Organizations & People

Wednesday, 21.10.2026

09:30 - 10:00

Main Stage

The Long Game: Leadership in Times of Disruption

Moderation

Kai Althoff

CEO | 4flow

Chairman | BVL

Speaker

Michelle Shi-Verdaasdonk

Chief Product Officer | Electrolux Group

10:00 - 10:30

Digitalization of Supply Chains

Organizations & People

Main Stage

“The Future of the Supply Chain Is Connected—and Human”

The future of the supply chain is digital—but not digital at any cost. This presentation contextualizes the current challenges in retail within the framework of geopolitical influences, a shortage of skilled workers, and rising demands for availability and efficiency. Using concrete examples, the presentation demonstrates how connected systems, targeted automation, and an integrated IT landscape can create real added value. The focus is not on the technology itself, but on its contribution to the quality and performance of the supply chain. The human factor remains crucial: culture, skills, and collaboration are the foundation for sustainable success in an increasingly digitized world.

Moderation

Kai Althoff

CEO | 4flow

Chairman | BVL

Speaker

Peter Maly

Member of the Management Board – REWE COO, Logistics and Supply Chain Management | REWE Markt GmbH

14:45 - 15:30

AI & Machine Learning

Organizations & People

CurioStage

SC2040 - Interactive Future Check

What will happen in the next 15 years with AI developing exponentially, robots taking over more and more tasks and GenAI even able to replace white collar workers? In an interactive session, we will jointly explore possible scenarios for SC2040 in multiple angles e.g. geopolitics, AI and robotics.

Speaker

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Knut Alicke

Senior Advisor | McKinsey

14:45 - 15:30

AI & Machine Learning

Organizations & People

Main Stage

Calibrated Trust: Who Controls the Agent-Based Supply Chain—Humans or Machines?

The supply chain of tomorrow needs people who can do more than just press buttons. AI makes suggestions, robots take action—people must design, evaluate, and take responsibility. The problem: true judgment comes from real-world experience, which the younger generation no longer gains in the same way as previous generations. This poses a dilemma for training, recruiting, continuing education, and process design.
What it’s all about:
• Which core competencies really matter?
• How must training and continuing education be reimagined?
• How can companies create processes so that people don’t trust blindly—but also don’t reflexively question everything?
Goal: Calibrated Trust—leadership that instills the right level of trust in AI so that decisions remain accountable.

Prof. Dr. Julia Arlinghaus from the University of St. Gallen and Dr. Inga-Lena Darkow, drawing on their industry experience, will present several proposals on this topic and engage in a discussion with the audience.

Speaker

Dr.-Ing. Inga-Lena Darkow

Executive and expert in the application of artificial intelligence in industry, supply chains, and transformation | BASF

Speaker

Prof. Dr. Julia Arlinghaus

Director - Institute of Production and Supply Chain Management | Universität St.Gallen

Scientific Advisory Board

16:00 - 16:45

Organizations & People

Networking

CurioStage

Make, Buy—or Build Together? Why a Company’s Future Viability Is Shaped by Collaboration Between Organisations

Many challenges in logistics today cannot be solved solely within a company’s own organisation, nor can they simply be outsourced. In this session, the classic ‘make or buy?’ approach is expanded to include a third perspective: ‘build together’. The focus is on how companies can jointly develop future-relevant capabilities and solutions through strategic business communities, rather than through one-off collaborations. The session highlights the framework conditions required for successful cross-organisational collaboration, how shared practical knowledge is developed, and why the ability to collaborate is becoming a key competence for leadership and organisational development.

Moderation

Sina Wans

Managing Director | unusual business

17:00 - 18:00

Organizations & People

Innovation Strategies in Technology & Automation

Main Stage

Automation Requires the Perfect Orchestration Between Hardware, Software, AND People: Why We Need to Invest in Our People to Make Automation Happen!

Investment in automation often concentrates on hardware and software spend. We invest time and energy in perfect testing and project execution. Yet we need the people on the shopfloor to eventually make it happen. So how do we extend our focus to integrating our people into making a change and creating the impact we foresee through automation?

Moderation

Christine Mezger-Behan

Senior Vice President Supply Chain Operations | KION

Speaker

Bart Meers

Global Executive Head of Logistics, Warehousing BSH Home Appliances Group | BSH Home Appliances Group

Speaker

Ronny Sassen

CEO Rhenus Contract Logistics | Rhenus Logistics

Speaker

Nina Moeller

Managing Partner | Implement Consulting Group

Thursday, 22.10.2026

10:15 - 11:15

Logistics Service Providers

Organizations & People

Main Stage

CEO-Talk

Two CEOs from leading logistics service providers will build on the content from the Transformation Dating Game on the first event day – offering an open look behind the scenes at their transformation and digitalisation programmes. They will share specific practical experiences from their companies, identify key success factors and highlight typical pitfalls in strategy, implementation and change management. This paints a realistic picture of what works today, where projects can go wrong, and which levers really make a difference.