Katja zur Linden
C-level sparring partner for growth phases
I work with CEOs, COOs, and CHROs when growth places new demands on leadership, structure, and decisions.
Results, Leadership, and Organisational Responsibility
My experience comes from direct responsibility in complex organisations, including P&L responsibility and leading up to 2,100 employees.
Decisions Under Real-World Conditions
Roles at companies such as Manpower Group, Deutsche Post, and Mercedes-Benz represent decisions made under time pressure, operational burden, and conflicting expectations.
P.S.: Many of my publications are still released under Katja Gose-Krüger.
What shapes my work
I understand organisational and leadership issues from situations,
where structures were adjusted too late –
or where responsibility was not clearly defined.
where structures were adjusted too late –
or where responsibility was not clearly defined.
And I have experienced how organisations become effective again
when leadership, roles, and decision-making spaces fit together seamlessly.
when leadership, roles, and decision-making spaces fit together seamlessly.
This experience shapes my work more than methods or models.
When companies engage me
Typically when:
- Leadership is technically strong, but structurally overloaded
- Decisions are made too slowly or too centrally
- Responsibility is formally defined, but practically unclear
- Management teams no longer function as a coherent system
- Recruitment starts to compensate for structural ambiguity
I do not work on individual symptoms,
but on the structures that generate these symptoms.
but on the structures that generate these symptoms.
Working approach
- C-level sparring
- Focus on roles, responsibilities, and decision-making scope
- Organisational and leadership structures that function in daily operations
Pragmatic. Clear. Actionable.
My Stance
Organisations do not need to work harder.
They need to be structured sustainably.
They need to be structured sustainably.
WHAT OTHERS SAY
Deutsche Post CSC
"Under Katja's leadership, we achieved the highest increase in employee satisfaction nationwide. In 3 months, she and her team recruited 130 employees, successfully filled 6 new management positions, and implemented social partners – all during ongoing operations. Her ability to bring people along whilst delivering strategic and operational excellence is exceptional."
Time Frame
"In 12 months, Katja managed two parallel mammoth projects: complete site establishment in Dreieich (40 FTE from zero) and simultaneous restructuring in Essen with 400% growth. Her combination of strategic vision and pragmatic implementation enabled us to acquire new business customers and massively scale existing operations."
Cyber Security
"Katja enabled our scaling from 21 to 120+ employees and built a complete HR organisation from scratch – across countries. She introduced systems, implemented pay transparency including job levels and management tiers. Her structured, scientifically founded approach provided us with the basis for further scaling to 200+ employees."