About the authors

Behind the New Work Journal are two renowned experts in leadership and new ways of working. Dr Michael Trautmann was Global CMO at Audi before founding several successful companies, including thjnk, HYROX and the Leadership Company NWMS. For many years, he has been shaping the debate on the future of work as an entrepreneur, podcaster and author. Swantje Allmers is an executive coach, trainer, consultant and co-founder of NWMS GmbH. She draws on methodological expertise from NLP, GTD, Holacracy, Scrum and other international approaches, and supports leaders and teams in their professional development.

Michael Trautmann

Michael is the founder of NWMS GmbH, a consultant, a keynote speaker and, for the past seven and a half years, co-host of the podcast ‘On the Way to New Work’. After studying business administration and completing a PhD in ecology-oriented marketing, he began his career at Bossard Consultants, followed by roles as managing director at Springer & Jacoby and as Global CMO at Audi. In 2004, together with André Kemper, he founded the advertising agency kempertrautmann, which later became thjnk AG. Michael is also a co-founder of Hyrox, the world’s first fitness competition open to everyone.

He has received numerous awards for his work, including ‘Man of the Year’ (horizont), Top 40 under 40 in European Marketing, Global Newcomer Agency of the Year and LinkedIn Top Voice. In the more than 450 episodes of his podcast, he has spoken to business leaders, innovative thinkers and academics (including from Harvard, Stanford, INSEAD and St Gallen) about the future of work. He is, of course, also co-author of the book *On the Way to New Work*, which was published in 2022 and became a bestseller.

Swantje Allmers

Swantje is the founder and managing director of NWMS GmbH, a consultant and one of the most sought-after voices on HR and the world of work. After studying economics and spending several years in research, she helped build up the then newly founded company TUI Cruises as Head of Corporate Planning, subsequently specialising in organisational development, agile working, leadership, self-management, and change and transformation.

She supports executives, teams and organisations in tackling current challenges. She learnt from the best in their fields, such as NLP from Richard Bandler, Scrum from Jeff Sutherland, Holacracy from Brian Robertson, GTD from David Allen, Habits from BJ Fogg and LAB Profiling from Shelle Rose Charvet.

Together with Michael Trautmann and Christoph Magnussen, she co-authored the bestseller *On the Way to New Work*; in 2023, she was named one of the LinkedIn DACH Top 50 and one of the 99 most influential voices in HR, and received the DRX Award as an HR content expert.

LEUCHTTURM1917

Since its foundation in 1917, LEUCHTTURM1917 has stood for one thing: the belief that writing by hand is thinking on paper. What began as a Hanseatic family business is now one of the world’s best-known stationery brands, available in over 50 countries and the recipient of the Red Dot Design Award and the German Design Award.

What sets LEUCHTTURM1917 apart from others is its unwavering attention to detail. Every notebook, every calendar, every journal is developed with the aim of being not just a product, but a companion for ideas that become projects, for notes that bring clarity, and for thoughts that need to be recorded.

Whether it’s a classic notebook, a thematically structured journal or a high-quality writing instrument, LEUCHTTURM1917’s product range is as diverse as its users. What all products have in common: the highest quality materials, functional design and the aim of turning an analogue object into something lasting.

Our story

The New Work Journal is the result of over 20 years of practical experience. Michael Trautmann has been keeping a daily journal for two decades. In the morning, before the day gets going, and in the evening, when the day’s events are still fresh in his mind. Handwritten, on paper. Yet despite this deep conviction, for a long time he lacked the right tool. A journal that could do both: help him pause and reflect, and move forward. Too spiritual, too generic, too far removed from everyday working life.

When he first mentioned this idea to Philip Döbler of LEUCHTTURM1917, the path ahead still seemed too long. So Michael and Swantje simply printed their own. More than 20 prototypes were created; over 1,000 participants in the New Work Masterskills programmes used them to reflect, plan and provide feedback. What began on a small scale as an internal working tool matured over the years into a well-thought-out concept.

At some point, Michael approached Philip Döbler again. The reply came straight away: “Yes, let’s do it.” What followed was close collaboration with the LEUCHTTURM1917 team, and the result is the New Work Journal: 12 weeks, 12 prompts, a clear path of development from ‘Better Me’ through ‘Better We’ to ‘Better Society’.