Manfred Puffer

From geopolitical shocks to disruptive new entrants, the resilience mandate has never been clearer. Business leaders must become experts at rolling with the punches. This session explores real-world strategies from operators and C-suites who have faced crises, restructurings, and market disruption — how they stay disciplined, adapt quickly, and keep value creation on track no matter how unpredictable the world becomes.

• Building resilient businesses amid geopolitical instability and disruption

• Tariffs, supply chain shifts, and practical mitigation from an operator's lens

• Early warning signs: spotting when success has made organisations "fat and complacent"

• Crisis playbooks and "on-the-ground" tactics that protect value and restore momentum

The Buy & Build model has long been a playbook for PE funds, but the game has changed. Investors now demand proof that these roll-ups can generate real value beyond financial engineering. The problem? Most PE-backed boards struggle to make it work. The result? Stagnation. Frustrated management. Struggling exits. Join this session to tackle the hard truths and find a way out:

• Don't let your buy & build become a house of cards - Integration tools incl. pre mortems, value distraction watch outs, repeatable playbooks

• Overcoming the finance-first mindset and build the strategic and operational expertise

• Putting the capital where it matters the most: Investing in operations, tech, and commercial levers that drive growth

• The CEO vs. the Boardroom Standoff – How to align financial decision-makers with operational execution.