The Speakers
Discover the speakers of our upcoming TEDx event in Karlsruhe. Each one brings fresh perspectives from education, technology, science, art, and society.
2025 | TEDx Karlsruhe:
Meet our German and English speakers
At TEDxKarlsruhe 2025, we bring together a powerful lineup of changemakers, thinkers, and visionaries. From ESG to architecture, law, play, and personal empowerment, each speaker offers an untold perspective that redefines how we see the world and our place in it.
Mara Gerstner
Creative Strategist | Climate Communicator | Founder of Die Feedbäckerei
Mara Gerstner is a climate activist, creative strategist, and mompreneur who believes in using creativity as a force for change. With over a decade of experience in the creative industry, she has explored a wide range of roles and topics—but everything shifted when she became a mother. During her parental leave, she made the bold decision to leave her corporate career behind and forge her own path.
Mara founded Die Feedbäckerei, a business rooted in meaningful communication and personal purpose. Driven by the desire to shape a livable future, she also co-founded Schrödinger & Katze e. V., a collective dedicated to innovative and effective climate communication.
Through her work, Mara blends storytelling, strategy, and sustainability to spark conversations that matter.
Sebastian Vorberg
Legal Pioneer in Digital Health & Medical Innovation
Attorney-at-Law Sebastian Vorberg, LL.M. (Houston), is a certified specialist in medical law and the founder of the Hamburg-based law firm VORBERG.LAW. With a background in business and law from Hamburg, Heidelberg, Berlin, and the United States, he has dedicated his career to advancing the legal frameworks around medical innovation.
Sebastian advises a wide range of clients—from physicians and hospitals to health insurance providers and digital health start-ups—supporting the development of cutting-edge medical technologies. He is the co-founder and spokesperson of the German Federal Association for Internet Medicine (BiM), founder of the Institute for Quality and Regulation of Digital Medicine (QuR.digital), and a lecturer in the Master’s program Medicine in Hospital Management at Kiel University.
A prolific author and thought leader, Sebastian also serves on the Ethics Committee of the Hamburg Medical Association, driving ethical standards in the evolving world of digital medicine.
Tanja Reilly
Sustainability Strategist | Founder of Ability Hub | Supply Chain Expert
Tanja Reilly brings over a decade of experience in driving sustainability across global supply chains. As a key force behind the growth of the German-speaking market for EcoVadis—one of the world’s leading sustainability rating providers—she played a crucial role in embedding ESG criteria into procurement and corporate strategy.
Today, Tanja is the founder of Ability Hub, an independent knowledge platform that empowers companies to implement sustainability in practical, measurable, and impactful ways. Her work centers on strategic enablement, market insight, and connecting sustainability with real business value.
Yevgen Nebesov
Systems Architect | Sociotechnical Engineer | Tech Community Builder
Yevgen Nebesov is a systems architect based in Bruchsal, Germany, who advises organizations across sectors such as defense, railways, logistics, and medical technology. His specialty lies in navigating complex software environments by managing the sociotechnical dynamics that influence every project.
Through what he calls “Sociotechnical Engineering,” Yevgen takes a holistic approach to software architecture—tackling uncertainty not only on the technical front but also within the operational, political, and business spheres. He explores how organizational power structures mirror software structures and why understanding both is key to successful innovation.
An active voice in the international tech community, Yevgen speaks regularly at conferences and is deeply committed to growing the local tech scene in Bruchsal through meetups and community events.
Jeff Harry
Workplace Play Expert | HR Influencer | Positive Psychology Practitioner
Jeff Harry helps organizations rediscover the power of play to transform workplace culture. Blending positive psychology with a playful approach, Jeff supports teams in building psychological safety, unlocking creativity, and tackling tough challenges with curiosity and courage.
Named one of the Top 100 HR Influencers by BambooHR and Engagedly, Jeff’s work has been featured in the New York Times, NPR, Forbes, Wired, and National Geographic. He has partnered with global giants like Google, Adobe, Amazon, the NFL, and Facebook to help their teams infuse joy, connection, and purpose into their daily work.
With over 15 years of experience as a facilitator and speaker, Jeff’s mission is simple yet powerful: to help make work suck less by turning it into a space where people can thrive, grow, and play.
Marion Metternich
Magician | Storyteller | Author of “Die Magie der Rede”
Marion Metternich is a magician who has spent over 20 years crafting magical experiences that ignite wonder and foster human connection. Whether performing live, speaking to groups, or sharing stories, Marion’s work goes beyond tricks—it’s about inspiring belief in what’s possible.
Her recently published book, Die Magie der Rede (“The Magic of Speech”), explores how words can be just as powerful as magic—touching hearts, surprising minds, and creating meaning. In her TEDx Talk, Marion shares a deeply personal journey through self-doubt, courage, and the discovery of the magic within each of us.
Serhan Ili
Founder of ILI.DIGITAL | Entrepreneur Shaped by Resilience, Driven by Innovation
Serhan Ili is the Founder and CEO of ILI.DIGITAL, a fast-growing innovation consultancy that empowers organizations to embrace digital transformation, AI adoption, and business model reinvention. Born and raised in Karlsruhe to Turkish immigrant parents, Serhan’s journey is one of resilience—from early academic struggles and over 100 job rejections during the 2008 financial crisis to building a business from a €500 project into a thriving company with over 150 team members.
Holding a PhD in Engineering and Business from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Serhan pursued global experience in Dubai before returning to Germany to launch his entrepreneurial vision. In 2018, he restructured ILI.DIGITAL to align with his core values: execution strength, innovation, and what he calls “chance intelligence.”
Serhan is known for his culture-first leadership philosophy—prioritizing people over titles and mindset over credentials. His personal mottos, “My Pain is My Motivation” and “Follow the Energy,” reflect the values that guide both his life and business.
Beyond the boardroom, he’s an active civic contributor—serving on the supervisory boards of Volksbank pur and Karlsruhe Sports Club (KSC), coaching youth soccer, and supporting wildlife conservation. For Serhan, innovation begins with mindset, and real transformation is powered by courage, action, and entrepreneurial thinking.
Ruth Roschatt
Marketer | TEDx Coach | Storytelling Advocate
Ruth Roschatt is a marketer, speaker, and TEDx coach dedicated to helping people find their voice and share their stories with confidence. Once held back by a deep fear of public speaking, she turned her biggest challenge into a strength—through storytelling, courage, and relentless practice.
By applying marketing principles to her own personal development, Ruth discovered the transformative power of intentional communication. Today, she leads the marketing team at an international biotech company in Heidelberg, Germany, and mentors others to grow—both professionally and personally—by learning to speak with clarity and purpose.
Das könntest du sein!
Das könnte deine Geschichte sein und dein Profil, das darauf wartet, von uns erzählt zu werden. Bist du bereit?
2024 | TEDx Schlossplatz
TedxSchlossplatz is our second TEDx event that we organized together as a team. With more TEDx members by our side, we had the privilege of witnessing 10 speakers take the stage at Schloss Karlsruhe. Under the title 'The Untold,' they shared inspiring stories. Learn more about them.
Dr. Sara Claramunt
Dr.-Ing. Sara Claramunt is a chemical engineer shaping clean energy through battery and hydrogen research. With a Ph.D. from KIT and 10+ years experience, she drives real-world sustainable impact.
Diana
Waithanji
Diana Waithanji is a Cybersecurity Engineer at SAP and advocate for data as a human right. She empowers others through board work, standardization, and leadership in women’s security initiatives.
Kave
Bulambo
Kave Bulambo is a visionary DEI leader and founder of Black in TechBerlin. She connects Women and BIPOC talent to inclusive careers, reshaping tech through advocacy, community, and bold leadership.
Latifa Warrelmann
Latifa Warrelmann faced instability, homelessness, and addiction in her early years. In 2012, she turned her life around, becoming a proud mother, entrepreneur, and mentor, inspiring others with her journey.
Mariyah
Janjua
Mariyah Janjua is a seasoned product leader at Bosch, driving eMobility innovation. With Agile, SaFe & cross-functional expertise, she builds standout digital services across SaaS, IoT & cloud platforms.
Dr. Brando
Okolo
Dr. Brando Okolo is a materials science expert and founder of IMAPS Karlsruhe. His work spans 3D printing, hydrogen, and innovation, building bridges between Europe and Africa through science and startups.
Ramkumar Sethuramalingam
Ramkumar Sethuramalingam is a CRM and AI expert with 18+ years’ experience. Based in Walldorf near Heidelberg, he shares insights on marketing and sustainability at global stages like Google Next and SAP events.
Sina
Konz
Sina Konz empowers leaders and entrepreneurs to build joyful, high-performing workplaces. As a global speaker, she inspires with fresh insights and a passion for thriving, people-centered work cultures.
Philipp
Barz
Philipp Barz is an energy expert and risk strategist with C-level experience. He drives sustainable growth, leads teams, and advises businesses on energy transformation and impactful change across industries.
Zakaria
Jaiathe
Zakaria Jaiathe is a Moroccan-born entrepreneur, ex-VC investor, and AR/VR expert. He founded Xibit and Waanda, bridging African and European markets, and advises startups across both continents.
2023 | TEDxKarlshochschule International U
The journey began with TEDxKarlshochschule International U. We were grateful to welcome 10 speakers to the TEDx stage on October 7, 2023, with the theme "The Future." International speakers enriched the event with their words and insights. Learn more about them.
Christopher Stephen
Christopher Stephen, a musical prodigy, started his journey at 5, learning rhythm on piano. By 17, he was captivating audiences with romantic-style pieces, exploring multiple instruments and genres passionately.
Ben J
Munday
Ben is a passionate coach and trainer, inspiring change with his deep expertise in human-centered coaching. As President of Toastmasters and a certified meditation teacher, he fosters holistic growth and transformation.
Viktoriya Sokolova
Viktoriya Sokolova, Scientist, TEDx speaker, and author of To Rock Your LIFE, inspires through her transformative journey, combining science and personal growth to empower others toward success and fulfillment.
Svenja Dannewitz
Svenja, an engineer, cell biologist, and immunologist, is dedicated to a sustainable food system. With a remarkable academic background and groundbreaking research on immune and stem cell survival, she leads innovation.
Nikolaj K. Mandsberg
Nikolaj K. Mandsberg, a physicist and nanotechnologist, explores water behavior and preventive healthcare tech. His award-winning PhD and research earned him an invitation to the 2024 Lindau Nobel meeting.
Mithun A. Sridharan
Mithun A. Sridharan is a renowned entrepreneur, author, and speaker in Strategy, Management, and Digital Transformation. Founder of Think Insights, he brings over two decades of transformative leadership experience.
Hope
Williams
Hope, a United Airlines Flight Attendant with 15 years of international experience, transformed after a near-death emergency landing. Her journey now reflects confidence, hope, and lessons from 50+ countries.
Frank Widmayer
Frank Widmayer, an industrial engineering graduate from KIT, led HR and finance at CAS Software. Now an independent consultant, coach, and professor, he also manages triangility GmbH in Karlsruhe.
Daaniyal
Khan
Daaniyal, an expert in digital transformation, leads the digitalization department at a major insurance company. A published author and cryptocurrency authority, he shares insights through books, media, and podcasts.
Cyril Junior
Dim
Cyril, a Software Engineer from Zimbabwe, has spent 13 years mastering public speaking. A two-time national champion in two languages, he holds three international titles and is the 2022 World Champion of Public Speaking.