04.03.2025

Startup:Yourself – How to become a good leader!

Tübingen, March 2025 – Twice per year, the university Tübingen offers the Startup:Yourself – Leadership Talent Academy. The program is aimed at PhDs and Postdocs who are preparing for a future leadership role in science, industry or as an entrepreneur. The 3-month-program includes three modules taking place on three weekends as well as ongoing coaching sessions.

On February 21 to 23, twenty highly motivated PhDs and Postdocs got together for their first weekend of the Startup:Yourself – Leadership Talent Academy. They all had one common goal: to learn more about good leadership. There were many questions:
- How can I be a leader, not just a boss?
- How can I empower others?
- Do I have the skills to be a good leader?
- What makes a good leader in the first place?
- How to avoid burning out as a leader?

… to name just a few. Within the next three months, the participants will work on finding the answers with support of our experienced trainers and coaches.

The first module was about Self-Leadership and Leadership, with a deep dive into Entrepreneurship and Coaching – in theory and practice. The goal was for participants to gain a deeper understanding of themselves, their strengths, and their values.

One of the most eye-opening insights for many was the distinction between learned behavior (skills others think you excel at and give you positive feedback on, yet drain your energy) and actual strengths (activities that energize you and come naturally). Another key takeaway was the importance of active listening in coaching. Participants realized that effective coaching isn’t about giving advice but about enabling the coachee to find their own solutions. Embracing a growth mindset was also central: understanding that challenges, feedback, and new situations are opportunities for personal growth, rather than obstacles. There are four roles a leader must adapt to depending on the situation: Manager, Coach, Expert, and Leader. Through engaging group activities, participants not only gained deeper insights into their own leadership situations but also learned practical methods to drive change proactively. Beyond the structured sessions, the weekend provided plenty of opportunities for networking and building meaningful connections. Each participant was encouraged to find a peer for ongoing coaching and exchange.

In the upcoming module, participants will learn how to pursue their goals and stay motivated, how to deal with conflicts, how the design thinking method can help in complex and uncertain leadership situations and how to lead others.

You want to be part of the LTA in fall 2025? Apply now!

The Startup:Yourself – Leadership Talent Academy is the leadership program by the Startup Center supported by the Karl Schlecht Stiftung (KSG). The KSG supports the LTA not only at the University of Tuebingen but also at Karlsruhe Institut für Technologie (KIT), UnternehmerTUM in Munich and Campus Founders in Heilbronn.

You can find more infos on the program here.