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Software as a management task: a strategic retreat at Schloss Fürstlich Drehna

A confidential executive retreat at a historic Brandenburg castle, exploring how European boardrooms must treat software as a strategic, board-level responsibility.

By Brandon M. LewisPublished 29 September 2025
Software Excellence Network · Klausurtagung Konzernstrategie · 24–25 September 2025
Software als Management-Task 2025 · Schloss Fürstlich Drehna, Brandenburg · Article published 29 September 2025
Event page →

Software has become one of the central drivers of corporate value creation and competitiveness. Yet in many boardrooms, the topic still does not receive the attention it deserves. Technical, cultural, and organizational barriers often turn software into a black box.

The central question of the retreat: How can top management take charge of software as a strategic lever and actively shape direction, oversight, and accountability?

The urgency is evident: European corporations risk falling behind in the international race if software development and strategy do not become board-level responsibilities.

A place for perspective shifts

The combination of strategic relevance, deep expertise, and a trusted, confidential setting made this retreat truly exceptional. Schloss Fürstlich Drehna provided not only an inspiring backdrop but also the right atmosphere for candid board-level discussions, far removed from day-to-day business routines.

Gratitude to our partners and speakers

We extend our sincere thanks to our partners, the Hasso Plattner Institute and the German Deep Tech Group, and to all speakers and their organizations. Their contributions and openness made "Software as a Management Task" a forward-looking forum for supervisory board members and senior executives alike.

Looking ahead

The discussions in Fürstlich Drehna have made one thing clear: software is no longer just an IT issue—it is a management imperative. The transformation awaiting European corporations over the coming years must begin in the boardroom.

The next gathering of the Software Excellence Network will continue this dialogue—with the same clarity, openness, and exclusivity that defined this retreat.

From the gathering · Software als Management-Task 2025
Langfristige KI-gestützte Transformation komplexer IT-Systeme und ihrer Entwicklungsprozesse
Prof. Dr. Jürgen Döllner · Hasso Plattner Institute
KI verwandelt Arbeit in Software — Eine Neuausrichtung für Top-Manager
Manuel Yoon · Managing Director Europe, Autobrains
Veränderungen für die Software-Entwicklung und -Architektur durch KI-unterstütztes Entwickeln
Dr. Jürgen Müller · Technology and Product Executive, former CTO SAP
AI — What does it take?
Dr. Eva-Maria Hempe · Executive Director Healthcare & Life Sciences EMEA, NVIDIA
Digitale Verantwortung: Wie Top-Entscheider handlungsfähig bleiben, wenn Software zur Chefsache wird
Dr. Johannes Bohnet · Founder & CEO, Seerene
Herausforderungen rund um das software-definierte Fahrzeug
Prof. Dr. Mirko Conrad · TU Dresden
KI in China und weltweit: Was Europa jetzt tun muss
Prof. Dr. Patrick Glauner · Deggendorf Institute of Technology
Zahlen machen dich glaubwürdig
Daniel Hartert · Senior Advisory to IT Industry, Ex-CEO/CIO
Leadership und Verantwortung: Ethik als Innovationsfaktor
Prof. Dr. Maximilian Kiener · TU Hamburg
Erfindet euch neu: Im KI-Zeitalter kann der aufgeklärte Mensch nur noch das entscheiden, was noch nicht durch KI entschieden ist.
Dr. Ralf Schneider · Allianz Senior Fellow and Head of NextGenIT Think Tank, Allianz Group
Wertschöpfung mittels SW-Community Development – der Weg von „Ego-Systems“ zu „Eco-Systems“
Dr. Jürgen Sturm · SVP, ZF Group
SAPs Finanztransformation
Dr. Tobias Naumann · CFO, SAP Germany
In the room · speakers and panelists
24–25 September 2025 · Schloss Fürstlich Drehna, BrandenburgTwo days at Schloss Fürstlich Drehna, invitation onlyEleven masterclasses and nine slide decksSAP, Allianz, ZF Group, NVIDIA, HPI, TU Dresden, TU Hamburg
Prof. Dr. Jürgen Döllner
Prof. Dr. Jürgen Döllner
Hasso Plattner Institute
Manuel Yoon
Manuel Yoon
Autobrains
Dr. Jürgen Müller
Dr. Jürgen Müller
Entrepreneur, former CTO SAP
Dr. Eva-Maria Hempe
Dr. Eva-Maria Hempe
Executive Director Healthcare & Life Sciences EMEA, NVIDIA
Dr. Johannes Bohnet
Dr. Johannes Bohnet
Founder & CEO, Seerene
Prof. Dr. Mirko Conrad
Prof. Dr. Mirko Conrad
TU Dresden
Prof. Dr. Patrick Glauner
Prof. Dr. Patrick Glauner
Deggendorf Institute of Technology
Daniel Hartert
Daniel Hartert
Senior Advisor
Prof. Dr. Maximilian Kiener
Prof. Dr. Maximilian Kiener
TU Hamburg
Dr. Ralf Schneider
Dr. Ralf Schneider
Allianz Group
Dr. Jürgen Sturm
Dr. Jürgen Sturm
Digital Transformation Advisor, former CIO ZF Group
Tobias Naumann
Tobias Naumann
CFO, SAP
Impressions

Documentation and photographs from the Network’s event page, shown with the consent of the people pictured. Full event page →

Software as a management task: a strategic retreat at Schloss Fürstlich Drehna

Event report · 3 min · Brandon M. Lewis · 2025-09-29

A confidential executive retreat at a historic Brandenburg castle, exploring how European boardrooms must treat software as a strategic, board-level responsibility.

Software has become one of the central drivers of corporate value creation and competitiveness. Yet in many boardrooms, the topic still does not receive the attention it deserves. Technical, cultural, and organizational barriers often turn software into a black box.

The central question of the retreat: How can top management take charge of software as a strategic lever and actively shape direction, oversight, and accountability?

The urgency is evident: European corporations risk falling behind in the international race if software development and strategy do not become board-level responsibilities.

A place for perspective shifts

The combination of strategic relevance, deep expertise, and a trusted, confidential setting made this retreat truly exceptional. Schloss Fürstlich Drehna provided not only an inspiring backdrop but also the right atmosphere for candid board-level discussions, far removed from day-to-day business routines.

Gratitude to our partners and speakers

We extend our sincere thanks to our partners, the Hasso Plattner Institute and the German Deep Tech Group, and to all speakers and their organizations. Their contributions and openness made "Software as a Management Task" a forward-looking forum for supervisory board members and senior executives alike.

Looking ahead

The discussions in Fürstlich Drehna have made one thing clear: software is no longer just an IT issue—it is a management imperative. The transformation awaiting European corporations over the coming years must begin in the boardroom.

The next gathering of the Software Excellence Network will continue this dialogue—with the same clarity, openness, and exclusivity that defined this retreat.

From the gathering

Software als Management-Task 2025 · 24–25 September 2025 · Schloss Fürstlich Drehna, Brandenburg

Event page: Software als Management-Task 2025

Program

Speakers and panelists