Corporate culture and management style provide a significant competitive advantage: They are the management tools of the future, and they are factors for success for companies. With the "Business Summer School Unternehmenskultur", the Bertelsmann Stiftung aims to show future executives how corporate culture is a factor for success by integrating values-based corporate culture and the spirit of partnership into their professional development.

The Business Summer School takes place in two formats for different target groups:
- participants from companies with more than 10,000 employees (late summer/autumn)
- participants from companies with 1,000-10,000 employees (spring/early summer)
Participant selection: Selected mentors from companies addressed by the Bertelsmann Foundation nominate  so-called "next leaders" from their companies.
A participation fee will be charged. It  includes accomodation, all meals, and course materials.
Seminar language: German; selected portions of the program may take place in English. Speeches will not be interpreted.

After its initial phase (03/06-12/07) the project will be continued for another three years (01/08-12/10).
An international programme with a similar framework is planned and will start in 2009.