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PatrickSchmid

Leadership at turning points. Guidance through transitions.

Change the question first. Then solve it.

Leadership and guidance, strategy and awareness, organization and people.

20+Years of leadership
2017Coach since
DE EN ESWorking languages
Patrick Schmid in profile, thoughtful, hand on his chin

Leadership

Roles, career stages, and cases from media, digital, and automotive.

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Guidance

Attitude, methods, and training as a coach, consultant, and trainer.

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Interim

Temporary leadership when an organization is between two states. Availability on request.

Interim profile

Reshaped at every stage

  • Structure
  • People
  • Offering
Full career
Leadership
Lead EditorLead EditorTom's Hardware Germany2002–2005
Managing EditorManaging Editor US Director of Content Operations (worldwide)Tom's Hardware US, then BestofMedia Group2005–2008
Editor-in-ChiefWorldwide Editor-in-ChiefTom's Hardware (BestofMedia Group)2008–2010Structure: coordinated editorial teams in 5 countries, introduced quality standards
Vice PresidentVice President, Tom's HardwarePurch2011–2016Structure and offering: Competence Centers, agency model, +30% revenue growth in 36 months through innovative business models
Principal Consultant, Data-driven MarketingSmart Digital2017–2018
VPVice President of CommunicationsESL (Turtle Entertainment)2018
Lead Digital ExperienceGlobal Lead Digital Experience, Top-End BrandsMercedes-AMG2018–2023Offering: Private Lounge, a customer ecosystem from visitor to VIP circle
currentAI adoption and strategic consultingIndependentsince 2024
Training and further education
ScrumProfessional Scrum Master IIScrum.org2017
Systemic CoachSystemischer Business Coach und Team Coach (systemic business coach and team coach)Steinbeis-Hochschule Berlin2017–2018
MDMarketing Director (DIM)Deutsches Institut für Marketing2020–2021
TrainerNLP Trainer (DVNLP)MyBrain2021
HSG CASCAS Smart Mobility ManagementUniversity of St.Gallen (HSG)2022
LPPLINC Personality Profiler2022
NICoach for NI Neurosystemische Integration® (trauma-sensitive coaching)2023
HakomiHAKOMI – curricular training2023–2026Attitude and method in coaching. I do not provide therapy, do not heal, and do not make diagnoses.
IT SIBEIT-Security-Beauftragter (TÜV) – IT security officer2024
VSMVSM Coach (Viable System Model)metaphorum2025

Respected and well liked as a supervisor.

Reference letter, TG Publishing (Tom's Hardware)

Natural authority and a very broad mindset that aims at empowering others.

Reference, Purch

A true team coach, structured, dependable, intuitive.

Reference, ESL

How I think

  1. 01 · upwardChunk up
  2. 02 · upwardInclude perspectives
  3. 03 · wideWiden the frame
  4. 04 · backChunk down
  5. 05 · concreteRedraw distinctions
  6. 06 · concreteDecide and apply
Mercedes-AMG · Private Lounge

“Engaging customers digitally” became a layered model from visitor to VIP circle.

Registrations 30,000 → 110,000+ in three years · about 30% longer usage

Tom's Hardware · Purch

Country editorial teams became Competence Centers, led by strengths rather than borders.

France led on graphics, Germany on motherboards and CPUs, the US on cases. The other countries adopted the content in localized form.

What I am and what I am not.

I amI am not
For organizations
  • A sparring partner who structures and clarifies
  • A translator between technology, strategy, and people
  • Someone who clarifies the question before solving it
  • An implementation consultant, change manager, or method vendor
  • A tool vendor
  • A consultant with a ready-made method
For people
  • A companion on equal footing, depending on role and context
  • Someone who stays
  • Interested in what holds up
  • A quick fixer, standard coach, or theorist
  • A cookie-cutter coach
  • Interested in persuading
  • THANK YOU dear Patrick, you inspired me and made me brave enough to stretch my limits. THANK YOU for your being THERE.

    Viola, client
  • Patrick takes responsibility and ownership. He was an amazing sparring partner who really helped me make progress.

    Cordula · recommendation on LinkedIn
  • I got to know you as someone who wants to understand the person in front of him and has the ability to set his ego aside completely. You are one of the best coaches I have had the privilege of meeting.

    Daniela, companion along the way
  • Patrick understands business needs and manages stakeholders successfully, even in sensitive situations.

    Wolfgang, then editor-in-chief of TG Daily · recommendation on LinkedIn
  • Patrick is extremely knowledgeable on any IT topic and understands perfectly how to communicate his message to anyone.

    Joost, advertising client of Tom's Hardware · recommendation on LinkedIn
  • Patrick builds brand awareness with creativity and a solution-oriented approach, while always maintaining journalistic integrity.

    Aaron, collaboration at Tom's Hardware and ultrimax · recommendation on LinkedIn

Publications

People and development ·

Staying connected is a skill

Leadership and organization ·

Your question to the AI is the bottleneck, not the model

Leadership and organization ·

Cultural stagnation: “You & AI” instead of “AI first”

Book

The Subscription

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About the book