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Executive Coaching · Riga, Latvia

Redesign your thinkware.

Your mind runs on inherited software. The silent observer underneath wrote none of it. Lead from there.

Thomas - the Thinkware Design intro film
Watch - 16 min
The 16-min intro filmThomas Bothe
24h guidedCohort of 12Sep-Dec 2026Riga
01

The Gap

You've Built the Success. Something's Still Missing.

You lead teams, close deals, and carry weight others don't see. The board trusts your judgment. Your calendar is full. And yet there's a gap between what you've achieved and how you actually feel about it.

Maybe you and your partner built the business together - and now the personal and professional lines have blurred beyond recognition. The conversations you need most are the ones you keep avoiding.

Or maybe you hit every milestone you set for yourself, and the reward was… emptiness. You're successful by every external measure, but something fundamental has gone quiet inside.

“You'll do the critical lifting yourself. There's no forklift for the abilities that can't - and shouldn't - be outsourced.”

Thomas Bothe

You don't need a sharper spreadsheet-brain. Underneath it runs older thinkware: the natural intelligence that carried you through every real decision before the noise taught you to doubt it. Learn to trust it again.

02

The Method

Redesign your thinkware: the natural intelligence you already run on.

Everyone is busy upgrading their software. Your most powerful thinkware is the one you were born with: your natural intelligence. It created AI, not the other way around.

You don't install a new framework. Your natural intelligence is existential resourcefulness, already running. You're not broken, and you don't need a label. Redesigning your thinkware means stripping out what was bolted on, until the part of you that sees clearly leads again.

  1. 01

    Communication is the door, the portal, to the person.

    Every shift begins with how you choose to prompt others and yourself. That is your thinkware in action.

  2. 02

    In this workshop we systematically talk to the silent observer - the awareness beneath everyone's surface identities.

    Beneath the titles, roles and habits is that intelligence - with the silent observer at its center - that could already see what really is.

  3. 03

    It's not just a patch - it solves 3 or 4 problems at the same time.

    Go deep enough and you don't just fix the symptom. You change how everything works.

Here's how it works in practice.

03

The Method

An Existential Approach, Not a Therapeutic One

Thomas has an existential approach, not a therapeutic approach. No labels. No pathologizing. No pretending that a model on a whiteboard captures what it means to be human. Instead: honest conversation with the part of you that already knows what needs to change.

01

The Silent Observer

I'm systematically talking to the silent observer - the awareness beneath the roles you perform.

Beyond your title, your habits, your defenses, there is something that sees clearly. That's where the work begins.

02

Brutal Honesty with Compassion

I can be brutally honest, as long as the other person feels seen.

No polite evasion. No empty validation. Direct truth delivered with genuine care - because that's the only kind that changes anything.

03

Independence as the Goal

It makes the coachee independent. Including independent of me.

The aim is never dependency. You learn to run within your own values' guard rails. You learn it deep - which translates to speed later.

04

Depth over Speed

When you go deeper, you don't just fix the knee - you fix the walk, the energy, everything.

Surface fixes create surface results. Go deep enough and you don't solve one problem - you change how everything works.

“Clarity is not a destination - it is the discipline of returning, again and again, to what you actually think.”

04

Credentials

Two Decades Training Leaders

20+

Years Training Leaders

Thomas has led communication trainings in small-group settings for over 20 years.

2,000+

Business Owners Trained

He has trained more than 2,000 business owners and their core teams across industries and cultures.

Former CEO

Practitioner, Not Theorist

An entrepreneur and author who has led from the top - coaching grounded in real executive experience.

Experience across industries and cultures

05
The Practitioner

Meet Thomas Bothe

Thomas is the practitioner behind Thinkware Design, an unhurried approach to redesigning how leaders think. His work returns you to your natural intelligence: the quiet judgement beneath the noise.

A former CEO and author, he has spent over 20 years training more than 2,000 business owners and their teams - in English, German, and Swedish.

His practice favors depth over volume. Fewer people, longer conversations, real change. The aim is not another framework to perform, but the quieter capacity beneath it - clarity, judgement, and the confidence to reach your own conclusions.

“Nature favors independence.”
Thomas Bothe - Thinkware Design
Reserve Your Seat

Delivered in partnership with the Riga Business Chamber.

Thomas Bothe - Thinkware Design

Former CEO & Author

20+ years · 2,000+ leaders trained · EN · DE · SE

In Their Words

What Leaders Say

Featured
Thomas is a masterful trainer in the true sense of the word. He has the unique ability to take each participant beyond what they thought was possible. With kindness but unrelenting focus on the person and the task at hand, he succeeded in making each of us stretch beyond the confines of our comfort zones. Each of us tried and failed and then - thanks to a well-honed intervention - managed to do things that we did not think possible a few minutes earlier. As a coach, I was particularly impressed with Thomas' ability to have a good sense of who each person is and what challenges he or she might be facing while completely focussing his attention and targeting the intervention at what is needed and doable at the moment. While many courses provide good knowledge and insights, this course made me feel and experience that specific changes are possible, well knowing that moving beyond the boundaries of habitual behaviour takes time and continued practice.
Thomas is a true professional. In his trainings he is able to identify and combine a) urgent needs for productivity with b) management team performance improvement and c) effective individual leadership development. By "nailing" the relevant point in each individual feedback and by applying understandable practical training tools, every trainee is able to make tangible progress in a very short time.

Dace Dovidena

Chief Executive Officer, Reitan Convenience Latvia

View on LinkedIn
2015
Thomas course on leadership and communication is completely different from any other courses I have ever attended. Nothing to do with general boring theory. Interesting, practical, useful, shakes you out of your everyday routine.
I can say that I learned more in a short time about how to approach the problems of developing teams and individuals than I have for many many years. His "spiral" concept of how to judge and improve the learnability of those you have to lead was ground breaking in its simplicity and power. Thomas is a true master of his subject and his training will bring value to any leader or company.
I rate Thomas very highly. He clearly knows what he is doing and his material, tools and techniques are not only potent, effective and clear but also original -- and it would seem that most have been created from first principles - truly excellent. As a final thought: WOW! I loved it, and it was a delight to be able to work through all the topics we covered in such an original, insightful, professional, compelling and beneficial way.
Это работает! Мне посчастливось пройти тренинг «Communication Essentials in Leadership» у Томаса в Июне 2018. Спустя год могу сказать, это самые используемые знания и навыки, которые я получал на тренингах. Персональный подход, четкая коммуникация, ведение тебя от начала и до финального результата, вывод за пределы зоны комфорта для практического осваивания новык навыков – это то, как мастерский Томас формирует атмосферу тренинга. Как результат – осознанное и эффективное использование полученных знаний. Я очень рекомендую данный курс и Томаса, как тренера!
It works! I attended «Communication Essentials in Leadership» course by Thomas Bothe in June 2018. After a year, I can admit this is the most used knowledge and skills that I ever received on training.
Im CEiL-Training von Thomas Bothe habe ich als Coach gelernt mir auch in schwierigen Situationen eine vorbehaltlos ressourcenorientierte Haltung zu bewahren. Das hat die Wirksamkeit meiner Tätigkeit nachhaltig erhöht. Und ich habe im Austausch mit Thomas zum Thema 'strategische Weiterentwicklung' den Ansatz des szenischen Coaching entwickelt. Für mich war der CEiL-Kurs im besten Sinne ein "game changer".
In Thomas' CEiL-training I have learned as a coach to keep an unconditionally resource-oriented mindset even in difficult situations. That has permanently enhanced the effectiveness of my activity. For me the CEiL-course was a game changer in the best sense of the word.
The course was intense, yet still never overwhelming as we had to push our comfort zones higher. It was a great balance of focus and relaxation and at times shared laughter. Personally, after the course had finished I felt a great relief.
I am a very challenging person for trainers, especially when the training is about areas where I feel already confident. Thomas is one of the 2%, a trainer who managed to help me to reset my perspective on areas where I felt I was doing perfect.
During the C.E.I.L. course Thomas is not allowing to avoid or to stop improving oneself until its done. That disciplined and purposeful approach really pushed me out of my comfort zone. I myself faced my real problems in the course and I used the techniques and trained on my problems and I noticed that EVERYone on course tried to do just that.

Žana Kovšova

Head of Baltic Banking Cash Management Sales Support, Swedbank

View on LinkedIn
2017
I have the best memories about the training sessions with Thomas three years ago, and I feel that they have given me so much in terms of understanding certain things about myself, my management style and emotional intelligence. You have helped me to mature as a person and a professional. Thank you for that!
Thomas has helped me and my Nordic management team with training, but also specific challenges in our company's development. Another strength of Thomas is the ability to translate theories into useful skills by actively train participants in various situations. I can highly recommend Thomas broad repertoire and in particular his ability to convey it.
Thomas has meant a lot for our business then it comes to improve internal and external communication but also for more specific management skills. All our office staff have been on his AKL training and all have been affected in a positive way. Many people in our business have grown both as individuals and as employees and do today reach goals through other people which before was very hard for them.
Thomas came into my organisation and provided an excellent set of facilitated sessions covering effective communication, leadership and strategy improvement. Personally I found that Thomas was able to take theoretical concepts and personalise them to create profound insights into our day-to-day work behaviours and how to improve them. He demonstrated a lot of passion and a genuine desire to see others benefit from what he had to offer.
Two days training with Thomas was very productive for me. I highly appreciate the combination of knowledge and passion and how Thomas leads the training process. I plan to cooperate with Thomas in the future and recommend managers, who want to develop efficiency of communication and leadership and who want to rebuild a company strategically, to get in contact with him personally.

Guntis Sokolovskis

Leadership & Transformation Partner, Sandler

View on LinkedIn
2013
We had a great cooperation with Thomas at our online opening event for ALFA Leadership program next pillar- Leading People. Thomas shared his thoughts provoking spiral of learning from managers perspective- emphasizing the flexibility of a leader to adopt to his team member development spiral stage- from instructor to mentor and coach. That was a great inspiration for all our people managers!
Jag fick chansen att delta i en utbildning/workshop serie i 3 delar, som Thomas hade nu under hösten -20 i Kungälv. Det handlade om konsten att förmedla sitt budskap och att nå fram med den. T.ex. kundnyttan i företaget (pitch). Teori varvades med otroligt lärorika och kraftfulla praktiska övningar, där t.ex. vi fick känna på att i detta trygga space, medvetet försätta oss i olika känstotillstånd som ängslan, ilska, glädje osv. och framföra budskapet från den platsen i oss. Mycket givande! Lärorikt! Många insikter! Wow.
Jag fick chansen att delta i en utbildning/workshop serie i 3 delar, som Thomas hade nu under hösten -20 i Kungälv. Det handlade om konsten att förmedla sitt budskap och att nå fram med den.
The most unbeatable aspect and a power of Thomas is his ability to speak you through your own mind. He is not invading it with his own dogmas, he enters it and simply points out to an additional doors. Doors that not only helps you to discover yourself more deeply and therefore see more further in your own life, but also a door to a better, interpersonal communications and leadership nuances.
For me as an experienced (and passionately curious) language teacher, Thomas' 5h online seminar was eye-opening. His six-phase-spiral outlines a natural and never-ending learning process. It helped me gain an integrated perspective of what the process looks like from within the learner.
Thomas is a master trainer. I would recommend his program to every modern and progressive leader and his team. In my opinion the only trainer who can not only keep each participant's attention for every minute of training but also be able to present the most up-to-date and high-quality content that immediately inspires the whole team and its applicability is visible with the next working day.
Communication Essentials in Leadership was one of the most useful courses I ever had. Course is so cleverly built with lots of practices which are logically connected with each other and finally making the whole picture so clear. Thomas not allowing just making practice but pushed you out of your comfort zone while you are making practices right.
Some time ago I took part in the training course on leadership communication led by Thomas. The content was customized to every participant of our small group, that I felt like on one-to-one training. Great value for my daily work, which is still valid even few years after it took place!
Leadership Communication training provided by Thomas Bothe introduces unique tools and methods of team communication. Training process is highly personal and customised according to particular needs of each participant. I would recommend this training to any team leader irrespective of her managerial experience.
Training delivered by Thomas was very valuable. He actively engages each participant in training process, explains concepts from theory that corresponds to individual goals of each participant. Most important he challenges training participants to work with own skills and step out of comfort zone.
I attended Thomas two days open training course on Leadership Communication in Riga. It was the training where skills are really transformed to new level, professionally meaningful experience gained and horizons for future achievements widened. One of the rare opportunities to obtain powerful, action oriented communication tools, yet ethical and respectful.
Thomas is excellent Leadership trainer, able to show another perspective about responsibility, teamwork and communication. Bringing complicated concepts into simple words and practical examples, combining theory and practice, so that people are not just aware about what is effective leadership but they feel it in their spine and are able to implement it in daily work.

Betija Liduma

Leadership & Organisation Development Consultant

View on LinkedIn
2013
Thomas is a seasoned business strategist with bags of experience working with people and processes. He is focussed, powerful and highly credible. His goodwill and humanity make him a pleasure to work with.
Thomas is very trustworthy and has got deep knowledge in the subjets that we at the time where working with. Thomas is also very carismatic and focused on what he is doing which in my opinion gives great results.

Bert-Olov Ström

Head of Upper Secondary Education, Bodens kommun

View on LinkedIn
2010
06

The Programs

Two Ways to Work with Thomas

A flagship in-person program for those ready to commit - and a flexible online option for everyone else.

Flagship Program

Executive Masterclass

4 in-person sessions, September to December 2026

A cohort of 12
  • Maximum 12 participants - real depth, not a crowd
  • 6 hours per session - enough time to go beyond surface
  • 4 in-person sessions (one a month) plus 4 online sessions between them, September to December 2026
  • In-person in Riga - presence matters at this level
  • Peer cohort of senior leaders - learn from each other
  • Sessions are never recorded - what happens in the room stays there

Value

EUR 94/hr versus the market rate of EUR 800+/hr for executive coaching at this level.

Investment

3,630incl. 21% VAT4 sessions · 6h each

A small, deliberately limited cohort.

"The combination of a small group of highly experienced persons, a brilliant facilitator and a fascinating subject made this training by far the best I ever participated in. I would recommend it for anyone in an executive position."

Kim Leandersson·GBS & Operations Executive

incl. 21% VAT

Prefer to spread the cost?

By clicking you agree to the Terms of Sale. Where the service begins within 14 days, you request immediate performance and acknowledge your right of withdrawal lapses once fully performed.

4,840 total over 2 months(incl. 21% VAT)

Contact us for an alternative payment plan
Flexible Option

Online Sessions

Individual sessions between masterclasses

  • 4 sessions between masterclasses
  • 2 hours per session - focused, specific topics
  • Trust, feedback, dialogue - standalone value
  • Unlimited attendees - no cap
  • Recorded for later access

Investment

302.50incl. 21% VAT

per session

By clicking you agree to the Terms of Sale. Where the service begins within 14 days, you request immediate performance and acknowledge your right of withdrawal lapses once fully performed.

incl. 21% VAT

07

The Journey

Your Four-Month Arc

September through December 2026 - four full-day in-person sessions (six hours each) and four online sessions (two hours each), no filler.

In-PersonOnline

September 2026

In-Person

Session 1

September 11 - 08:30-15:00

Discover Unfettered Attention

Online

Session 2

September 25 - 13:00-15:00

Holding space, holding your vision

October 2026

In-Person

Session 3

October 9 - 08:30-15:00

Get Your North Star off Thin Ice

Online

Session 4

October 23 - 13:00-15:00

5 stakeholder-types need to trust

November 2026

In-Person

Session 5

November 13 - 08:30-15:00

Summon your inner & outer team

Online

Session 6

November 27 - 13:00-15:00

Hierarchy of Objectives

December 2026

In-Person

Session 7

December 11 - 08:30-15:00

Don't carry the horses

Online

Session 8

December 18 - 13:00-15:00

Maintaining Driving Energy

24 hours of in-person masterclass + 8 hours online - a complete transformation arc.

08

Honest Criteria

Is This For You?

This program is not for everyone. That is the point.

This Is For You If…

  • You're a senior leader carrying decisions others don't understand
  • You and your partner run a business together and need better communication
  • You've achieved success but feel something fundamental is missing
  • You want depth, not quick fixes or motivational slogans
  • You're ready to invest in yourself at the level you invest in your business
  • You value privacy and discretion - maximum 12 participants

This Is NOT For You If…

  • You want a motivational seminar with easy answers
  • You're looking for therapy or clinical treatment
  • You're not willing to be challenged or honest with yourself
  • You expect someone else to do the work for you
  • You need credentials or certificates - this is transformation, not accreditation
09

Common Questions

Questions You Might Have

Why EUR 3,630 for 4 in-person + 4 online sessions?
At EUR 94 per hour across 32 hours, this is well below the market rate of EUR 800+ per hour for senior executive coaching. You are not paying for a lecture - you are paying for a small-group transformation with a maximum of 12 participants, led by a former CEO who has trained over 2,000 business owners across more than 20 years. The depth this format allows does not exist at scale.
How is this different from other executive coaching?
Thomas works with the silent observer - the part of you that exists beyond your professional identity, your roles, your surface-level goals. This is an existential approach, not a therapeutic one. There are no labels, no diagnoses, no frameworks to memorize. The goal is independence - including independence from Thomas. Most coaching creates dependency. This program makes you self-sufficient.
What actually happens in a session?
Full-day work with your peers - 6 hours on-site (08:30-15:00), plus 2-hour online sessions in between to keep the momentum going. No slides. No motivational speeches. Thomas creates a space where honest conversation becomes possible - then he works with what emerges. Expect to be challenged. Expect to discover things about yourself you did not know. The small group means everyone participates - there is nowhere to hide.
Why only 12 participants?
Privacy, depth, and commitment. Senior leaders need to speak freely - about their businesses, their relationships, their doubts. That requires a room where discretion is absolute and everyone is invested at the same level. 12 is the maximum for the depth of interaction Thomas demands. This is a cathedral, not a stadium.
Is this therapy?
No. Thomas has an existential approach, not a therapeutic one. There are no diagnoses, no pathologizing, no clinical frameworks. This is about growth, clarity, and reclaiming your natural intelligence - not treatment. If you need therapy, a therapist is the right choice. If you need to reconnect with the intelligence you already have, this is.
What if I can't attend all the sessions?
The program is designed as a continuous arc - each session builds on the previous one. Full commitment matters. That said, life happens. If you know in advance you will miss a session, speak with the team and we will discuss options. What we will not do is dilute the experience for everyone else by accepting participants who treat it casually.
Are the sessions recorded?
The in-person masterclass sessions are never recorded. Privacy is non-negotiable for a room of senior executives doing vulnerable work. The online sessions between masterclasses are recorded so you can review them later at your own pace.
Can I pay in installments?
Yes. Choose "Pay in 2 x EUR 2,420/month" at checkout - two monthly payments, EUR 4,840total, with your seat confirmed on the first payment. Prefer a different arrangement? Contact us and we'll work out terms that fit.

Direct Enquiry

Start a Conversation

If you are considering this programme, reach out directly - we respond personally to every message.

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Prefer email? hello@thinkwaredesign.com

It's already in you. Time to lead from it.

“Nature favors independence”

A small, deliberately limited cohort of senior leaders.

incl. 21% VAT

Prefer to spread the cost?

By clicking you agree to the Terms of Sale. Where the service begins within 14 days, you request immediate performance and acknowledge your right of withdrawal lapses once fully performed.

4,840 total over 2 months(incl. 21% VAT)

Contact us for an alternative payment plan

Questions? Reach out!