change:next GmbH | Executive Coaching, Team Mediation & Team Development in Basel

Portfolio

Leading in Science, Pharma and Medicine. Differently. Better.

Whether in the global matrix environment of Big Pharma, in life science companies, or in academic research: leadership in research-based organisations follows its own rules. Regulatory pressure, high innovation speed, complex R&D processes, and the constant balancing act between scientific excellence and commercial implementation demand tailor-made solutions.

1. Leadership Coaching & Executive Development

Gain clarity. Release pressure. Lead with confidence.

Developed for executives, professors, and principal investigators (PIs) at the intersection of pharma, life sciences, medicine, and academic top-tier research. In the confidential space of change:next, we sort through complex topics, sharpen strategic decisions, and develop a leadership style that is authentic and inspires highly qualified teams.

Typical topics: Leading in the global matrix environment of Big Pharma or complex university structures, negotiation techniques, strategic sparring for management decisions, dealing calmly with high innovation and change pressure as well as political maneuvering.

2. High-Performance Team Development

Turning a group of experts into a high-impact unit.

A strong team in research facilities, hospitals, or biotech companies doesn't happen by chance. With analytical precision and genuine human connection (using proven tools such as DISC profiles or Language-and-Behaviour patterns), we make individual strengths visible, reduce friction losses, and establish a culture where interdisciplinary collaboration feels effortless again.

Typical topics: Strengths-based collaboration in cross-functional R&D projects or clinical teams, mutual acceptance and leadership between science and business, long-term support for research groups and departments during transformation or excellence phases.

3. Conflict Mediation

Removing the friction from gridlocked situations.

When conversations peter out or conflicts strain daily work, neutral moderation is needed. Mediation brings stakeholders back to the table, bridges different worlds, and crafts solutions that allow all parties to live and work well together.

Typical topics: Tensions within the leadership team, getting gridlocked negotiations back on track, restoring constructive collaboration.

4. Workshop Facilitation & Event Moderation

Ensuring meetings and events deliver real results and are genuinely fun.

Whether it's a confidential strategy workshop with a life science leadership team, a retreat for an excellence cluster, or a specialized symposium: structured, targeted, and empathetic guidance ensures that complex content becomes tangible, true alignment is achieved, and collaboration is enjoyable.

Typical topics: Facilitation of strategy and vision days for research institutions and pharma units, moderation of panels and retreats at the intersection of medicine, science, and industry.

References

What Clients and Partners Say

Experiences from leadership coaching, team development, and mediation.

"There are very few professional experiences I would genuinely describe as transformative. Working with Daniela is one of them. I first met Daniela through Strong Minds in Science and was amazed by how quickly her coaching could create real change. My journey with her continued through the extended coaching program and later the Strong Women in Science Executive Leader Coaching. Looking back, I can see an enormous development in myself – personally, but above all in the way I understand and approach leadership. Daniela has an exceptional ability to help you see situations from new perspectives, challenge established patterns of thinking and turn reflection into real change. What makes her coaching so powerful is her unique combination of clarity, intuition, commitment and genuine personal engagement. She asks the questions that enable you to find your own answers – and to grow from them. The impact her coaching has had on me is difficult to put into words. I consider her guidance invaluable and cannot recommend her highly enough, particularly to women in science and to leaders who want not simply to become more successful, but to grow into the kind of leader they truly want to be."

Prof. Dr. Kalina Peneva

Friedrich Schiller University Jena, DE

"I could say how she constantly encourages me to step OUT OF THE BOX, allowing me to grow beyond all expectations. [...] Daniela has an incredible repertoire to respond to any mood I am in with the appropriate reaction – from heartwarming gestures to challenging questions. [...] I know no one more trustworthy than Daniela."

Frank Eiselt

Co-Founder and CEO of LIVEsciences AG and LIVEventures GmbH, CH

"Working with Daniela was an extremely pleasant journey. She has an excellent attention to detail and extraordinary mental agility. She has a winning personality and is extremely trustworthy. I could always rely on her."

Vincenzo Antenna

CEO VA Supply Chain & Interim Management GmbH, CH

"I met Daniela through the "Strong Minds in Science" program and the associated individual sessions. It was particularly the latter that surprised me so positively that we have been working together for almost 3 years now.

Over this time, Daniela has helped me ask the right questions to understand how and why I act in certain (professional) situations. In doing so, she acts as a kindred "critical friend" and regularly prompts me to question my actions and motives – sometimes with quite unexpected results. I believe this has made me more confident in my own actions and – looking back at the intention of our first point of contact – more resilient in my perception of stress and frustration in everyday working life."

Prof. Dr. Felix Schacher

Friedrich Schiller University Jena, DE

"Working together with Daniela on the development of our organization creates paths and perspectives that would never have been part of the original mindset without her experience, her questions, and her coaching. The collaboration with her is absolutely professional – confidentiality is her highest priority/greatest asset. Everyone who participates in conversations, trainings, and coachings with her receives the chance to develop a progressive, reflected, and above all solution-oriented attitude through her skills and leadership. Daniela stands for inspiration."

Christin Jeske

HR Director, H.C. Starck Hermsdorf, DE

"Daniela's coaching saved me. In one of the most challenging and difficult phases of my life, I had lost the ground under my feet: I was insecure, anxious, and desperate. Through Daniela's methodological strength, creativity, and flexibility, she managed to activate so much positive thought potential in me that I was soon back on my feet. Through the coaching, I am more self-confident, optimistic, and can see everything much more positively. It's hard to express how grateful I am to Daniela."

Dr. Ulrike B.

Postdoctoral Researcher in Dresden, DE

"Daniela has been supporting us as a lecturer for years with seminars and workshops on topics related to founding a company. The founders regularly give highly positive feedback on the methods, implementation, and communication of the topics. Besides our individual support of the founding process, an important second building block of the offer is the transfer of knowledge and the strengthening of the founders' personalities. Here Daniela does excellent work and is an indispensable part of the range of services of ThEx Enterprise. We look forward to continuing to build on her competence!"

Katharina Heinecke and Markus Hirche

Project Management ThEx Enterprise, DE

"I have already been able to experience many similar workshops, but I was impressed by how we as a team were able to grow closer through this workshop. Not that this hadn't worked well before, but it led to a new spirit of optimism. You can tell just this week how everyone takes on the other's topics. It was definitely a hugely important step for future collaboration. Daniela got us back on track and turned us into a unit that can win any game – just like a national football coach who shapes many good individual players into a team with will and passion."

Oliver Härtel

Commercial Director, QSIL Metals Hermsdorf GmbH, DE

"Daniela has the ability to see through the situation in a short time and to quickly get to the core issues with the right questions. With helpful tools, things quickly become clearer and alternatives suddenly arise that one did not necessarily have on the radar before. Good communication is, as is so often the case, the key, whereby one often neglects the perspective of one's counterpart. Daniela helped me a lot to get better precisely in these points."

Guido Stiebritz

R&D Management, QSIL Metals Hermsdorf GmbH, DE

"Together with Daniela, I conducted a compact presentation and effectiveness coaching. I was truly amazed by the result. Although I already have a lot of experience with presentations, she gave me new, exciting, and motivating impulses. It was a lot of fun to implement all the points we worked out. Daniela has an extraordinary knowledge of human nature and draws from a deep wealth of experience – both humanly and scientifically. She gets straight to the point, is lively, astute, and full of ideas. At the same time, she is always considerate and professional. I felt well accompanied and can unreservedly recommend coaching with Daniela to anyone who wants to develop further."

Prof. Dr. Gerald Lackner

Junior Research Group Leader, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology (Hans Knöll Institute), DE

"Dr. Böttger-Schmidt conducted personal presentation training with me for a major event, and I am absolutely impressed with the result. As a scientist and junior research group leader, I have a lot of experience with presentations, but she did a great job identifying my weaknesses and helping me improve my performance. She is a great listener and has profound scientific knowledge in biochemistry. I feel much more confident and well-prepared now. I will not hesitate to recommend her services to my staff and students. It is so difficult to find a mentor at this level of experience."

Prof. Dr. Hajo Kries

Junior Research Group Leader, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology (Hans Knöll Institute), DE

"I can't thank Daniela enough for last evening. I can't get over how emotionally powerful the exercise was. For the first time in months I slept right through the night for a full 8 hours! I do feel inspired and peaceful today and hopeful that I have this dealt with. The session with Daniela made a real difference to me, thank you so very much"

Jane L.

Sales Director in Healthcare from Ontario, Canada

"Daniela's training is refreshingly optimistic, surprisingly clear, and extremely motivating. With her knowledge and a lot of empathy, she showed me how to recognize my own strengths and define concrete goals for new professional perspectives. It was a lot of fun working with Daniela and I can only recommend her training to everyone."

Petra Dahl

Owner DahlMedia, Leipzig, DE

"With her professional and at the same time prudent manner, Daniela manages to encourage and motivate me. I am grateful for the experience and will continue to benefit from the developmental successes."