René Baldus - Innovation & Trends Expert

Q: Where is René based?

René is based in Cologne, Germany .

Q: What languages does René speak?

René speaks the following languages: German (Native), English (Intermediate) .

Q: How many years of experience does René have?

René has at least 9 years of experience. During this time, René has worked in at least 11 different roles and for 10 different companies . The average length of individual experience is 1 year and 9 months . Note that René may not have shared all experience and actually has more experience.

Q: What is René's latest experience?

René's most recent position is Innovation & Trends Expert at Hays .

Q: What companies has René worked for in recent years?

In recent years, René has worked for Hays and abcfinlab GmbH .

Q: Which industries is René most experienced in?

René is most experienced in industries like Professional Services , Banking and Finance , and Manufacturing . René also has some experience in Metals and Mining , Education , and Information Technology .

Q: Which business areas is René most experienced in?

René is most experienced in business areas like Strategy , Product Development , and Human Resources . René also has some experience in Research and Development , Business Intelligence , and Operations .

Q: Which industries has René worked in recently?

René has recently worked in industries like Professional Services and Banking and Finance .

Q: Which business areas has René worked in recently?

René has recently worked in business areas like Strategy , Product Development , and Human Resources .

Recommended expert

Cologne, Germany

Check rate

Experience

Apr 2025 - Present

1 year 3 months

Cologne, Germany

Innovation & Trends Expert

Hays

Apr 2023 - Mar 2025

2 years

Cologne, Germany

Senior Innovation Manager

Hays

Oct 2021 - Mar 2023

1 year 6 months

Cologne, Germany

Innovation Manager

Hays

May 2020 - Sep 2021

1 year 5 months

Cologne, Germany

Innovation Manager

abcfinlab GmbH

Feb 2020 - Mar 2020

2 months

Nordhausen, Germany

Research Assistant

Nordhausen University of Applied Sciences

Oct 2018 - Nov 2019

1 year 2 months

Co-Founder

RENJA GbR

Apr 2018 - Nov 2018

8 months

Nordhausen, Germany

Research Associate in Corporate Entrepreneurship

Hochschule Nordhausen University of Applied Sciences

May 2017 - Aug 2017

4 months

Hamburg, Germany

Intern Product Management E-Commerce

Otto (GmbH & Co KG)

Aug 2016 - Dec 2016

5 months

Stuttgart, Germany

Intern Brand Management & Communications

Bosch Smart Home

Aug 2015 - Sep 2015

2 months

Cologne, Germany

Intern Marketing

Bierbaum-Proenen GmbH & Co. KG

Jul 2014 - Aug 2014

2 months

Georgsmarienhütte, Germany

Procurement Intern

Salzgitter Automotive Engineering GmbH & Co. KG

Aug 2011 - Jul 2012

1 year

Salzgitter, Germany

Work Safety Intern

Salzgitter Flachstahl GmbH

Industry Experience

See where this freelancer has spent most of their professional time.

Experienced in Professional Services, Banking and Finance, Manufacturing, Metals and Mining, Education, and Retail.

Professional Services

Banking and Finance

Manufacturing

Metals and Mining

Education

Retail

Business Area Experience

See which departments and functions this freelancer has contributed to most.

Experienced in Strategy, Product Development, Research and Development, Human Resources, Business Intelligence, and Operations.

Strategy

Product Development

Research and Development

Human Resources

Business Intelligence

Operations

Summary

My analytical and structured approach supports companies in spotting innovation opportunities early on and developing future-proof solutions. My expertise lies in proactively spotting external developments through market, trend, and technology analyses, and in making internal or external innovation potential visible.

In addition, I contribute to the validation of innovation initiatives, the evaluation and selection of potential cooperation partners (startups, external vendors), and the facilitation of innovation workshops. By working closely with cross-functional teams, I help ensure that new ideas not only emerge but can also be efficiently translated into tangible results.

Skills

Business Model Innovation
Analytical Skills
Idea Platform

Languages

German

Native

English

Intermediate

Education

Oct 2017 - Sep 2019

Nordhausen University of Applied Sciences

Master of Arts · Innovation and Change Management · Nordhausen, Germany · 1.3

Oct 2013 - Sep 2017

Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences

Bachelor of Arts, specializations: Marketing / Business Informatics · Business Administration and Management · Osnabrück, Germany · 2.1

Certifications & licenses

Future Management

Zukunftsinstitut GmbH

Professional Scrum Master I (PSM I)

Scrum.org

Technology Management for Decision Makers

Haufe Akademie

Statistics

Experience

Total positions 12

Experience in Professional Services 4.5 y

Avg length 9 m

Longest experience 1 y 11 m

Global Experience

Countries worked in 1 (Germany)

Primary country Germany

Expertise

Recent roles Innovation & Trends Expert, Senior Innovation Manager, Innovation Manager

Main industries Professional Services, Banking and Finance, Manufacturing

Main business areas Strategy, Product Development, Research and Development

Qualifications

Highest degree Master

Certifications earned 3

Profile

Created

May 2026

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Frequently asked questions

Have questions? Find more information here.

Where is René based?

René is based in Cologne, Germany.

What languages does René speak?

René speaks the following languages: German (Native), English (Intermediate).

How many years of experience does René have?

René has at least 9 years of experience. During this time, René has worked in at least 11 different roles and for 10 different companies. The average length of individual experience is 1 year and 9 months. Note that René may not have shared all experience and actually has more experience.

What roles would René be best suited for?

Based on recent experience, René would be well-suited for roles such as: Innovation & Trends Expert, Senior Innovation Manager, Innovation Manager.

What is René's latest experience?

René's most recent position is Innovation & Trends Expert at Hays.

What companies has René worked for in recent years?

In recent years, René has worked for Hays and abcfinlab GmbH.

Which industries is René most experienced in?

René is most experienced in industries like Professional Services, Banking and Finance, and Manufacturing. René also has some experience in Metals and Mining, Education, and Information Technology.

Which business areas is René most experienced in?

René is most experienced in business areas like Strategy, Product Development, and Human Resources. René also has some experience in Research and Development, Business Intelligence, and Operations.

Which industries has René worked in recently?

René has recently worked in industries like Professional Services and Banking and Finance.

Which business areas has René worked in recently?

René has recently worked in business areas like Strategy, Product Development, and Human Resources.

What is René's education?

René holds a Master in Innovation and Change Management from Nordhausen University of Applied Sciences and a Bachelor in Business Administration and Management from Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences.

Does René have any certificates?

René has 3 certificates. These include: Future Management, Professional Scrum Master I (PSM I), and Technology Management for Decision Makers.

What is the availability of René?

René will be available from July 2026.

What is the rate of René?

René's rate depends on the specific project requirements. Please use the Meet button on the profile to schedule a meeting and discuss the details.