CV (Short)
As an engineer, he learned how to unleash power on construction machines. As a senior executive, he learned how to unleash power in organizations. As a speaker, he unleashes transformation power in his audience. And inspires. With his authentic personality. With his hands-on knowledge. And his ability to humorously share personal insights from his own professional life. Touching the audience with goosebump moments.
Bruno Hartmann is a German engineer and fluid power executive, culturally rooted in Germany, Japan, and USA. He is a long-standing strategic thinker and member of the supervisory board at Bosch Rexroth AG. He got his industrial engineering diploma in Rosenheim, Germany, and completed his MBA in Clemson, USA. In over 30 years in the industry, he has repeatedly helped to advance the boundaries of what is technically feasible. He has experienced, survived and successfully helped shape a number of mergers and transformations. In the course of his career, he orchestrated a global sales organization, led a “S.W.A.T.” crisis team and, as head of strategy, dealt intensively with M&A and corporate governance.
He is a successful Springer book author and advocates maintaining the corporate soul as a force for sustainable corporate development, especially in times of digitalization and rapid market changes. His credo: “Leaders must be useful!”
More about Bruno
Key facts at a glance
- Born in Günzburg/Danube in 1965
- Degree in industrial engineering in Rosenheim
- MBA in Clemson, USA, intercultural management in Pittsburgh, USA
- 35 years of international industry experience
- Started his career as a hydraulic engineer
- Now a fluid power executive and member of the supervisory board at Bosch Rexroth AG
- First keynote speech in 2002 in the USA, author of Springer-Gabler books
What makes him special
- Has something to say about PMI, change, leadership
- Vodafone buys Mannesmann and his world is shaken
- One roundtrip to burnout and back, without divorce or resignation
- Loves construction machinery, pragmatism, and dry humor
- Knows the realities of business in medium-sized companies and corporations
- Is quite good at strategy and organization
- Gets to the heart of the matter and sometimes provokes
- As a mentor: helps family businesses survive generational change
- Cultural anchors: Germany, Japan, USA
Some Private Insights
For many years, I have had the privilege of traveling internationally for work. Our three years in the US (South Carolina) had a lasting impact on me and gave me a more positive outlook on life. I enjoy working with people from other cultures: whether it’s receiving a warm hug as a greeting in Sao Paulo, the constant head-shaking of listeners in Bangalore, which drives you to despair, or the reserved reactions of negotiating partners in Tokyo, which demand your last reserves of patience. People are so different. That fascinates me. When people treat others condescendingly, I tend to react allergically. I see helping people grow as one of the most important leadership tasks.
I live with my wife in Bavaria, near Ulm. We have been together for over 30 years—quite a challenge! We have two grown-up children, whom I am very proud of because they are both following their own paths. And then there is an overweight cat. And, more recently, a newly “hatched” grandchild. That’s wonderful. I enjoy traveling and discovering new places and perspectives. And I sometimes get bogged down in a Netflix series. I appreciate dry humor and people who don’t just talk, but who know their trade and make positive changes. I like to cook, homemade pasta for example, or something from the grill. Every now and then I play the guitar (I’m an avowed fan of Bruce Springsteen and Johnny Cash). Music and singing (I also enjoy karaoke in Japan) are pure relaxation and happiness hormones for me.