The innovation infrastructure practitioner. Author of The OrgChanger. Advisor to life sciences leaders from startup to Global 20.
The OrgChanger book is coming!
“The OrgChanger – Why Organizations Resist the Change They Ask For and How Insiders Build What Lasts“
The practitioner’s guide to building bottom-up innovation that outlasts any mandate. Based on 75+ projects, a 10x portfolio ROI, and a case study taught at Harvard, INSEAD, Wharton, Kellogg, and LBS.
The Ivey Business School case studydocumenting this work — “Boehringer Ingelheim: Leading Innovation” (Ivey Publishing, January 2015) — has been taught in over 42 business schools across at least 23 countries, including Harvard Business School, INSEAD, the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, Wharton, and the London Business School. – The case study is also available at HBR.
The OrgChanger book is the full account behind that case: the decisions that were not obvious at the time, the relationships that took years to build, the failures the case study format cannot accommodate, and the human cost that sits behind every set of documented results. – Sign up for an email notification when the book is available!
Stephan Klaschka is an award-winning strategy leader and a transformation catalyst with more than 25 years of global work experience. He drives transformation, innovation, turnaround, and operational excellence in life-sciences companies of all sizes — from startups to Global 20 enterprises in converging industries including Pharma, Biotech, Diagnostics, and Medical Deviceswith passion, integrity, and hands-on leadership.
His international executive positions included CEO, COO, CIO, Chief Growth Officer, Chief of Staff, Chief Innovation Officer, Chief Strategy Officer, Principal, and Regulatory Compliance Officer with extensive experience in entrepreneurship, start-up, academia, government, global corporations, and startups in various industries and geographies including Europe/Middle East/Africa (EMEA), the Americas, and Asia-Pacific (APAC).
25+ years practitioner experience 75+ innovation projects built10× portfolio ROI
The practitioner’s guide to building bottom-up innovation that outlasts any mandate. Based on 75+ projects, a 10x portfolio ROI, and a case study taught at Harvard, INSEAD, Wharton, Kellogg, and the London Business School.
The Ivey Business School teaching case study — “Boehringer Ingelheim: Leading Innovation” (Ivey Publishing, January 2015) — documents my approach and has been taught in over 42 business schools across at least 23 countries, including Harvard Business School, INSEAD, the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, Wharton, and the London Business School. The case study is also available at HBR.
The OrgChanger book is the full account behind that case: the decisions that were not obvious at the time, the relationships that took years to build, the failures the case study format cannot accommodate, and the human cost that sits behind every set of documented results. – Sign up for an email notification when the book is available!
A Proven Track Record: Over 25 years of global experience driving digital evolution, clinical operations excellence, and organizational effectiveness.
The HBR Standard: Featured as a thought leader in the Harvard Business Review teaching case “Boehringer Ingelheim: Leading Innovation,” utilized by business schools worldwide.
Regulatory Precision: Expert in navigating GxP, 21 CFR Part 11, and emerging AI/ML ethical governance to ensure innovation never compromises compliance.
Global Versatility: Executive leadership experience spanning the Americas, Europe, APAC, and LATAM.
Stephan holds three Master’s degrees in Computer Science, Management/Project Management, and Business Administration (MBA), and advanced degrees in Strategic Innovation, Entrepreneurship, AI in Business, Technology, and Leadership from leading schools in Europe and the United States.
He is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP), a Professional Scrum Master (PSM-I), and a graduate of the MIT Advanced Certificate for Executives (ACE), as well as a winner of the IMD/MIT Entrepreneurship Development Program (EDP).
25+ years practitioner experience 75+ innovation projects built10× portfolio ROI
42+ schools teaching the Ivey case 23+ countries 445+ LinkedIn Group members
Stephan speaks from the inside. Every case he describes is one he built, led, and — in the honest tradition of practitioner writing — sometimes got wrong. His talks combine the intellectual rigor of someone who has studied organizational change formally (MIT ACE, MIT EDP winning team) with the operational credibility of someone who has actually changed large organizations from within. Audiences leave with frameworks they can use on Monday morning, not just ideas they find interesting on Friday afternoon.
Talk 1 — The Three Barriers Why innovation programs fail — and what actually breaks through
Audience Intrapreneurs, corporate innovators, leadership development audiences, business school students
Format Keynote | Masterclass | Workshop
Duration 45 min – full day
Participants leave knowing: • The ten-step playbook for building innovation from the inside • How to build the sponsor relationships that make everything else possible • Why the permission comes after the proof, not before • How to protect themselves from burnout while doing this work • The Kotter alignment: why this approach follows proven change theory from the bottom up
Talk 1 — The Three Barriers: Why innovation programs fail — and what actually breaks through
Talk 2 — From ERG to BRG: Turning Your Employee Group into Organizational Infrastructure The transformation model that became a global case study
Audience ERG/BRG leaders, DEI professionals, HR practitioners, diversity and inclusion conference audiences
Format Keynote | Workshop | Panel
Duration 45 – 90 min
Participants leave knowing: • The fundamental distinction between an ERG and a BRG • The five-pillar BRG business model used at Boehringer Ingelheim • How to build the business case before asking for executive sponsorship • Eight principles for a BRG that outlasts its founders • What the Climate Survey data showed: why BRG membership reduces attrition
Talk 2 — From ERG to BRG: Turning Your Employee Group into Organizational Infrastructure – the transformation model that became a global case study
Talk 3 — Innovation in Regulated Industries: Navigating the Organizational Immune System Why the regulated industry immune system is stronger — and how to work with it, not against it
Audience Pharmaceutical, financial services, energy, healthcare leaders; compliance-heavy industry audiences
Format Keynote | Panel | Workshop
Duration 45 – 90 min
Participants leave knowing: • How the organizational immune system operates in compliance-heavy environments • Why regulatory culture intensifies resistance and how that resistance can be navigated • Cross-industry evidence: what transfers from pharma to energy, financial services, and technology • The trust architecture that makes change possible in regulated contexts • Case studies from pharmaceutical, energy, and financial services organizations
Talk 3 — Innovation in Regulated Industries: Navigating the Organizational Immune System
Talk 4 — The Intrapreneur’s Playbook: Changing Large Organizations as an Insider A tested framework from the inside of one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies
Audience Intrapreneurs, corporate innovators, leadership development audiences, business school students
Format Keynote | Masterclass | Workshop
Duration 45 min – full day
Participants leave knowing: • The ten-step playbook for building innovation from the inside • How to build the sponsor relationships that make everything else possible • Why the permission comes after the proof, not before • How to protect themselves from burnout while doing this work • The Kotter alignment: why this approach follows proven change theory from the bottom up
Talk 4 — The Intrapreneur’s Playbook: Changing Large Organizations as an Insider
Talk 5 — Managing by Outcomes, Not Presence: What the Future Workplace Actually Requires – The decade-ahead lesson that COVID-19 confirmed
Audience HR practitioners, people managers, remote work practitioners, organizational leaders
Format Keynote | Workshop | Panel
Duration 30 – 75 min
Participants leave knowing: • Why managing by presence is an optics system, not a performance system • The NACAS pilot: clinical trial methodology applied to organizational change • The numbers: +30% customer satisfaction, +37% employee satisfaction, +58% work-life balance • How to build the SMART goal infrastructure that makes remote trust possible • Why organizations that built this before 2020 navigated COVID-19 far better
Talk 5 — Managing by Outcomes, Not Presence: What the Future Workplace Actually Requires – The decade-ahead lesson that COVID-19 confirmed
Documented ratings and organizer testimonials are available on request.
Top rated/—Pharma PPM Toolbox, Basel (2015) 4.93/5.0top-rated conference workshop – Conference Producers said: • “Stephan’s sessions were the best part of our 2015 Pharmaceutical PPM Toolbox.” • “Your strong voice, great stage presence, and engaging with the audience made your presentation unforgettable.”
4.3/5.0 Network & Affinity Leadership Congress (NALC), New York City (2010) Session: “Structure a Business Plan that Measures Your ERG’s Effectiveness”
100%/— Intrapreneurial Spirit Workshop (2016) 100% of participants: understanding of intrapreneurship improved; workshop helpful; would recommend
100%/— GUERBET Corporate Intrapreneurship Workshop, Paris (2017) 100% of participants: able to apply learnings to their work
Recent Events
Seramount Global EmERGe Conference, London — April 2025 — the leading international ERG/BRG practitioner conference • Session:“A Road Map: Raising your ERG to a BRG – How to Become a Partner of Choice Leveraging your ERG/BRG to Drive Innovation”
• C10 Labs / NYC AI Nexus / Applied AI Accelerator — 2026 — Mentor AI and innovation
• German Accelerator NYC — advisor for German life-sciences companies entering the U.S. market
• Blueprint Health — advisor, speaker, and investor
What Audiences Say
“This session was outstanding with a lot of useful takeaways!”
“Very practical info. Can leverage immediately as program manager to ERG.”
“Content was much stronger — great coverage of strategy and aligning it with great examples.”
“The best session for me. I really got a lot of ideas and content.”
Boehringer Ingelheim “School for Intrapreneurs” wins Most Impactful Emerging Global Initiative at eyeforpharma Philadelphia Awards 2015
“This is a great idea! Many companies have made similar attempts, but this one just seems to get it right. They are providing the resources and tools to really foster innovation based on the principle that the most innovative ideas come from the people who are actually doing the work.” — Paolo Moreira, VP Global Clinical Operations, EMD Serono, eyeforpharma Awards Judge
The Ivey Business School case study “Boehringer Ingelheim: Leading Innovation”(Mitchell & Chandrasekhar, January 2015), which documents the core work, has been taught in over 42 business schools in at least 23 countries, including Harvard Business School, INSEAD, the Kellogg School of Management, Wharton, and the London Business School.
Signed copies are available for conference attendees. Bulk orders for conference use welcome — contact directly.
What Conference Organizers Receive
Pre-call to align talk content with your conference theme and audience
Custom abstract and speaker bio in your required format
High-resolution speaker photo
Slide deck adapted to your timing and technical requirements
Workshop materials if applicable (participant handouts, frameworks, exercises)
Post-event follow-up: willingness to engage with attendees via LinkedIn
OrgChanger.com blog for attendees to continue the conversation
Work with Stephan Today!
Stephan is available for keynotes, conference sessions, panel discussions, masterclasses, and full-day workshops. He is based in the Greater New York City area and is available for domestic and international engagements.
Architecting Scalable Innovation for the Global Life Sciences
Bridging the gap between complex regulatory mandates, organizational effectiveness, and cutting-edge digital transformation. We build the frameworks that propel pharma and high-growth startups to lead, scale, and thrive.
Strategic Solutions for Every Stage of Growth
The Enterprise Framework
The Growth Framework
The Venture Framework
Optimizing Legacy Systems
Scaling Operational Maturity
Rapid Turnaround & Exit Prep
AI/ML Integration & Data Governance Policies.
Redesigning QMS frameworks to reduce development lifecycles by 31%.
Interim CEO/COO leadership for business rescue and cultural shifts.
Global Clinical Trial system governance for 70,000+ users.
Implementing lean governance and agile data analytics platforms.
Transforming legacy consulting into scalable SaaS/RegTech products.
$700M+ Innovation Portfolio management with 10x ROI.
“Workplace of the Future” remote programs saving $150M+.
Driving 360% revenue growth to attract Venture Capital investment.
Trusted by Global Leaders and Disruptive Startups
Work with Stephan Today!
Stephan is available for keynotes, conference sessions, panel discussions, masterclasses, and full-day workshops. He is based in the Greater New York City area and is available for domestic and international engagements.
Stop managing symptoms and start building a framework for sustainable growth. Let’s discuss how to align your technological roadmap with your clinical and commercial objectives.
Thank you for your message, I will contact you shortly!
Thank you for your message!
I will contact you shortly (typically within 24 hours) and look forward to talking to you very soon!
Best regards,
Stephan Klaschka
Principal, Klaschka&Co
OrgChanger@Klaschka.Co
