GDI
IMPACT LEADERSHIP PROGRAMME
FOR DEPARTMENT STORES
Developing the Next C-Suite Leaders
In partnership with Intercontinental Group of Department Stores
WHAT IS YOUR ESSENTIAL IMPACT AS A FUTURE C-SUITE LEADER?
How can your department store business survive and thrive in the future?
The GDI Impact Leadership Programme for Department Stores is a leadership development programme bringing you together with department store leaders from around the world, with the potential to take on greater leadership responsibility at the C-suite level in the near future.
Within this programme, open to leaders of all department store companies worldwide, you will define your impact leadership profile as an executive leader, integrate effective forward-thinking tools and develop your full leadership potential as a future shaper by having foresight and insight, reflecting and consciouscly making a transformational impact.
The Impact Leadership Programme stimulated me to think as a
generalist and gave me a clearer personal vision on department
store futures, which also helps me in my daily work.
This experience has expanded my network, my view, and provided me with tools to not only define my leadership path but also to support others in their journeys.
It has been a great experience to be part of this high-class leadership programme! It has provided me with valuable insights into leadership, business strategy, and personal growth.
KEY LEARNINGS
Unlock the power of three impact leadership levels
Impact leadership is grounded in addressing the following three questions. The programme is highly interactive and highlights these three levels and their interconnections.
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WHY does our department store industry need to transform?
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WHAT do we need to do to stay agile?
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HOW do we act as impact leaders to proactively create our future together?
IMPACT LEVEL 1: WHY
Leadership skill foresight
WHY does our department store industry need to transform?
The dynamic driving forces behind economic, societal and environmental change.
- Analyse the trends in society, economy, technology and environment and evaluate how they impact the industry and your business
- Understand the fundamentals behind the development of customer needs – and reflect on what it takes to create an excellent customer experience
- Be aware of yourself as a leader – and how trends impact you and your leadership
IMPACT LEVEL 2: WHAT
Leadership skill insight
WHAT do we need to do to stay agile?
A systematic approach to strategic foresight and organisational development.
- Develop a holistic understanding of strategy, structure and culture – recognise challenges and risks and where to create the greatest impact
- Reflect on areas of operational excellence and innovation – and build on your awareness of how conflicting goals can be tackled
- Work with efficient tools to evaluate and focus on impactful
developments for your company
IMPACT LEVEL 3: HOW
Leadership skills: reflection & action
HOW do we act as impact leaders to proactively create our future together?
Energising ourselves, our teams and our organisations.
- Reflect on your personal impact leadership profile, in particular your impact strengths, and how to build on them as an individual and in your team
- Define your vision, personal ambition and strategic network
- Lead effectively and mobilise people by defining your personal set of impact tools
CO-CREATION
You will be introduced to a cutting-edge online process to
evaluate current trends and gain security in your choices and
priorisation of the main retail trends in order to co-create future
scenarios and concepts with your colleagues.
- You will use an online evaluation tool and compass to
organise your foresight in an efficient way. - You will learn to cooperate with peers on an online
trend board and within an online process. - You will experience how to facilitate a workshop
to translate trends into action fields and future concepts.
Based on a comprehensive “State of the Industry Report” and a detailed “Retail Trend Radar” developed by the GDI think tank, you and your group will define the most important trends impacting the present and future department store industry. You will translate these trends into action fields, defining first possible steps as a future shaper. These results can be a
take-away for you from this programme that will encourage necessary future-oriented conversations within your organisation.
THE PROGRAMME TEAM
Tanja Ineichen
Programme Director, Co-facilitator, Coach
Head of Leadership & Transformation at the GDI; certified PrinciplesYou coach; renowned book author in the fields of impact leadership; Master's degree in commerce, Vienna University of Economics & Business; 15+ years of business experience in the retail industry.
Susan Shaw
Strategic Foresight Expert
Head of Strategic Foresight at the GDI; Master’s degree in social sciences at the Universities of Zurich and Madrid; 20+ years of business experience as a translator of research insights into strategic recommendations and action fields, identifying future trends and
analysing consumer behaviour in various industries.
Jean-Claude Courto
Co-creation Expert, Co-facilitator, Coach
Independent organisational developer, coach and management trainer at the motiv-ch network (co-founder); economist, University of Basel; passionate flow team designer and FlowStyle specialist; 20+ years of experience co-creating customer solutions with impact.
Gianluca Scheidegger
Senior Researcher at the GDI think tank
Behavioural economist and consumer behaviour specialist; PhD from the Institute of Retail Management at the University of St. Gallen, one of Europe’s leading business schools; graduate courses in retailing at the University of St. Gallen; practical experience in campaign management and strategic marketing.
YOUR LEARNING VENUES
GDI Camp
GDI Gottlieb Duttweiler Institute
Langhaldenstrasse 21
8803 Rüschlikon/Zürich
Nestled in the beautiful parklands of the GDI Foundation, with a view over Lake Zurich.
30 mins from Zurich Airport
10 mins from Zurich city centre
5 mins from your hotel (on foot)
IGDS World Department Store Summit
IGDS World Department
Store Summit 2026
Americas
THE PROGRAMME TEAM
Tanja Ineichen
Programme Director, Co-Facilitator, Coach
Head of Leadership & Transformation, GDI; Certified PrinciplesYou Coach; Renowned book author in the fields of Impact Leadership; Master Degree Commerce, Vienna University of Economics & Business; 15+ years of business experience in the retail industry.
Dieter Tschemernjak
Innovation Strategy Expert
Entrepreneur & Partner at in-manas: intelligent management solutions Gmbh; Co-Creator of the AI-based digital platform Inno-verse; Master Degree Strategic Corporate Management, Leopold-Franzen University of Innsbruck; 25+ years of business experience in leading corporate functions and in the consulting industry.
Jean-Claude Courto
Co-Creation Expert, Co-Facilitator, Coach
Independent Organizational Developer, Coach and Management Trainer at the motiv-ch Network (Co-founder); Economist, University of Basel; Passionate Flow Team Designer and FlowStyle Specialist; 20+ years of experience co-creating customer solutions with heart and impact.
Gianluca Scheidegger
GDI Senior Researcher
Behavioural economist and consumer behaviour specialist; PhD from the Institute of Retail Management at the University of St. Gallen, one of Europe’s leading business school; Graduate courses in retailing at the University of St. Gallen; Practical experience in campaign management and strategic marketing.
Is the Impact Leadership Programme for Department Stores the right programme for you?
START YOUR IMPACT JOURNEY
5 days on site within an impact journey of 6 months (in total), including:
3.5 days on site at the GDI Camp:
Mon. 20 April to Thu. 23 April 2026, Switzerland
1.5 days on site at the IGDS World Department Store Summit:
Tue. 19 to Wed. 20 May 2026, Americas
+ Facilitated online process with 4 online group meetings
+ 2 one-to-one coaching sessions and 1 transfer coaching session (in a small peer-group setting)
+ Personality assessment analysis
+ Access to a platform for worldwide trends and innovations
Programme language: English
FEE
CHF 7670
(price includes all course materials, dinners, lunches, coffee breaks and free admission to the IGDS World Department Store Summit 2026; price excludes accommodation and travel expenses)
APPLY NOW
Nomination
Until Wed. 31 December 2025
Start of programme
January 2026
Execution
Once a year to 12–24 talents nominated by department stores (max. 3 participants per department store company)
End of programme
June 2026
CONTACT US
Tanja Ineichen
Programme Director
Head of Leadership & Transformation
ENDORSED BY
