How Leaders Can Transform Traditional Organisations into Thriving, High-Performing Workplaces with Dr.  Anja Milde

How Leaders Can Transform Traditional Organisations into Thriving, High-Performing Workplaces with Dr. Anja Milde

June 10, 2026 · 24 min · Episode 58

About this episode

Dr. Anja Milde discusses Bayer's transformation to a high-performing workplace and shares insights on empowering teams and individual mindset shifts.

Dr. Anja Milde , a former senior leader at Bayer, talks with us today about the company's radical organisational transformation. Hear how Bayer shifted from a rigid 12-layer hierarchy to a 'Dynamic Shared Ownership' model, empowering teams to make 95% of decisions, operating in 90-day learning cycles, and reducing management from 15,000 to 5,000 which delivered over 500 million euros in savings within the first year. Anja suggests that lasting transformation begins with individual mindset shifts Hear how her new company, Forward Evolution , helps other organisations achieve similar results. Anja's tips for a happy workplace: Transformation starts with yourself Don't tell people what to do - let them make decisions Do what you love Links and resources mentioned in this episode: Dr Anja Milde on LinkedIn 4ward evolution Happy Workplace

People in this episode

Hosts: Henry Stewart, Maureen Egbe

Guest: Dr. Anja Milde

Topics covered

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Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Bayer, Forward Evolution

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