Dr. Carsten Linz is the CEO and founder of Bluegain, a company that helps leaders in their challenging missions to transform established companies at the intersection of digital, business model, and sustainability shift to gain the competitive edge.

In nearly 20 years in leadership positions focused on software, data and digital growth, he has built several EUR 100 mio. businesses and led enterprise-wide transformation programs for more than 60,000 employees. His capacities include Group Digital Officer at BASF, Business Development Officer at SAP, and Global Head of the Center for Digital Leadership.

He is represented on various boards including the o9 Executive Council/Dallas, Shareability’s Technology & Innovation Committee/ Los Angeles, and Social Impact/Berlin. He is a member of the World Economic Forum's Expert Network on Digital Economy and NewLeadership and of the investment committee of European’s largest seed capital fund.

As adjunct faculty member, he teaches in executive programs at European School of Management & Technology Berlin, Mannheim Business School, University of St. Gallen, and Stanford Graduate School. He is a sought-after keynote speaker and panelist (listed at London Speaker Bureau).

His most recent book ‘Radical Business Model Transformation’ was published by KoganPage London, translated into several languages, and – now in its second edition – is considered a standard reference in business model and digital transformation literature. His articles have appeared in renowned journals such as Forbes, MIT SloanMgmt. Review, Harvard Business Review/Manager, CIO Magazine, Computerwoche, D!gitalist, and Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung.

Carsten Linz holds a PhD in Innovation Management from University of Bern/Switzerland and a Diploma degree in Economic Engineering from Karlsruhe Institute of Technology. He studied System Dynamics and Entrepreneurship at MIT Sloan School of Management, Leading Change and Organizational Renewal at Harvard Business School, and Corporate Strategy at INSEAD Fontainebleau.

He was named “Top-100 Digital Influencer”, awarded as “Innovation Landmark” by the German President, honored with the coveted “Award of Excellence” from the Global Institute of Logistics and ranked as “Leader” in the Gartner Magic Quadrant.

He supports social entrepreneurs as advisory board member of Social Impact Berlin, acts as a mentor of Deutschlandstiftung Integration, and seeks to multiply the impact of #NewLeadership to improve the state of the world.