In 2025, our annual Think-Tank: Leader in Action celebrated its 10th anniversary. For the tenth time, clients, friends and interested acquaintances followed our invitation to mingle, network and gain fresh impulses from our exciting guest speakers. Under the motto, Diverse Realities, Diverse Paths, February 20th was an inspiring day full of insights, exchanges and personal stories.
Antonio Di Salvo, former professional soccer player and current trainer of the German U21 national team, opened the event. As long-term professional player and trainer, Antonio knows the dynamics of successful teamwork like no other. In his talk, entitled Burning for the Same Goal, he elegantly segued from professional soccer to economics, placing people in the center. Whether athlete or co-worker, people – their eyes firmly on a collective goal they believe worth achieving – are a team’s most valuable capital. Antonio emphasizes that a team is always larger than its individual members. Trust, honesty and respect are central factors to success. A vital aspect of his approach is a positive error culture; to be consciously for something as opposed to against it.
Following this inspiring opener, we gathered at the buffet where, fortified with food and drink, lively conversation and exchanges ensued. Our anniversary canvas was soon filled with personal messages and signatures. Many of our guests also enjoyed traveling through time as they wandered along the wall of pictures documenting 10 years of Think-Tank history.
The program resumed after lunch with an offering from our own Gianni Liscia. Gianni shed light on how leaders can successfully surmount challenging times. Drawing on the results of our study, The Impact of Global Crises on Leadership Quality, which revealed that employees gave a more positive assessment of their leaders than the leaders’ self-assessment. Also evident is how global crises, such as the Corona pandemic, have powerfully changed leadership. Remote leadership requires fine-tuned communication, active listening and precise inquiries. This development inspires mutual trust of long-term sustainability. In a nutshell: Crises demand stronger leadership presence with trust at the center. In support of this goal, Gianni offered listeners 10 core leadership rules.
A short networking pause and then our third and final Think-Tank speaker took the stage. Stefania Lettini’s presentation, Building Bridges with Gusto, revealed her passion for promoting Italian culinary culture in Germany. Listeners quickly understood that, for Stefania, gusto is far more than flavor. Gusto is attitude, appreciation, and sincere relationships. She greeted her listeners with small packages of her home region’s Apulian almonds, a gesture of good manners and family tradition. . Her father often said, “When you visit someone, have your hands so full of gifts so you have to knock on the door with your feet.” Following her own path, Stefania made her passion her vocation. Her business, LETTINIS®, focuses on high-quality products, transparent origin, and absolute authenticity. Stefania sees mistakes as learning gifts, pathways to personal and professional growth. Much to her guests’ gusto, she rounded out her talk sharing parmesan, salty almond chocolate and a glass of pearl wine.
The event closed amid lively conversations, while envisioning and looking forward to Think-Tank 2026.
