Fluent in Conversational Intelligence. For Career-Making Conversations
Small Talk, Smart Talk & Real Talk: They sound simple but they’re the power tools no one teaches and every ambitious leader needs. In this razor-sharp keynote, Katja Schleicher calls out the real reason many bright, capable professionals stall: not what they know, but how they talk.
With her trademark radical candor, Katja breaks down why conversational intelligence is the global career skill that separates those who get by from those who get ahead - across cultures, functions, and leadership levels. From tone-deaf tech teams to over-scripted execs, she’ll show how to build trust faster, frame smarter, and cut through corporate blah-blah with real authority.
Expect a high-energy session full of cross-cultural truths, functional misfits, timing fails, and quick-fix upgrades that make your conversations count. Because the future doesn’t belong to the loudest in the room - it belongs to the most fluent. And Katja will teach you the language.
Presented by Frederik Hacklin
Technological, societal, and geopolitical disruptions are reshaping the business landscape faster than ever before. To remain competitive, organizations must rethink not only what they do, but how they lead change in conditions of uncertainty. In this keynote, Professor Fredrik Hacklin will explore how leadership approaches are evolving from control and prediction toward adaptability and experimentation.
Drawing on research and field experience, he will discuss how leaders can sense emerging signals, make timely decisions under ambiguity, and mobilize their organizations for continuous renewal. Using real-world examples, the session will highlight strategies for transforming disruption into advantage and for developing the strategic agility required to thrive in an era of constant change.
Presented by Oscar García Pañella, PhD
To lead is also to motivate. It also means communicating and, of course, managing change in the right direction. And these are precisely the three dimensions addressed by Motivational Design — that is, Gamification and Storytelling in a corporate sense. Together, these two disciplines help generate greater engagement, improve message retention, and foster positive behavioral change through personal autonomy. Shall we talk about it?
Presented by Cristina Giménez Thomsen, PhD
This talk will examine how consciousness and the capacity for discernment serve as vital foundations for transformational leadership. By cultivating deeper awareness and presence, leaders are able to make wiser, more sustainable, and more humane decisions. The art of discernment will be presented as a core practice for aligning values with action—paving the way toward a more conscious, compassionate, and impactful style of leadership oriented toward the common good.
Gaudí: Nature, Symbol and Innovation in Stone
This session explores the life and work of Antoni Gaudí, one of the most iconic architects in history - a deeply spiritual figure who viewed nature as an extension of his faith. Far beyond reshaping architecture, Gaudí transformed it into a medium for expressing nature, symbolism, and spiritual meaning. We will delve into his most emblematic creations, such as the Sagrada Família and Park Güell, uncovering their organic forms, hidden symbols, and profound spiritual resonance. Drawing on recent studies of Gaudí's life and vision, we'll examine how his architecture becomes an ecstatic language - where every column, curve, and beam of light speaks to the soul and reflects an inner journey of creativity and devotion. The session will also consider how Gaudí's approach can inspire new perspectives in innovation and environmental management, offering a benchmark of excellence that can inform and elevate our daily professional practices.
Meet the Panelists