BLOG

GET A CLU💡

Read my articles about organizational growth and transforming from the inside out!

Consulting Caroline-Lucie Ulbrich Consulting Caroline-Lucie Ulbrich

Magic happens when the French Wizard COO and the Japanese middle managers team up

How did French COO Carlos Ghosn transform a struggling Nissan into one of the most profitable carmakers in the world in 1999? he tapped into his abilities to empower others and to succinctly navigate an Asian “closed” culture. Discover the magic of cross-cultural leadership, where a French 'Wizard COO' unlocked the potential of Japanese middle managers to drive one of the most remarkable corporate turnarounds in history.

Read More
Consulting Caroline-Lucie Ulbrich Consulting Caroline-Lucie Ulbrich

Pink pants, pink cabins in Dubai, and safe spaces

While riding the Dubai Metro, I found myself decompressing in the pink cabins reserved for women and children—a small but meaningful safe space amidst the city's hustle. This made me reflect on safe spaces in organizations. By fostering trust, open communication, and a culture where learning from failure is celebrated, leaders can create environments that empower their teams to innovate and grow sustainably.

Read More
Consulting Caroline-Lucie Ulbrich Consulting Caroline-Lucie Ulbrich

Empowering managers: the ‘cost to achieve’ mindset shift

In a company-wide cost-cutting and operational excellence program, I discovered an approach that turns cost-cutting into an empowering exercise. By shifting to a ‘cost-to-achieve’ mindset, we enabled managers to see cost savings as opportunities for strategic investment. This approach allowed them to take charge, creating solutions aligned with both savings and long-term goals.

Read More
Consulting Caroline-Lucie Ulbrich Consulting Caroline-Lucie Ulbrich

How to not kill creativity in organizations

I discuss how embracing "mini-c" creativity—the small, personal acts of experimentation—can spark innovation within organizations. Examples are: Google’s 20% time policy, Safaricomm M-PESA, or posts-it’s created by 3M. Bonus: A checklist for senior managers to entice employees to experiment and get creative.

Read More
Consulting Caroline-Lucie Ulbrich Consulting Caroline-Lucie Ulbrich

KPIs pulling double duty: Expansion meets transformation

Do you face the double challenge of leading both a transformation and an international expansion? I have a solution for you. The key to success lies in measuring the "right" KPIs—where operational efficiency, revenue growth, and employee engagement converge. Discover which combination of KPIs drive progress.

Read More
Consulting Caroline-Lucie Ulbrich Consulting Caroline-Lucie Ulbrich

Why going fast in transformations means slowing down to partner up

In the rush of leading large-scale transformations, it's easy to overlook the power of collaboration. By revisiting insights from classic management thinkers, we can unlock key strategies—leveraging partnerships for innovation, speed, and competitive advantage. Sometimes, turning to "old" wisdom is exactly what modern transformations need.

Read More
Consulting Caroline-Lucie Ulbrich Consulting Caroline-Lucie Ulbrich

How to assess organizational culture: a guideline

Creating your own cultural assessment framework might sound daunting, but it's a practical and effective way to understand your organization's culture. By using a mix of qualitative tools, such as interviews, and tried-and-tested tools available on the analytics market, such as Culture Amp's tools or the Qualtrics survey platform, you can gather comprehensive data.

Read More
Casestudy Caroline-Lucie Ulbrich Casestudy Caroline-Lucie Ulbrich

Leadership dialogues – when authenticity is your strongest asset

This case study examines the implementation of leadership dialogues at a major German bank to enhance communication and employee morale during significant organizational restructuring. By fostering transparency and strengthening connections between senior leaders and their teams, the initiative successfully navigated change management challenges.

Read More
Consulting Caroline-Lucie Ulbrich Consulting Caroline-Lucie Ulbrich

Mastering transformations: the power of reverse-engineering

 My approach to transformations begins with a unique tactic: becoming a hermit for two days. This time allows me to delve deep into the project by reverse engineering it. By starting from the project's endpoint and working backward, I ensure a comprehensive understanding of all the necessary steps and milestones required for success

Read More
Consulting Caroline-Lucie Ulbrich Consulting Caroline-Lucie Ulbrich

Rediscover your employees’ tacit know how

Explore innovative strategies in organizational development and change management to unleash the hidden potential of tacit knowledge. Learn how to foster employee engagement through transformative approaches such as informational interviews, driving sustainable growth and adaptation.

Read More

TRANSFORM YOUR CAREER

Networking in professional settings helps you get a new job, meet your peers, discover opportunities. It can be learned.