Speaker
Find out more about the Inspiration Days speakers from September 25 to 27
Speakers in recent years
Take a look at our highlights from previous years
Find out more about the Inspiration Days speakers from September 25 to 27
Take a look at our highlights from previous years
Creator
Younes Zarou is Germany's number one TikToker. He currently has over 50 million followers on TikTok alone. Zarou travels internationally, meets celebrities and campaigns for various movements. He is the winner of the "Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Award 2021" and "Favorite Social Media Star". In 2023, he also danced alongside Malika Dzumaev on "Let's Dance".
Bestselling author
After numerous setbacks, Benedict Wells achieved his literary breakthrough in 2008 with 'Beck's Last Summer'. His debut novel was not only awarded the Bavarian Art Prize, but was also made into a film. With novels such as 'Vom Ende der Einsamkeit' and 'Hard Land', he cemented his status as one of the most successful German-language authors. His work, which has been translated into over 38 languages, demonstrates his ability to tell universal themes such as friendship, loss and growing up in a haunting way.
Model & TV presenter
Lena Gercke is a leading personality in the German entertainment industry. Since winning Germany's Next Topmodel, she has established herself as a model, presenter and entrepreneur. She shares her projects and insights into her life with over 3 million followers on Instagram. In addition to hosting various TV formats, Lena founded her own fashion brand that offers modern clothing for women.
Yogi & bestselling author
Sadhguru is an internationally recognized spiritual teacher from India with millions of followers from all over the world. Known for his profound talks and meditation techniques, he speaks to audiences worldwide and meets leading figures in politics, business and culture. Sadhguru is strongly committed to environmental initiatives and has been awarded the Padma Vibhushan, one of India's highest civilian honors.
Former Member of the Bundestag
Thomas Sattelberger is a German politician, manager and advocate of innovation and education. After a successful career in the corporate world, focusing on leadership development and innovation promotion, he entered politics. As a member of the FDP, he was a member of the German Bundestag from 2017 to 2022, where he was particularly committed to education and digital transformation.
Fashion designer
Marina Hoermanseder is known for her avant-garde designs that combine haute couture with orthopaedic elements. Her unique style combines functionality with unconventional beauty and challenges traditional notions of femininity. Celebrities such as Lady Gaga and Rihanna wear her creations. In addition to her own label, she has collaborated with brands such as Adidas and is a permanent fixture at fashion weeks, especially in Berlin.
Creator & medical student
Anna Aurelia is a well-known German creator. She gained fame through her approachable content on platforms such as TikTok and Instagram, where she shares lifestyle vlogs, lip-sync performances and personal moments with her audience. In addition to her online presence, Anna is also known for her fashion sense and often shows it in various photo shoots.
Entrepreneur & Creator
Sally Özcan studied to become a teacher and, after several years as a primary school teacher, founded her YouTube channel "Sally's World", where she inspired millions with her cooking and baking videos. In addition to her online career, she has also appeared on TV and is now not only a successful video producer, but also an entrepreneur with her own company and baking accessories. She is committed to helping disadvantaged children through her foundation and is an ambassador for the German Children's Hospice Association and the Reading Foundation.
Musician and content creator
Heiko and Roman Lochmann are among the best-known social media stars in Germany. They became famous as the successful YouTube duo "Die Lochis". Millions of people follow them on Instagram, where they regularly share insights into their lives and projects. They are now mainly active as the musician duo HE/RO.
Manager at Google
Annette Kroeber-Riel is Vice President of Government Affairs and Public Policy at Google in Europe. She leads policy strategy and advises Google executives on policy trends in Europe and beyond. She played a key role in the EU Copyright Directive and worked in various legal roles around the world prior to Google. Annette is a human rights advocate and mentor to women in the technology industry.
Athlete
Leo Neugebauer is a German track and field athlete who specializes in the decathlon. With 8961 points, he is number one in the world rankings in the decathlon and the German record holder. In August 2024, he achieved Olympic silver in Paris. Leo studies at the University of Texas in Austin and competes for the Texas Longhorns.
Former professional handball player
Michael "Mimi" Kraus is a former professional handball player who dedicated himself to entrepreneurship after his successful career as a world champion and Champions League winner in 2020. In addition to his work as a fitness entrepreneur, he plans to return to handball, possibly as a coach.
Marine biologist
Fabian Ritter is a marine biologist with a passion for whales and dolphins. He is an expert in whale watching and a member of the International Whaling Commission, where he has also worked as Ship Strike Data Coordinator since 2012. He has published four books, leads courses, gives lectures and has worked for the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society since 2012.
Artists
Dennis Klapschus is a German spray art artist and has been working under the dekLart® label since 2014. Inspired by Walt Disney's quote "If you can dream it, you can do it", he combines childhood memories with a modern lifestyle in his works. After training as a bricklayer and studying architecture, he developed his flair for space and color, which ultimately led him to art. His works, influenced by Disney and comic characters, are intended to evoke positive feelings and be fun.
Artist
Isi Carolina began her artistic journey under the influence of her grandfather, a passionate painter, and studied communication design in Frankfurt. In 2020, she exhibited for the first time at Kunstverein Montez and decorated the "Hippiements Villa" in Ibiza with her paintings. This was followed by her first solo exhibition and the publication of her own book. As a successful creator, she inspires younger people for art and creativity.
Journalist
Malcolm Ohanwe is a multimedia journalist and foreign reporter. After a traineeship, he worked as a cultural and political journalist for various public broadcasters. He has received several awards for his work, including the Willi Bleicher Prize. Together with Marcel Aburakia, he produced the award-winning podcast "Kanackische Welle" about identity in the immigration society.
Master confectioner
Anne Blatter-Miredin, a multiple award-winning master confectioner, can look back on an impressive career. After her training in Constance, which she completed as a chamber winner, she gained international experience in London. As the best pastry chef in the country in 2020 and former pastry chef at Rosalind Miller Cakes, the 'Best Wedding Cake Designer', she is a true master of her trade.
Musician & Entrepreneur
Georg Listing is not only the bassist of Tokio Hotel, but also a committed entrepreneur. In addition to his musical career, he takes on important tasks in the band's marketing and sales. He is significantly involved in the development and implementation of the band's strategy and contributes to the planning and realization of their projects as a producer.
Architect, professor & artist
Prof. Christian Heuchel studied architecture and architecture at the Elite University of Karlsruhe and the Düsseldorf Art Academy. Christian Heuchel has been a lecturer in art and architecture at the Kunstakademie Düsseldorf since 2000. He is the founder of the architects' association rheinflügel and owner of the artists' studio bHK in Cologne.
Athlete
Heike Drechsler is one of the most successful German track and field athletes with two Olympic gold medals in the long jump and several world and European championship titles. In addition to the long jump, she was also a top sprinter. After the end of her career, Drechsler became involved in sports promotion and charity work. She was inducted into the "IAAF Hall of Fame" in 2004 and continues to inspire many young athletes with her outstanding achievements and commitment to sport.
Teacher & Creator
Niko Kappe is a teacher at a Berlin school, journalist and creator. He publishes new videos every day on TikTok, Instagram and YouTube, where he already has more than one million followers. He gained journalistic experience at the Berlin newspaper Tagesspiegel, among others.
Singer/songwriter
David Müller aka Batomae is a multi-instrumentalist who will release his debut album "Wer ist der Typ?" in 2023 and has made a name for himself in the music scene thanks to his versatility: As a songwriter, he wrote the title track "Playlist" for Sebastian Fitzek, supported Wincent Weiss with the platinum award-winning hit "Musik sein" and played bass for Luxuslärm or as a studio musician for artists such as Namika and Stefanie Heinzmann.
Actress
Mareile Blendl is known for her commitment to respectful collaboration. She has artistically processed her experiences as a theater and film actress in the industry satire "All I Never Wanted". Today, in addition to acting, she coaches and advises employees in companies, public authorities and cultural institutions to promote emotional competence, self-confidence and effectiveness in the workplace.
Lawyer
Christiane Stützle is a partner at Morrison Foerster in Berlin and co-head of the global film and entertainment practice group. She advises Hollywood studios on international film and TV productions such as Homeland and The Grand Budapest Hotel. As a specialist lawyer for copyright and media law and IFTA arbitrator, her focus is on film and entertainment transactions. She has also founded a film financing panel and is active in various industry organizations.
Artists
Alexander Martini is a contemporary abstract artist who is passionate about exploring color, emotion and form. After leaving school to complete an apprenticeship as a gardener, and completing his A-levels at the same time, he draws inspiration from David Lynch. Martini's works are characterized by bold brushstrokes, vibrant colors and complex textures that convey deep emotional and introspective experiences. He believes in the transformative power of art and continues his creative journey with enthusiasm.
Founder Worldclubdome
Bernd Breiter is an innovative entrepreneur, known for his extraordinary festival and media events with BigCityBeats and the World Club Dome. He became famous for the first DJ set in space and events such as the Club in Zero Gravity. Breiter is also involved in charitable causes and received the Aviation Legends Award in Hollywood in 2022. His motto: "The sky is not the limit."
Account Manager at Amazon Web Services
Carsten discovered his passion for music production and IT while he was still at school. He programmed his first computer game with his father at the age of 11. When he became a father at the age of 21, he switched from his trained environment as an audio engineer to IT. He has been working in IT for 23 years and has been an Account Manager at Amazon Web Services for five years. There, he helps companies to understand their challenges and develop customized solutions with the help of cloud technologies.
Sports scientist
Ingo Froböse is a university professor at the German Sport University Cologne specializing in sport, health and prevention. He advises the Bundestag as an expert on prevention issues and works as a scientific advisor for the health insurance companies' preventive healthcare programs. He regularly writes books on the subjects of health, sport and nutrition, many of which have become bestsellers.
Psychology & stress expert
Jacob Drachenberg is a leading stress expert in Germany and co-founder of an academy that offers stress management training. He studied psychology at Humboldt University in Berlin and regularly shares his knowledge in the media as well as at conferences and workshops. Drachenberg is known for his innovative approaches to stress management.
Lawyer & Creator
Chris Wascheck is a lawyer and creator who originally became known for his creative elevator photos on social media. He has since shifted his focus to sustainable passions, particularly animal welfare. On his channels with over 1.5 million followers, Chris shares insights into his life, his love for animals and talks openly about personal topics such as everyday fears and emotional challenges. In addition to his social media activities, he plans to work as a prosecutor and continue his commitment to animal welfare.
Program Manager for Data Ecosystems at AWS
After completing her law studies in Lviv, Ukraine, and her business studies in Oldenburg, Germany, Khrystyna started her professional career in Germany as a Business Development Manager at a FinTech company in Berlin. In her current role, she works as a program manager for data ecosystems for public sector customers at AWS.
Florist
Dominique Herold is a renowned German master florist known for her exceptional creativity and expertise in floral design. Her work is characterized by a deep understanding of color, movement and volume. Her expertise lies not only in creating beautiful arrangements, but also in teaching others the art of floristry, making her a sought-after teacher and mentor in the industry.
Manager Solutions Architect at Amazon Web Services
Lukas discovered his passion for programming in a computer science club in the 7th grade. Although he wavered for a long time between law, history and computer science, he finally decided to study computer science in Berlin. After a brief detour into cultural studies, he began his career as a technical consultant for document archives. He then gained three years of experience as a software developer at a scientific publishing house. Lukas has now been working at AWS for five years, where he supports companies in the technical implementation of cloud solutions.
Former politician
Manfred Michel is a former CDU politician and was a formative figure in regional politics for many years. As District Administrator of the Limburg-Weilburg district, he worked intensively for the development and promotion of the region. In addition to his political career, Michel was also active in various honorary positions and campaigned for the preservation of culture and tradition in his home region. He retired in 2019 after many years of dedicated work.
Comedian & policeman
Luan started boxing at the age of 14 and became Baden-Württemberg state champion. After training as an automotive mechatronics technician and completing his vocational baccalaureate, he discovered his passion for comedy. He started on YouTube in 2012 and quickly gained popularity. His stage debut in Stuttgart and a successful dual course of study with the police led him back to comedy in 2017. He established himself on the German comedy scene with his solo program "Die Luan Comedy Show".
Founder & Musician
Till Janczukowicz is a formative figure in the classical music scene and founder of Idagio, a leading streaming platform for classical music. Since its foundation in 2015, he has expanded the platform to millions of users, making classical music more accessible worldwide. Janczukowicz works closely with orchestras, conductors and musicians to offer exclusive content and promote the classical music repertoire.
Futurologist & author
Kai Gondlach, a technology enthusiast, IT expert and futurologist, founded his own institute after completing a master's degree in futurology. Since becoming self-employed in 2019, he has been sharing his findings in lectures and publishing works to simplify the complexity of the future. His aim is to alleviate fears about the future and create positive perspectives.
IT Project Engineer - Amazon Support Services
After training as an IT specialist, Julian completed a dual degree in business informatics. Today, he is not only an IT Project Engineer at Amazon, but also an IHK trainer for IT.
Founder & Organizer
Robin Söder is a versatile entrepreneur, investor, speaker and former professional soccer player who has had an impressive career. After his active time as an athlete, he recognized weaknesses in the education system, especially in the area of entrepreneurship. This insight led him to found Entrepreneur University, which today organizes Germany's largest founder and entrepreneur conference, the Founder Summit. With a total of five founded companies and his role as a jury member of the Hessian funding program Distr@l, he supports promising digital companies and drives innovation.
Film critic & podcaster
Yves Arivich is a real all-rounder in the media world! As a content creator, presenter and podcaster, he has already been a hit on the popular Moviepilot channel on YouTube for eight years. Now he is launching his own YouTube channel, where he presents fresh content about films and series. And that's not all: together with Marco Riesch, Yves hosts the podcast "Nerd & Culture", in which they delve deep into the world of films and series.
Founder of The WorldChanger
Robert Laner is a real doer when it comes to making new ideas big! As CEO and founder of "The Worldchanger", he invests in innovative brands and helps them to become successful. With cool events and exciting projects, he supports young start-ups in making their dreams come true. But that's not all: in 2013, Robert founded the sustainable fashion label "ERDBÄR", which stands for fair and environmentally friendly fashion.
Entrepreneur & podcaster
Carsta Maria Müller is Managing Director and Podcast Co-Host at babygotbusiness and knows the social media world like no other. Through her experience as Strategic Partner Manager at Meta and as Director Social Media at ProSiebenSat.1, she has a deep understanding of how to really make a difference with social media and influencer marketing. Her passion? Making the social media industry smarter, more creative and more effective.
Ballet dancer
Mari Kawanishi is an outstanding ballet dancer at the Berlin State Theater. Her path there was a real adventure: from Japan, where she took her first dance steps at the famous Tachibana Ballet School in Tokyo, her talent took her via London to the Elmhurst School for Dance and The Royal Ballet School, two of the most prestigious ballet schools in the world. Before she conquered the stage in Berlin in 2011, she already shone at the Semperoper Ballett in Dresden. Mari has fulfilled her dream - and shows what is possible with passion, hard work and a clear goal. Perhaps her story will inspire you to make your own dreams come true!
Senior Strategic Account Manager - Software Business
Susanne is an experienced expert in technology, sales and project management. After completing her training at a renowned communications company, she discovered her passion for the world of technology. With over 22 years of experience in sales, Susanne has supported the hardware and software development of global companies at the highest level. Currently, Susanne is a Senior Strategic Account Manager and Project Manager at Amazon. This means she helps customers grow both commercially and technologically and achieve their goals.
Founder & CEO
Jennik Pickert is a versatile media and communications expert from Germany. He began his career in television and radio at a young age and set up his own business early on. For four years, Pickert was the face of the German Founder Award for school students and conducted interviews with important personalities. During the coronavirus pandemic, he launched the "Context" project, which was a finalist for the Social Impact Award.
Moderator
Kristina Fixemer became known as a morning show presenter on bigFM and brought fresh energy to the radio every morning. During her studies at the Hamburg Media School, she gained experience as an audio content producer and podcast host. After graduating, she started her career at bigFM and is now going her own new way.
Moderator
Patrick Fritzsche is a well-known voice and a familiar face on MDR. Fritzsche is currently in front of the camera and behind the microphone in various formats, reaching a wide audience. Fritzsche is not only present in the studio, but also live on location at events throughout central Germany.
Lawyer
Prof. Dr. Ralf Höcker is a renowned lawyer and professor of media law, specializing in copyright and media law. He has authored numerous publications and is a regular speaker at conferences and in the media. His expertise includes the legal aspects of digitalization and the use of media content in social networks. He is also involved in education and training in the field of media law.
Senior Enterprise Account Manager - Media
Kerstin began her professional career as a hotel manager. She later took a completely new path and specialized in video games at Amazon. There she took on various roles, from Marketing Manager to Senior Category Manager. Today, she works as a Senior Enterprise Account Manager at Amazon Web Services.
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