In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized (subject to certain rules and regulations).

Oktogon
Gelsenkirchener Str. 181
Essen, Nordrhein-Westfalen, 45309
Germany

Aboubacar Konate

Konate is a dynamic business developer in the tech industry and a speaker. Educated at some of the top universities in Germany and France, Konate holds a degree in Internationalbusiness, a diploma in customer service, a certificate in public policy and management, a certificate in leadership development, and more. Born into a family of entrepreneurs, Konate was exposed to B2C sales and marketing from the age of 7, honing exceptional skills in persuasion, presentation, sales strategies, and customer relationship management (CRM). Konate became a professional speaker at the age of 22 and has spoken to more than 20.000 people across 2 continents. Konate's dedication to making a positive impact in his community and his leadership ability were highlighted In 2017 as he was selected as a Young African Leader, and In 2019, selected as a panelist at the World Youth Forum in Egypt, where he provided valuable insights into youth empowermenton a global scale.

Christian von Daniels

Christian von Daniels is a prominent German textile entrepreneur with decades of experience in the fashion industry. After founding and managing von Daniels GmbH, he took over the struggling van Laack GmbH in 2002, successfully revitalizing the brand and refining its product range. As sole owner since 2021, he has expanded van Laack’s influence, including launching a medical fashion line during the 2020 pandemic. Known for his strong industry connections, von Daniels is also a vocal advocate against unethical textile production in developing countries.

David Matusiewicz

David Matusiewicz is Professor of Medical Management at the FOM University of Applied Sciences - one of the largest universities in Europe. Since 2015, he has been Dean of the Health & Social Affairs department and Director of the Research Institute for Health & Social Affairs (ifgs). He is also a founding member of the Centre for Innovation, Business Development & Entrepreneurship (CIBE) at the university. In addition, he is the founder and CEO of the DXM Group, which advises and invests in technology-driven start-ups in the healthcare sector. Matusiewicz is also on various advisory and supervisory boards of digital companies involved in the digital transformation. As an author, columnist and editor, he is one of the best-known voices in digital health in the DACH region.

Frank Barz

Frank Barz is a technology pioneer, future strategy and cross-industry consultant for digital transformation, currently accompanying the Techboost startup program of Telekom Deutschland GmbH as Senior Partner Manager, where he supports over 1000 startups in matchmaking with Deutsche Telekom's business customers. With his pioneering spirit, he has developed various innovation formats that he has successfully implemented for customers with the involvement of startups and actively supports the transformation processes at the customer's. Previously, he worked for several years as a digital consultant at T-Systems, where he was responsible for the Energy, Smart City and Health business areas.

Harshita Kaul

As a fundamental scientist, my work involved Al closely to address the questions pertaining to my research topic on biology of ageing. Parallely my intensive work with refugees in NRW as well those residing in the Kakuma refugee camp in Kenya as a part of Global shapers community helped me explore the depth of issues faced by people who have been forced to migrate. Additionally, through our collaboration with government organizations and NGOs, we also got insights on how large inputs of refugees also exerts a huge pressure on the existing services offered by the host countries. After having gained this perspective, I feel poised to talk about the possibility of generating novel Al tools and services to address this topic. My experience in these fields adds on to the richness of content and empowers me to offer unique perspectives on the same.

Jens Kleesiek

Jens Kleesiek is a full professor at the Institute for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine (IKIM) of the University Medical Center Essen in Germany. He studied medicine in Heidelberg, specializing in radiology and medical informatics. Jens also studied Bioinformatics and holds a PhD in Computer Science from the University of Hamburg. He spent several years in management positions developing medical software for consumers and healthcare professionals. At IKIM he's on the mission to bring AI algorithms into the clinic. To accomplish this 'code to clinic' approach, he and his team are working on modern cloud technologies, interoperable data structures, and cutting-edge AI methods.

Lutz Riehl

Lutz Riehl was born in 1976 in Bad Soden im Taunus, Germany. At his birth he was blind, but cause of medical treatment he now has an eyesight of 10 percent. After he finished school, he studied catholic theology, but changed after two semesters to German studies and musicology, in 2009 he received his doctorate on contemporary music. Since 2010 he is a lecturer for music history at the Musikhochschule Frankfurt am Main. In addition to this, he was educated as an organist and a singer. He is also interestedin public speaking, in 2018 he came to Toastmasters. Meanwhile he participated in several speech contest with great success – he is a three-time District Champion, f. e. in the International Speech Contest. His speech topics are how to live with a disability and music history.

Patience Chisanga-Mayer

Patience Chisanga-Mayer is a Zambian-born, award-winning broadcaster and communications expert currently based in Germany. With over 15 years of experience in media, Patience has transitioned from radio and TV broadcasting to becoming an international event moderator, keynote speaker, and corporate communications consultant. As a Distinguished Toastmaster, 2015 Mandela Washington Fellow, and Global Shaper alumna, she excels in communication, leadership, and social impact. Patience is passionate about helping others master the art of authentic communication, whether in public speaking or everyday interactions, rooted in the principles of speaking to inspire and listening to connect.

Samira Mousa

At 24 years, Samira Mousa was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis and her world came crumbling down. Fear and uncertainty suddenly overshadowed her life as all she could find online about life with MS left her scared and confused. After some years of deep rooted fear, Samira slowly started to change her lifestyle for the better and stepping into her own empowerment. She decided to become the voice herself had needed to hear: The one who tells other patients that you can lead a fabulous life, even with MS. Ten years later, Samira is one of the most renown German MS Content Creators, a published author and works as a consultant for healthcare companies. Her mission: To use Social Media as the powerful tool in patient communication that it is. She advocates for listening to patients as the experts that they are.

Tino Engel

Tino Engel’s journey took an unexpected turn when he transitioned from university graduate to professional poker player. Combining the fast-paced, high-stakes intensity of online poker with its inherently uncertain nature, he honed his skills in adaptability, resilience, and strategic decision-making. Today, Tino uses poker as a powerful serious game in business. Through unique virtual teamevents and edutaining workshops, he leverages poker to connect people, foster collaboration, boost strategic thinking, and promote personal growth. Tino has worked with leading companies like Roche, Mars, Deutsche Bahn, and AstraZeneca, empowering others to elevate their game and confidently navigate uncertainty.