's market.

LANXESS is a leading global specialty chemicals company based in Cologne, Germany. Established in 2004, LANXESS focuses on innovative and sustainable solutions across various industries, including automotive, construction, and consumer goods. With a commitment to sustainability and digital transformation, the company develops high-performance products and advanced technologies to meet the evolving needs of its customers. LANXESS operates through several business units, each specializing in specific chemical products and solutions. The company employs approximately 14,000 professionals worldwide and maintains a robust market presence in over 30 countries. By prioritizing stakeholder engagement and market intelligence, LANXESS strives to enhance its operational efficiency and drive continuous improvement across its global operations. With a strong emphasis on research and development, LANXESS invests significantly in innovation to ensure its competitive edge in the specialty chemicals market. The company's mission is to deliver value-added solutions that support its customers’ success while promoting responsible practices in all areas of its operations.

Synthomer is a global leader in high-performance, highly specialised polymers and ingredients that are essential to everyday life across various industries. Headquartered in London, Synthomer designs and manufactures polymers used in adhesives, coatings, construction, health, and personal care, as well as in industrial applications. The company is committed to innovation and sustainability, focusing on reducing environmental impact and creating solutions that enable customers to meet their sustainability goals. With a strong R&D presence and manufacturing sites worldwide, Synthomer leverages cutting-edge technology to drive growth and deliver tailored solutions that enhance product performance, durability, and environmental responsibility. Synthomer’s commitment to excellence and its collaborative approach make it a trusted partner for companies seeking advanced materials that contribute to a more sustainable future.

Valona Intelligence is the recognized leader in the market and competitive intelligence since 1999, formerly known as M-Brain*. Combining the power of generative AI and analyst expertise, Valona provides businesses with the most crucial insights and to enable insights-driven decisions. Valona sends over 200,000 news alerts serving over 350,000 business users every day, with insights from hundreds of thousands of trusted industry-specific sources globally in over 100 languages. All translated into clean business summaries in English and presented in clear formats easy to share. We have a global team across 9 offices in Americas, Europe, and Asia, and provide leading Fortune 500 with the foresight they need to shape their future for real business growth. Companies like Goodyear, Inspire Brands, Bosch, Philips, and Cintas have trusted Valona as their market intelligence solution, service, and content provider. Valona is acknowledged by Forrester in 2023 as the premier global platform for market and competitive intelligence.

Vestas Wind Systems is a global leader in sustainable energy solutions, specializing in the design, manufacturing, installation, and servicing of wind turbines. Headquartered in Denmark, Vestas operates in over 80 countries, with a commitment to driving the transition to renewable energy. The company’s solutions aim to deliver cost-effective, reliable, and innovative energy from wind power, supporting the global shift towards a cleaner, greener future. With a strong focus on technological innovation and sustainability, Vestas has installed over 185 GW of wind turbines worldwide, helping to meet the world’s growing energy demands while reducing carbon emissions.

Proactive Worldwide is one of the world's leading specialty market intelligence companies, helping top-tier organizations understand vulnerabilities, better predict market shifts, and plan for growth with confidence. We examine competitors, suppliers, customers, regulatory issues, and more—through advanced competitive, market, and customer intelligence—to deliver a complete picture of the decision-making environment with a far-reaching perspective that uncovers hidden opportunities and key threats. With nearly 30 years of experience, we leverage our proprietary methodology, a deep bench of researchers and analysts, and in-house industry specialists to produce insights that have real impact. Learn more https://www.proactiveworldwide.com/.

As a leading global manufacturer of specialty glass, glass-ceramics, and other advanced materials, it is our goal to create life-changing innovations for a better future. Our success comes from the expertise and experience of our employees and partners around the world. When others say no, we say yes. Because at SCHOTT we believe that shared responsibility can release the energy to achieve the impossible. As a global technology and material group, we are constantly exploring unique and innovative ways to make a difference for businesses and people. Being a foundation company, SCHOTT has anchored a responsibility for scientific research, society, and the environment deeply in its DNA. Represented in over 30 countries by 17,100 employees, we are a highly skilled partner for many high-tech industries: Healthcare, Home Appliances & Living, Consumer Electronics, Semiconductors & Datacom, Optics, Industry & Energy, Automotive, Astronomy & Aerospace. Whatever challenges the future might hold, we can’t wait to come up with innovative solutions and turn visions into reality.

Giesecke+Devrient (G+D) is a global SecurityTech company headquartered in Munich, Germany. G+D makes the lives of billions of people more secure. The company shapes trust in the digital age, with built-in security technology in three segments: Digital Security, Financial Platforms and Currency Technology. G+D was founded in 1852 and today has a workforce of more than 14,000 employees. In the fiscal year 2023, the company generated a turnover of 3 billion euros. G+D is represented by 123 subsidiaries and joint ventures in 40 countries.

Since 2009, A-INSIGHTS has helped leading food companies like Royal FrieslandCampina, McCain, Americold elevate their Market Intelligence function into a true competitive edge. By combining industry expertise with smart automation, A-INSIGHTS enables teams to monitor 10x more companies, analyse 3x more data, and make faster, sharper strategic decisions. Whether it’s benchmarking performance or spotting market shifts early, we turn data overload into clear, actionable intelligence. Learn more at www.a-insights.eu.