About me
I’ve spent 25 years learning what makes organizations and people perform at their best—and what gets in the way.
My career has taken me from KPMG’s Silicon Valley office (working with companies such as Apple, Electronic Arts, and Daimler Trucks) to leadership roles at Cognos, OSIsoft, msg global, Salesforce and Agile Data Engine. Along the way, I’ve managed teams of up to 500 people, worked with customers across 40+ countries, and spoken at conferences from San Francisco to Singapore.
But the most valuable lessons haven’t come from boardrooms alone.
In 2003, struggling to stay fit despite constant travel, I discovered power meters and heart rate monitors. Suddenly training had data. The same analytical thinking I used at work—measure, analyze, adapt—transformed how I trained. More importantly, I realized the principles worked both ways: consistency, recovery, knowing when to push and when to back off. These lessons transfer seamlessly between endurance sports and managing teams.
This blog sits at the intersection of those worlds. You’ll find essays on leadership and management, reflections on working with data and teams, and occasional detours into ice bathing, cycling analytics, or whatever I’m currently obsessed with learning.
Why Performance Ideas?
Because performance isn’t just about hitting KPIs or setting PRs. It’s about building systems that work, leading teams that thrive, and developing the endurance—physical and mental—to keep showing up when it matters.
I started this blog in 2010 to share what I was learning. After a few years away, I’m back at it—writing to clarify my thinking, develop material for speaking, and hopefully offer something useful to you.
Speaking
I’ve had the privilege of sharing these ideas on stages around the world—from industry conferences in Europe and North America to customer events across Asia. There’s something energizing about connecting with an audience in real time, exploring ideas together, and hopefully leaving people with something they can use. If you’re looking for a speaker who brings both data expertise and hard-won leadership experience, let’s talk.
A Bit More
I split my time between Munich and wherever work takes me. When I’m not writing or working, you’ll find me running around the Bavarian Alps, on my road bike, or taking photos.
If you want to connect about speaking opportunities, podcasting, collaborations, or just to share your own performance ideas, reach out via LinkedIn or email.
IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER
Please note that this is a personal site and the views expressed in this blog are my own and are not necessarily representative of those of the companies that I am working for or have worked for in the past.
Contact Information – Christoph Papenfuss
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2 thoughts on “Christoph Papenfuss”
I am a career CFO and have been occupying the position of either CFO or Controller in different companies for the past 19 years. Throughout my entire career I have been placing the highest priority on Performance Analysis . Long time before KPIs and dashboards became familiar terms, I have been tailoring information into reports that facilitated best executive decision-making. I am glad that you have found the time to come back to writing your posts. If you have a moment to spare, please, check out my blog The Frustrated CFO at http://www.thefrustratedcfo.typepad.com. My focus lies in smaller entrepreneurial businesses and the blog covers broader issues related to the plight of financial executives employed by them. Nevertheless, you may find some of the issues interesting for yourself and your colleagues. Meanwhile, I will subscribe to your blog in anticipation of new posts.
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