In 2018 Deutsche Telekom partnered with the German Association of Towns and Municipalities (DStGB) to deliver the Smart City Executive program. The aim was to deploy a new approach to accelerate the deployment of Smart Cities not by starting with technology solutions but with human centric innovation (design thinking) and working together with citizens, employees and solutions providers: Co-Creation. 42 cities worked on 6 challenges from idea to prototype. The experience was overwhelming and convinced the United Nations to partner on the approach as well. The key note will highlight the why, what and how of that program.