The costs of overlooking culture
Transformation fails quietly when culture is an afterthought.
Have you ever led a major change? ... a reorganization, a merger, the rollout of a matrix structure or a digitalization program only to realize too late that culture was treated as an afterthought?
The social dimension of change is never optional. When culture is ignored, even the smartest strategies stall. Trust erodes. Alignment breaks. Loyal people and long-term clients notice and move on.
The time to work on culture is never tomorrow. It is now. In the daily interactions that build or break trust, alignment, and resilience.

"Culture is not the icing on the cake, it is the cake itself."
Semira Soraya-Kandan
Founder, CEO, & Senior Consultant at Soraya-Kandan, Mannheim
How culture impacts the bottom line
You might think culture has little impact on financial results – because it feels intangible and doesn’t show up on a balance sheet. But that’s a misconception.
Most companies measure the cultural climate through engagement scores like the eNPS. And engagement matters: in 2024, only 21% of employees worldwide were engaged – costing the global economy $438 billion (Gallup, 2025). Engagement drives productivity, retention, and customer loyalty and ultimately, the bottom line.
Make culture measurable. Link it to results. Lead with difference.
Is this for you?
The Culture Change Pioneers program takes place in Mannheim, Germany. It is designed for international leaders with a clear mandate to drive cultural change – whether at company, divisional, or business unit level. You may shape strategy at the top, lead large-scale transformation, or be entrusted with evolving culture across functions. What unites participants is the responsibility to move culture beyond values statements and make it a driver of trust, performance, and collaboration in complex, international, and culturally diverse environments.
You are ...
- C-level executive or business unit leader
- Head of People & Culture, Senior HR, or OD leader
- Head of Communications or marketing lead
- Strategic project lead driving cultural alignment across regions or functions

Transform together
Culture change needs champions and implementers. We encourage you to attend as a transformation tandem: one strategic or C-level leader together with their implementation partner.
This setup creates unique leverage – where strategic clarity meets execution power. You align faster, gain broader traction, and deliver results that last.
- One vision, two levers: Strengthen leadership coherence and execution
- Shared learning: Build joint insight and internal momentum
- Amplified impact: Accelerate transformation through shared ownership

Voices from certified CCP participants
“Participating in the Culture Change Pioneer (CCP) program was a truly enriching experience that deepened my leadership skills in cultural transformation, strategic engagement, and collaboration across complex scientific settings. The mix of practical tools, peer learning, and expert guidance from Semira and Carsten made it an outstanding opportunity. I highly recommend it to anyone committed to driving impactful, sustainable change.”
Tabea Rauscher, Creative Team Lead at European Molecular Biology Laboratory
“The training to become a Culture & Change Pioneer has been truly transformative for me. It has deepened my understanding of change processes and organizational culture, while equipping me with powerful tools to support sustainable transformation. This experience has been an invaluable investment in both my personal and professional growth!”
Andrea Lemke, Strategy Lead Cultural Journey at Lufthansa Group
Your learning experience
Culture Change Pioneers enables you to drive transformation in complex, dynamic environments. You will strengthen your capabilities, grow through peer exchange, and shape your organization’s culture by using the power of dialogue and diversity to fuel future-ready employee and customer experience in AI-enabled work environments.
Four modules
Beyond the modules
Continued implementation support
After the core program, you join a three-month Masterclass phase with bi-weekly online sessions. Here, you work on your own organizational culture challenge, share progress with peers, and receive targeted feedback from lead trainers and guest experts.

IDI assessment
Understand how you and your organization navigate cultural difference.
We use the IDI to assess (inter)cultural competence at individual and group levels.
Participants learn to apply perspective-shifting and collaboration across differences to improve employee and customer experience.

Location
All four modules take place in Mannheim, Germany - the city of music. We offer inspiring venues that combine architectural heritage with a modern spirit of innovation. Located in the Rhine-Neckar metropolitan region, Mannheim is easily accessible from major European cities.
Our learning spaces foster open dialogue and focused collaboration, making them ideal for transformative learning experiences.
Certificate of completion
Participants who complete the full program receive a certificate of completion recognizing their expertise in leading culture change initiatives.
Your bonuses
Including two free seats at our Leadership Dialogues event series in 2025 and 2026.
All participants are invited to be part of our international leadership community for continued dialogue and learning experiences.
Your program leaders
Semira Soraya-Kandan
Founder, CEO, & Senior Consultant at Soraya-Kandan, Mannheim

Carsten Härtl
Senior Consultant at Soraya-Kandan, Mannheim
Additional faculty of consultants and partners




We reserve the right to assign alternative experts. Additional guests will be invited to join the modules and fireside evenings.
About us
Our expertise focuses on dialogic leadership, leveraging diversity, and collaboration in a digital and AI-enabled work environment.
Contact
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