I am Rebecca Könitzer

I help leaders and teams grow into who they need to become for the future they want to create.

For over a decade, I’ve supported organizations in navigating complex change, building innovation capabilities, and rethinking what effective leadership looks like today. My background spans global corporations, fast-moving startups, public sector initiatives, and purpose-driven ventures.

As a former Design Director at IDEO, I bring a unique mix of strategic thinking, human-centered design, proven coaching methods and creative problem solving into every collaboration. But strategy, to me, is never just about frameworks or slides. It's about making meaningful decisions in complex systems, unlocking potential in people, and creating environments where bold thinking and real resilience can thrive.

Today, I work as a strategist, trainer, and coach, partnering with leaders who want to build something that lasts and has a positive impact.

What drives me:

  • Making complexity tangible and actionable

  • Designing ways of working that empowers people

  • Identifying opportunities and building organizational adaptability

  • Enabling thoughtful leadership: rooted in values, grounded in responsibility, and resilient in the face of uncertainty

If you're navigating change, building something new, or looking for more purposeful ways of leading, this is the work I love to do.

Founder
Future Forward Leadership
(2025 - Present)

Empowering organizations, teams & leaders navigating complexity and uncertainty unlock potentials, build new capabilities and redefine the way of working for more adaptability and resilience.

Design Director/ Senior Design Lead
Strategy, Business & Org Design - IDEO
(2018 - 2024)

As Design Director at IDEO Europe and part of the leadership team, I guided interdisciplinary teams, built client relationships, and co-led internal programs to foster culture, creative excellence, and business development.

Trainer, Resilience & Systemic Coach
(2018 - 2025)

As independent trainer and coach, I designed and delivered leadership trainings, team development workshops, and coaching for intra- and entrepreneurs.

Manager
Strategy & Transformation - Accenture Strategy
(2015 - 2018)

As Manager I led projects from strategy defintion to operating models building, collaborating with clients in Retail, Consumer Goods & Healthcare industries.

Senior Consultant/Consultant
Strategic Marketing & Sales - Batten & Company
(2011 - 2015)

As part of a leading strategic Marketing and Sales consultancy I worked on business development strategy, e-commerce strategy, market entry and business modelling.


Experiences

M.Sc. Strategy & Innovation (2010 - 2011)
Maastricht University, Netherlands 

B.Sc. International Management (2006 - 2009)
ISM Dortmund, Germany City University, Hong Kong 


Certified Resilience Coach (2022 - 2023)
Kitchen2Soul Akademie, Munich 

Certified Systemic Coach (2016 - 2019)
IFW, Munich 

Liberating Structures Facilitator (2019)
Liberating Structures Amsterdam 


Positive Psychology Course (2022)
University of Pennsylvania 

The Trends and Foresight Academy Masterclass (2021)
The Future Laboratory

Designing Strategy (2019)
IDEO U

Insights for Innovation (2019) 
IDEO U

Coaching Skills for Business Leaders (2019)
Co-Active Training Institute

Education/
Certificates