Event summary of 2023

In 2023, we embraced the power of “BOLD CHOICES” together with a fantastic lineup of hand-picked speakers from diverse backgrounds. They shared their unique perspectives, urging us to be bold in our decisions and actions. With “Bold Choices,” we championed the courage to step beyond comfort zones, to challenge conventions, and to fearlessly pursue paths less traveled. In a world of uncertainty, we recognized that it’s through bold choices that we carve out new avenues, nurture resilience, and unlock the boundless potential for remarkable growth and fulfillment.

Silvia Wiesner

It’s time to stop sleepwalking into your future and to be intentional about what you are doing or who you are being with. Deciding to make a change for a living may feel like a huge challenge or even a setback, but who wouldn’t want to work on something they are passionate about? Especially since we are not only getting older but also staying in the labour market for longer. Silvia is an energetic leadership advisor and passionate advocate for diversity, equity and inclusion. She will share her enlightening tale of life transitions and explore why pivots build stronger leaders. A great reminder to stay bold in your life; perhaps now is the time to make a shift or attempt something completely novel?

Topic:
Life pivots make better leaders

Photo Credit: Mirjam Kilter

Silvia’s Talk

Dr. Emilia Roig

Dr. Emilia Roig is a bestselling author and political scientist. She is dedicated to inspiring people to divest from systems of oppression and to shift collective consciousness. She has taught at universities in France, Germany, and the U.S. on intersectionality theory, postcolonial studies, critical race theory, queer feminism, and international and European law. Prior to her PhD, she worked extensively on human rights issues at the UN in Tanzania and Uganda, at the GIZ in Cambodia, and at Amnesty International in Germany – and then decided to leave the field of international development to focus on social justice in Europe. She founded the Center for Intersectional Justice (CIJ) in 2017 and was Executive Director until 2024. She was jury member of the German Nonfiction Prize in 2020, was appointed Ashoka Fellow in 2019, and received the Edition F Award in 2021. She was elected “Most Influential Woman of the Year” in the Impact of Diversity Award in 2022. Since January 2023 she has been a Research Fellow at the Käte Hamburger Center for Apocalyptic and Post-Apocalyptic Studies at Heidelberg University.

Topic:
Should we end marriage ?

Photo Credit: Mohamed Badarne

Emilia’s Talk

Jesko von Werthern

Jesko was born and raised in the Taunus hills. He is a multiple finisher of The Transcontinental Race, Transatlantic Way Bike Race, Race through Poland and many other long-distance bike races. Jesko rides self-supported for thousands of kilometers – no aid stations, no team cars, just him and his bike. When he’s not out exploring, Jesko works as a writer and editor, inspiring and enabling people from all over the world to seek out adventure themselves. He’s convinced that it’s always worth it to leave your comfort zone and take a leap into the unknown, especially if it scares you. His mission to make adventure accessible to all has led to the creation of a bikepacking event in the very hills he grew up in. Taunus Bikepacking was first born out of an idea to create a local long-distance training loop and has evolved into a popular yearly event since 2018, when a bunch of friends rode the track in self-supported style for the first time. Through this unique event, Jesko helps people realize that adventure really is everywhere, even right in front of your doorstep.

Topic:
Why do we choose to do hard things?

Jesko’s Talk

Lissi Muschol

It is impossible to live a life free of conflict. Whether it be with an annoying colleague, an overbearing boss or maybe a self-absorbed boyfriend or girlfriend, conflict is an inescapable part of life’s narrative. But wouldn’t it be wonderful to learn a tool that helps you navigate through conflicts?
Lissi Muschol works as a mediator and in her talk, she will help you discover the confidence needed to face conflicts head-on, instead of ignoring or running away from them. Lissi believes that conflicts can present huge opportunities for personal development, genuine relationships and healthy work environments.

Topic:
How to hazelnut a conflict

Lissi’s Talk

Dr. Samira Peseschkian

Does our body communicate with us? If so, how does it do this? Drawing from her personal journey with chronic illness and her expertise as a medical doctor, Samira shares a powerful message about the profound interplay between the body and the psyche, offering insights about what happens in the brain. Drawing from her dual roles as a doctor and former chronic pain patient, Samira takes us on a path of learning, teaching us to listen to the signals our body sends and encouraging us to promote a harmonious relationship between our physical and mental being. Get ready to discover what your body would say if it could speak.

Topic:
What would your body say if it could speak?

Samira’s Talk

Why you need to think like a hacker

Lisa

Are you finding that pleasure has slipped down your list of priorities? Have you ever not wanted sex and wondered if that’s normal? Or considered how motherhood reshapes sexual identity? In her raw, honest, funny, and emotional TEDx talk, Lisa Opel, an acclaimed multilingual author, confronts these nuanced and often taboo themes head-on. With a background as diverse as advertising and working in a fetish shop, and hailing from Germany, raised in Portugal, and educated in England, Lisa brings a rich tapestry of experiences to her exploration of erotic literature and human sexuality. Celebrated for her groundbreaking work featured on acclaimed platforms like WDR, Spiegel Online, and SIXX, as well as in magazines and various international podcasts like Clemmie Telford and Erika Alsborn, Lisa’s voice resonates across the spectrum of sexual discourse. Her book, ‘GIVE IT TO ME!’, dives into the realms of eroticism and identity with a vibrant and cheeky approach, offering readers not just stories, but an invitation to a world where sexuality, pleasure, and empowerment intersect. Prepare to be inspired and empowered as Lisa Opel guides you through a journey of sexual liberation and self-discovery.

Topic:
Rediscovering sex after a dry spell

Photo Credit: Chris Zielecki