Janina Kugel

Janina Kugel is a highly regarded German business executive and non-executive board member known for her expertise in human resources, organisational transformation, and future-focused leadership. She served as Chief Human Resources Officer and member of the Managing Board at Siemens AG from 2015 to 2020, where she held global responsibility for diversity, learning, and innovation, and was recognised as one of Germany's most prominent and charismatic executives. Janina now serves on multiple international boards including Konecranes Oyj, TUI AG, Kyndryl Inc., and advises the Technical University Munich and IESE Business School. Her sessions equip leaders and organisations with practical strategies for navigating workforce transformation, building inclusive cultures, and developing the agile leadership capabilities essential for thriving in rapidly changing business environments.

During her tenure as Chief Human Resources Officer and member of the Managing Board at Siemens AG, Janina Kugel transformed one of Europe's largest industrial organisations whilst earning recognition as one of Germany's most prominent and charismatic executives. From 2015 to 2020, she held global responsibility for human resources, diversity, learning and education, social innovation, and environmental protection, health management and safety. Her leadership helped modernise Siemens' approach to talent and culture, giving the business what observers described as "a young, cool image on the cutting edge". Before joining Siemens in 2001, Janina began her career as a management consultant at Accenture, where she worked across Europe and the United States focusing on process reengineering, restructuring and organisational design for international clients.

Today, Janina serves as a non-executive board member of Konecranes Oyj in Finland, TUI AG in Germany, Kyndryl Inc. in the United States, and the German Pension Benefit Guaranty Association. She also contributes to shaping future business leaders as a member of the international advisory board at Technical University Munich and IESE Business School in Barcelona. Her advisory work has extended to government policy, having served on the Innovation Counsel for the Federal Ministry of Digitization and the Counsel of Future of Work for the Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs of Germany. Janina holds a master's degree in economics from the University of Mainz, Germany, and the University of Verona, Italy, and published her first book, "It's Now", in April 2021. She remains an active supporter of numerous national and international diversity initiatives and plans to attend the Global Workforce Xchange '26 in Nairobi, connecting with leaders shaping the future of global labour mobility.

Janina helps organisations navigate the complexities of workforce transformation by providing practical strategies rooted in her experience leading people initiatives at scale. Her sessions equip leaders with actionable approaches to building inclusive cultures, developing agile leadership capabilities, and preparing organisations for the demands of rapidly evolving business environments. Audiences leave with clarity on how to modernise their people strategies, foster innovation through diversity, and create workplaces that attract and retain talent in competitive markets. Through her combination of corporate experience, board-level perspective, and commitment to progressive leadership, Janina delivers insights that enable organisations to turn human resources challenges into strategic advantages, making her a valuable voice for conferences focused on leadership, organisational change, and the future of work.