Podcast/Video Interviews by Stephen Ibaraki

A Chat with Hannes Chopra: Leadership advisor, corporate educator, professor and musician

This week, Stephen Ibaraki has an exclusive interview with Hannes Chopra.

Hannes Chopra is a credentialed executive coach, board advisor and corporate educator who helps CEOs, founders and senior executives sharpen their leadership judgment, navigate high-stakes negotiations and build high-performing teams. Born in Bonn, Germany, to Indian parents and shaped by more than three decades of international business across Europe, Russia and Asia, Hannes brings a rare combination of C-suite operating experience and formal coaching credentials to his work with clients on four continents.

BUSINESS EXPERIENCE

• Hannes spent over 23 years in financial services with Allianz SE and Sberbank
  
• During his 16 years with Allianz SE he was in different management and leadership roles, rising to Deputy CEO and then CEO of Allianz ROSNO and President of Allianz Eurasia, based in Moscow - the Group's largest emerging-market entity (1996-2012).
• He then became Founding CEO of Sberbank Insurance, building the venture from scratch into Russia's fastest-growing and most successful insurance start-ups as part of the country's largest banking and technology ecosystem (2014-2018).
• Since 2018, Hannes has led his own leadership development and advisory practice (RaSa Consulting UG). He also manages an early-stage Insurtech investment vehicle (RaSa Future Fund) and is a keynote speaker and an adjunct professor at different universities

EXECUTIVE COACHING EXPERIENCE

• His coaching and advisory practice centers on CEOs, founders, senior executives and young talents. He is passionate about helping clients to identify barriers and turn them into enablers. There are common themes from navigating leadership transitions, upgrading team performance, getting through major hardships, finding your core, resilience and antifragility.
• He works with individuals as well as top leadership teams to handle leadership transformations with clarity, determination and courage. Clients appreciate his ability to challenge his clients whilst creating a safe space for vulnerable reflections and courageous outcomes.
• Hannes passionately follows the latest research in coaching, personal and leadership development which is reflected in his ability to bring in models, methodologies and role plays for deeper insights, awareness leading to action.

EDUCATION AND CERTIFICATIONS

• Born in Bonn, Germany, to Indian parents; fluent in Punjabi, German, English, Hindi and Russian.
• A lifelong classical Indian musician performing for over 35 years, Hannes also draws on his study of Indian philosophy (i.e. Advaita Vedanta) and Sanskrit aesthetics.
• Diplom-Volkswirt (Master's in Economics), University of Freiburg, Germany.
• Executive MBA, 'Growing Your Business' Programme, London Business School (2012-2014).
• Executive MBA Presidents Program, Harvard Business School (2014-2022).
• 'Creating, Capturing and Sustaining Value' Executive Education Programme, IIT Ahmedabad (2021).
• 'Reimagining Business' Executive Education Programme, Saïd Business School, University of Oxford (2022).
• Professional Certified Coach (PCC level), Accredited Coach Training Programmes: Bossert Associates, Munich (2018); Coaching Programme, IMD Business School, Lausanne (2025).