EXECUTIVE COACH & SPARRING PARTNER

Martin Bettels

He combines proven methods with more than 20 years of leadership experience. Models, tools, frameworks, and AI-supported approaches all have their place — but they do not determine the conversation. What matters is what the situation requires.

His work with clients is therefore always context-specific. He listens before he speaks. He does not reassure for the sake of reassurance; he clarifies. He looks at the situation honestly, assesses what is really happening, and focuses on what creates progress from here.

My Approach

I work with executives on equal footing. This is not a slogan, but a commitment. My clients do not need a facilitator or motivational speaker. They need a confidential counterpart who understands their reality, reads situations on several levels, and is willing to be direct.

My background as an engineer and my years in leadership shape the way I think: structured, solution-oriented, and focused on what matters. The goal is not simply to describe the problem, but to clarify the next steps.

For complex projects, I work with a selective network of specialists, coaches, and entrepreneurs — depending on the task at hand.

    • Steinbeis Academy, Berlin: Certified Supervisory Board Member

      Technical University of Braunschweig: Dipl.-Ing. in Mechanical Engineering

      American Production and Inventory Control Society: CPIM

      St. Gallen Business School, Capgemini Business School: General Management

      dvct – German Association for Coaching and Training: Certified Business Coach & Master Coach – dvct-certified

      IESE Business School, Barcelona (No. 1 worldwide, Financial Times ranking): Member of the Executive Coaching Team

  • Martin Bettels is a mechanical engineer with more than 20 years of experience in management, management consulting, and digital transformation.

    After beginning his career as a project consultant, he held senior positions at Baan Company, including Industry Director Automotive for the EMEA and Asia-Pacific regions. Earlier roles included account manager, project manager, and management consultant.

    From 2000 to 2009, he held various leadership positions at Capgemini. Most recently, he served as Vice President and Director of Sales & Alliances and was a member of the Country Board for Germany and Switzerland.

    Since 2009, he has been Founder and Managing Director of SUCCEERS GmbH — the success engineers. He has also been active for many years as an advisory board member, supervisory board member, and strategic advisor to executive boards. In addition, he was a co-founder of Myx2U — The Music Collective.

    His expertise includes leadership development, corporate strategy, digital transformation, sales, organizational development, and supporting growth and change processes.

  • Collaboration and experience with international companies, small and medium-sized enterprises, technology, industry, healthcare, services, private equity and international organizations

    • Almirall

    • Amplifon

    • Arvato

    • Audi

    • Boehringer Ingelheim

    • Chaloub Group

    • Deutsche Telekom

    • Dräger

    • ERSTE Bank

    • Frauenthal

    • HELM AG

    • HP

    • IESE Business School, Barcelona

    • IBM

    • Intel

    • JTI

    • Jungheinrich

    • Korn Ferry

    • L´Oréal

    • Matrix42

    • Otto Group

    • Rodriguez

    • Secunet

    • Sequence

    • Siemens Healthineers

    • Starwood

    • stp.one

    • TAP.de

    • Teckentrup

    • World Bank Group

    • ZEIT

    • ZF

  • The 7 moments of coaching Stories of inner journeys, Alberto Ribera, 2021

    Twelve experienced coaches and staff members from the Executive Coaching Unit at IESE Business School (including Martin Bettels) take you on a journey to explore various key moments in the coaching process.

    They address some of the central themes of executive coaching: resilience, motivation, leadership, difficult relationships, decision-making, happiness and much more. Written in an easy-to-understand, unpretentious and entertaining style, the book combines real-world case studies with explanations of simple and effective coaching tools and concepts.

    Buy the book on Amazon

Martin Bettels supports the German Organ Transplantation Foundation (DSO) and AFS Intercultural Programs.

  • "In difficult, complex and unfamiliar situations, it is essential to stay connected to your head, heart and gut so that your own energy becomes a source of real impact. Martin consistently helped me see the bigger picture, bring order to complexity, and renewed my confidence and strength to move forward."

    Daniel Tepe, Board Member, Helm AG

  • "At the top of an organization, leaders often lack an independent sparring partner when it comes to developing their own leadership or navigating critical change. Martin brings an exceptional breadth of experience and provides the right insights and challenges with clarity, a highly personal approach, and lasting impact."

    Kai Könecke, Chief Supply Chain Officer, Emmi Group

  • "Over many years, Martin Bettels has become one of the few trusted advisors I rely on when facing complex leadership challenges. He has a rare ability to challenge my thinking, reframe difficult situations, and create the clarity needed for sound decisions. Every conversation leaves me with broader perspectives, sharper judgement, and renewed confidence. If you are looking for more than coaching, Martin is the kind of sparring partner who creates lasting impact and helps drive meaningful change."

    Mike Böhm, Managing Director Zech Management GmbH and CIO Zech Group

  • "Leadership at the highest level means making decisions where certainty is rare, consequences are far-reaching, and the stakes are exceptionally high—for the business, its people, and your own leadership. Martin is the trusted sparring partner who consistently helps me expand my thinking, make sound decisions, and execute them with confidence and integrity."

    Rouven Lippe, Head of Perioperative Care Dräger

Character shows in conversation. Not in the proposal.

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