Caritas goes agile: The German NPO journey to shared leadership, trust and transformation

05 Oct 2025

Session Description

Caritas Upper Bavaria has undergone a deep transformation: from rigid hierarchy to shared responsibility, from control to trust.

Through distributed leadership, beyond budgeting, cultural work, and the courage to experiment, we’ve brought agility into the heart of social work - practical, human, and effective. Our goal is an empowered, evolving organization that puts people first and continuously adapts.

For us, business agility isn’t a trend. It’s a mindset. And it’s here to stay.

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Speaker Details

Axel Hannemann

Managing Director, Caritas München-Freising e.V. Caritaszentren Oberbayern

Axel is the Managing Director as Division Head of the Caritas Centers Upper Bavaria. He is 62 years old, married and living in Dachau near Munich. He has a degree in social education and has worked at Caritas Munich and Upper Bavaria for 36 years, most recently as Managing Director and Division Head. He is a systemic counselor, family therapist and Zen-Teacher with an interest in Zen meditation and bow exercises. For Beyond Budgeting he uses skills such as mindfulness and resilience training.

Sonja Baier

Member of Management Board, Caritas München-Freising e.V. Caritaszentren Oberbayern

Sonja Baier is a Member of the Management Board of the Caritas Centers Upper Bavaria. They are 37 years old and live near Bad Tölz, south of Munich. They hold a degree in Social Education and have been working with Caritas for more than 11 years in different fields, mainly in Mental Health and in various leadership positions. They are a certified Mental Coach with a strong focus on neurodiversity, innovation, organizational development, and transformation processes. Beyond their professional expertise, Sonja draws energy from dance, creative improvisation, and athletic challenges, which also inspire their approach to leadership and change.

Caritas München-Freising e.V. Caritaszentren Oberbayern

Caritas Munich and Upper Bavaria, founded in 1922, is the largest provider of social services in Upper Bavaria and one of the largest employers in Bavaria’s social economy. With 10,023 employees from 110 nationalities, we serve people across all stages of life and in a wide variety of situations. In 2024, our revenues grew to €638.1 million – an increase of about 10.1% compared to 2023 – reflecting steady growth, resilience, and financial stability in a challenging environment.

As a non-profit organization, our mission is deeply rooted in social responsibility: providing care, support, and participation opportunities for people in need, regardless of background, age, or belief. Our facilities and programs span healthcare, mental health, elderly care, childcare, family services, education, and community work. This makes us a vital actor in strengthening social cohesion and addressing the major challenges of our time – from demographic change to integration and inclusion.

Caritas goes agile: The German NPO journey to shared leadership, trust and transformation

Session Description

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