Stuttgart Region
Detlef Schmidt stands for the future of luxury. He advises hospitality, lifestyle, and luxury leaders worldwide on how to design future-ready business models in times of accelerating market change. With more than 20 years of experience across strategy, business development, and marketing, ranging from Fortune 500 companies to entrepreneurial environments, he brings a sharp, cross-industry perspective to complex transformation challenges. His work focuses on the convergence of hospitality, retail, lifestyle, and art, where he develops innovative approaches that strengthen relevance, customer experience, and long-term brand value. Through this lens, Detlef Schmidt helps organisations to rethink customer journeys, ecosystems, and value creation beyond traditional industry boundaries. In parallel, he is a recognized global expert in Cultural Programming and Longevity, having curated and hosted over 100 high-profile, invitation-only hospitality and study tour formats across five continents. These experiences are designed as strategic platforms for insight, exchange, and the exploration of emerging business models. Driven by a strong belief that future growth is built on relevance rather than scale, Detlef Schmidt combines visionary thinking with pragmatic execution and a rare ability to connect people, ideas, and disciplines. Based in Stuttgart, Milan and Athens, he holds a Master’s degree in Business Management from the University of Stuttgart.
viabledesign is visionary. viabledesign advises how to shape business models by rethinking strategic directions and realizing viable growth under challenging market conditions.
Since 2014, Detlef has designed and hosted 60+ high-end hospitality events on four continents, building a reputation as an expert in Cultural Programming by using curated cultural experiences to strengthen member / guest engagement and brand distinction.
Healthcare, Pharmaceutical Projects
Focus: Marketing integration, shaping business models, creating growth strategies for newly acquired companies, foster the dialog with key market stakeholders on the effect of M&A transactions. Coordinate teams to ramp up marketing activites for newly acquired businesses to guarantee an effective market presence.
Strategy & Marketing for Sourcing Environments (Transformation Projects, Outsourcing, Business Process Outsourcing, Cloud Computing, Innovation Management) Responsible for IBM's Sourcing Partner community (Third Party Advisor, Analysts and Associations) Digital Media/Marketing responsibilities
Project management responsibility (PMO) for co-development and deployment of the competitive strategy.