WHU CSCM: Building Resilient Supply Chains in Uncertain Times

From armed conflicts to the urgent need to reduce emissions, supply chain management is facing unprecedented challenges. How can resilient supply chains be built under such conditions? These pressing questions were at the heart of this year’s WHU Campus for Supply Chain Managementat WHU–Otto Beisheim School of Management. Held under the theme “Resilient Supply Chains in a Fragmented World: Agility, Sustainability & Geopolitical Strategy,” the annual event offered valuable insights and forward-looking perspectives.

The conference, which took place on February 6, 2026, at the WHU campus in Vallendar, placed particular emphasis on sustainability and geopolitical complexity. Around 80 participants gained firsthand insights from some of the industry’s most respected experts.

Among the speakers was Sebastian Feldmann, Senior Partner at Roland Berger, who addressed “New Global Realities & the Rise of a Supply Chain Power Era.”  Bettina Petzold, Head of ESG & CSR at Lufthansa Cargo, explored the question, “Enabling Global Business: Can We Grow More Sustainably?”. Tobias Rentschler, Commercial Director Air & Sea Europe at DSV, provided insider perspectives on “Merger DSV x Schenker: The New Giant on the Market.”  Alexander Schuett, Vice President at DHL Consulting, examined “Tariff Shock & Supply Chain Resilience: Riding the Waves of Global Trade.”

A panel discussion titled “Defense, Geopolitics and War: How Conflict Is Redefining Global Supply Chains” brought together Tobias Rentschler; Professor Hans Michael Rüdiger, Professor of International Business and Supply Chain Management and Academic Director of the MBA Program at Munich Business School; Professor Stefan Spinler, Chair of Logistics Management at WHU; and Jakob Thumm, CEO and Co-Founder of Fastalyze and WHU alumnus. The panelists explored the role of emerging technologies and the competitive advantages they offer the industry.

“Across logistics and supply chain management, technologies are fundamentally transforming how risks in global networks are identified and managed,” said Professor Spinler. “To fully realize this potential, companies must ensure that their operating models remain flexible and closely aligned with rapidly evolving global conditions.”

Interactive workshops hosted by Inverto, along with ample opportunities for networking, rounded out the event. For years, the WHU Campus for Supply Chain Management has served as a key platform for knowledge exchange and dialogue within the global supply chain community.