Katharina Fechtner

I am a chemist with a PhD and currently work at BASF Coatings, where I have been operating for many years at the intersection of chemistry, sustainability, and innovation, driven by curiosity and conviction. In my current role, I work on future‑oriented topics ranging from materials and technologies to strategic innovation and new business models, always with the aim of successfully advancing sustainable solutions.
What motivates me is the belief that sustainable transformation becomes possible when technical expertise, economic thinking, and a positive vision of the future come together. In my work, I combine deep material‑science expertise with strategic questions, focusing on how innovation can provide orientation and create real, lasting impact.
A central focus of my work is the Circular Economy. I engage with circular materials, processes, and value chains as well as with the development and implementation of viable business models in industrial contexts. I am particularly interested in how ideas and technologies can be translated into solutions that are scalable, economically sound, and effective in the long term.
Another important aspect of my work is the development of future visions: visions of a desirable yet realistic sustainable future that create clarity, foster self‑efficacy, and serve as a source of inspiration for innovation. I repeatedly experience how powerful such future visions can be as shared reference points for decision‑making, collaboration, and change processes.
In addition, diversity is a topic that is personally important to me. Drawing on my own experiences, I share my perspectives and aspirations for the future development of diversity. My aim is to show that diversity is not an end in itself, but a genuine benefit from which everyone can profit in the long run.
I deliver keynotes, contribute to panel discussions, design and facilitate workshops, and also take on the moderation of various formats. What matters most to me is an open, constructive exchange; conversations with substance that spark curiosity, provide orientation, and encourage further thinking.

I share my experience of how envisioning a desirable and highly sustainable future can provide orientation; fostering self‑efficacy, reputation, and collaboration. What matters most to me is how future visions can be used as a source of inspiration for innovation.
A central focus of my work is the Circular Economy, both from a technical perspective and with regard to business models and their implementation.
In addition, diversity is a topic that is personally important to me. My aim is to show that diversity is not an end in itself, but a genuine benefit from which everyone can profit in the long term.