We help people thrive.

At the Autoris Leadership Institute, we provide leadership development programs, conduct research and publish in the areas of leadership, coaching, and talent development.

We partner with start-ups, family businesses, SMEs, universities and business schools, VC and PE firms, not-for-profits, and corporations around the world. Among our clients are some of the world's most successful companies and business families.

Autoris was founded in 1999 by Prof. Matthias Ehrhardt. Since our inception, it has always been the same passion that drives us: to make scientific insights applicable and bring new perspectives to leadership, learning, and life.

People and Partners

Verena Lauffs<br>Head Autoris Academy

Verena Lauffs
Head Autoris Academy

Verena has served as an executive coach, mentor, and facilitator for over 10 years in various learning, talent development, and training programs.

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Prof. Dr. Dr. Matthias Ehrhardt<br>Founder and CEO

Prof. Dr. Dr. Matthias Ehrhardt
Founder and CEO

For over two decades, Matthias has served as a professor, executive coach and advisor for talent development, leadership...

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Professors and Experts

In our leadership programs, we collaborate with external professors, experts, and facilitators tailored to our clients' needs and interests (and budget).)With years of experience, we have worked with both rising stars and some of the world's most renowned experts.

Research fellows

Over the years, we have built a network of over 30 experts, including professors, PhD students, researchers, and authors, along with leading institutions. We rely on this network when initiating new research projects and are always on the lookout for additional experts in specific fields as needed.

Partners

We focus entirely on what we do best: designing and running leadership programs, conducting research, and developing new AI tools or assessments. When clients require additional services, we draw from our network of handpicked, exceptional coaches, advisors, and consultants.

The Autoris Academy

Here you grow.

At the Autoris Academy, we offer a comprehensive array of programs designed to address the most pertinent leaderhship and talent development needs of our clients.

Some of our signature programs are the ACE it! Master Certification, blending design thinking with leadership dynamics, our "Start with a Story" program that transforms storytelling into a powerful business tool, as well as our Innovation Week which offers an immersive journey through global innovation centers and prestigious institutions like Harvard and MIT.

We tailor each learning experience to foster engagement, ignite an entrepreneurial spirit, enhance teamwork, boost performance, and effectively manage conflict ensuring that our curriculum not only imparts the latest science but also embodies the practical, transformative skills essential for today's dynamic professional landscape.
Autoris Academy

Research

We're passionate about starting research projects, both on our own and together with partners and fellows. We have established a global network of research fellows, leadership and talent development experts, and scientific partner organizations. Often, we're just curious or fascinated by different topics. But sometimes, these research ventures turn into programs that we offer to our clients.
Research

Innovation and Impact

Since our inception, research and innovation have been at the core of our DNA and we we’ve consistently introduced new solutions, frameworks, and tools to help individuals and organizations grow. Today, we continue to push boundaries with new assessments, AI-powered coaching, and programs to help leaders leverage the power of AI. 

The Leadership Summit – Leading with AI in Vienna

The Leadership Summit – Leading with AI in Vienna

The Leadership Summit: Leading with AI empowers leaders to explore how AI can drive both transformative innovations and practical, day-to-day improvements. Through hands-on workshops and real-world applications, participants learn how to integrate AI into their leadership practices to foster innovation and stay ahead. The experience also features inspiring cultural activities and culminates in a grand ballroom event in the Hofburg, the imperial palace in Vienna.

The Leadership Summit
The Leadership Alliance – Excellence for Rising Leaders.

The Leadership Alliance – Excellence for Rising Leaders.

Through the Leadership Alliance initiative, we are providing leadership assessments, train-the-trainer programs, and virtual coaching to 5,000 mostly women entrepreneurs in sub-Saharan Africa. This program gives participants access to the same executive education tools and frameworks used by the world’s leading institutions, empowering them to drive positive change and unlock new opportunities within their communities.

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Ati: Our AI Coach for Leadership and Learning

Ati: Our AI Coach for Leadership and Learning

With our virtual coach, Ati, we take innovation a step further by applying AI to leadership coaching. Trained specifically in the ACE it! method, Ati can interpret assessments, guide personal development, and offer actionable insights in real time. As part of our commitment to staying ahead of the curve, ATti ensures that every learner receives the personalized support they need to grow.

The ACE it! Method – Design Thinking Meets Leadership Development

The ACE it! Method – Design Thinking Meets Leadership Development

We are proud to be the inventors of the ACE it! method, a groundbreaking concept that introduced design thinking principles into leadership coaching and talent development. The ACE it! method focuses on addressing challenges, generating ideas, and executing solutions, enabling leaders and teams to solve problems efficiently. In practice, the ACE it! method has evolved into a program, with the ACE it! Master Certification as our signature offering. This certification program is specifically designed to teach coaches, leaders, and talent developers how to apply the ACE it! method on a deeper level.

The Ace it! Master Certification
The Cultural Compass – A Fast, Deep Way to Measure and Improve Culture

The Cultural Compass – A Fast, Deep Way to Measure and Improve Culture

The Cultural Compass builds on the success of the Wheel of Motivation, offering a quick yet powerful tool to assess and align motivation with cultural values. It helps teams and organizations explore the connection between individual drivers and company culture, fostering meaningful engagement and high performance. With its focused approach, the Cultural Compass delivers rapid insights to guide immediate improvements in team dynamics and organizational culture, helping shape a cohesive and intentional "Cultural Agenda".

The Cultural Compass
You at Your Best - a Strength-Based Approach to Leadership and Learning

You at Your Best - a Strength-Based Approach to Leadership and Learning

Learning and change thrive when built on individual strengths. To support this principle, we developed the You at Your Best 360° assessment, now used globally by individuals and organizations to identify and amplify core strengths: This tool helps people understand where their unique strengths lie and how to leverage them to improve weaknesses and support the growth of others. By providing a clear, actionable view of personal and team strengths, the assessment creates a powerful foundation for continuous development and shared success.

The You At Your Best Assessment
Tools for Immediate Action and Lasting Change

Tools for Immediate Action and Lasting Change

Our mission to drive change is supported by a suite of practical tools, including the Wheel of Motivation, the Best Work tool, and the Current State–Desired State tool. These tools empower individuals and teams to take immediate action, gain clarity, and foster sustainable growth by aligning efforts with both personal and organizational goals. Used regularly, they create a pathway for meaningful progress and continuous development.

The ABCDE and AAA of Narrative – Mastering Leadership Storytelling

The ABCDE and AAA of Narrative – Mastering Leadership Storytelling

We developed the ABCDE and AAA of Narrative frameworks to help leaders craft meaningful stories and engage teams with clarity and impact. Presented at prestigious events such as the Columbia Coaching Conference, these frameworks are now integral to our leadership programs like Learning Up.

Teaching with Technology - a Gamechanger in Education

Teaching with Technology - a Gamechanger in Education

When the pandemic disrupted education, our longstanding experience with technology-enabled learning allowed us to respond swiftly. We developed comprehensive online training programs that supported hundreds of schools and teachers, offering state-of-the-art solutions to ease the transition to remote education. Leveraging modern tools, we delivered training and leadership coaching at scale when it was needed most.

Publications

At Autoris, we have always been deeply passionate about great writing and publications, making it a core part of our DNA.

We publish "The Times of Talent," an online newspaper where we cover an extensive range of topics, including leadership, coaching, and talent development.
The Times of Talent

From
The Times of Talent

Learn like Leonardo

Learn like Leonardo

In a world of fast-paced change, ever new requirements, and riddled with complex problems, learning has become …

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Information Overload

Information Overload

Do you feel exhausted, worn out, or like you’re not enough? You may be suffering from information overload.

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How can I ... be more successful - instantly?

How can I ... be more successful - instantly?

As we’ve talked about, success is a process. To really get an understanding of this process, ...

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Autoris. We help people thrive.