16 + 17 September · Vienna · hybrid conference · 11th Edition
Digital Leadership Forum 2024
Digital Leadership Forum · Digital Comms · Corporate Culture · Boutique Conference
👋 Are you joining us for the 2025 editions?
- Swiss Digital Leadership Forum, 28th of October, Brugg, Switzerland
- International Digital Leadership Forum, 3+4 November, Vienna, Austria
Digital Leadership Forum
Digital Communications, Corporate Culture & Digital Transformation in the era of the rise of AI
Join us for a boutique conference in Vienna and online.
Two days full of inspiring workshops, talks, discussions and side events on digital transformation, the use of AI, digital communications, future of hybrid work, digital equality, social media, corporate culture and leadership. The conference will be held in the Haus der Ingenieure, a traditional city palace, in the center of Vienna. Most sessions can also be attended online.
Digital Leadership Forum · 16 + 17 September 2024
Speakers
Alejandro Varsky
FIFPRO (Netherlands)
Director of Communications
Antonia Titze
DER STANDARD (Austria)
Social Media Managerin
Antonina Shelepova
Schneider Electriс (Hungary)
Global Communications manager Global Supply Chain, Europe
She can relate to the following quote "Communication is a skill that you can learn. It’s like riding a bicycle or typing. If you’re willing to work at it, you can rapidly improve the quality of every part of your life.” (Brian Tracy)
Arif Mohd
ASN (France)
Head of Enterprise Architecture & Data Governance
Barbara Angelus
Official .HU Domain Registry (Hungary)
Head of Marketing and Communications
Barbara Bekalska
Syngenta Group (Switzerland)
Global Digital Manager
Darren Hill
Petrofac (UK)
Digital Communications and Marketing Manager
Steven Bartlett´s quote resonates with him “Stories are the single most powerful weapon any leader can arm themselves with – they are the currency of humanity. Those who tell captivating, inspiring, emotional stories rule the world.”
David Childs
FIFPRO (UK)
Head of Digital Content
Dorottya Varga
Waberer's (Hungary)
Head of Marketing and Public Relations
Erik Hartman
Advatera (Netherlands)
Moderator
Expert in enterprise information management and business process optimization
Ewa Hermanowicz
FSC Forest Stewardship Council (Italy)
Senior Regional Communications Manager Europe
Felicity Sibindi
VSO (Netherlands)
Senior Programme Manager
"Leadership: Building inclusive and diverse communities."
Felicity is an expert in positive transformation of communities. The following quote resonates with her “We are greater than, and greater for, the sum of us.” – Heather McGhee
Janine Kretschmer
Varo Energy (Austria)
Communications Manager
Jiří Pešina
Roche (Czech Republic)
Communication Director
Connecting medicine with the media world has been Jiri´s mission and joy for 25 years. He still enjoys exploring new strategies, technologies and ways to communicate information.
Josef Hallmann
AUTO1 Group (Germany)
VP Retail Marketing & Branding
Julie Bertolus
Advatera (Switzerland)
Moderator
Versatile business strategy executive with multiple years of international experience in a range of industries from financial services to tourism.
Kata Rasovszky
Continental (Hungary)
Employer Branding and Communications Coordinator
Mané Grigoryan
UNISIL (Hungary)
Head of Strategic Communications
Marie Gonzalez
Advatera (Austria)
Moderator
From the organisation to the speaker inputs and get together times, the conference is a very rich learning space. The following quote catches her attention: “Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.” - Mahatma Gandhi
Mark Battcock
Imerys (France)
Digital Communication Director
As a team player and a big fan of transparency & collaboration, a quote that resonates with him is the classic proverb: "To go fast, you go alone. To go far, you go together."
Melisa Mete
ORF (Austria)
Social Media Manager
Michelle Okwudiafor
S&P Global (UK)
Associate Director, Communications
A quote she really relates to: “People want to know they matter and they want to be treated as people. That’s the new talent contract.” — Pamela Stroko
Neringa Klimaite
Girteka Group (Lithuania)
Communications Specialist
Patricia Piringer
Milestone Institute (Hungary)
Head of Marketing and Communication
Patrick Hiebert
LumApps (Germany)
Account Executive DACH
Peter Nissen
Ramboll Group (Denmark)
Digital & Web Manager
Vincent Van Gogh’s quote "Great things are done by a series of small things brought together." as well as Mother Teresa’s "None of us, including me, ever do great things. But we can all do small things, with great love, and together we can do something wonderful." strike a chord with Peter.
Serena Borghero
Steelcase (Netherlands)
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) Director - Global - People Engagement
Serena can relate to the quote that Gandhi said “Be the change you wish to see in the world”.
Stefan Stojadinovic
Sompo (UK)
Head of Global Digital Experience
This quote from Günther Steiner (an F1 Legend) “The most important thing is that you give something a go. And if it doesn’t work, change it back again. Never be afraid to go back to something if you have to”.
Trixie Ann Garcia
refurbed (Austria)
Team Lead Social Media & Affiliate Performance Marketing
Viktorija Pirstele
Girteka (Lithuania)
Head of Internal Communication
Viktorija's passion is employees’ relations, engagement, communication and learning. She loves helping people to succeed in the organization and discover the best version of themselves. She is experienced bringing people and business needs together.
Volker Grünauer
Advatera (Austria)
Moderator
Moderator of the Advatera community of practice
Yann Jeschke
NETZSCH Group (Germany)
Director Group Corporate Brand & Communications
To him, “Communication is the key to EVERYTHING”
Agenda
Track A
Digital Leadership and Business Transformation
Digital Leadership and Business Transformation
Track B
Digital External Communications & Marketing
Digital External Communications & Marketing
Track C
Digital Internal Communications, Digital Workplace & Hybrid Work
Digital Internal Communications, Digital Workplace & Hybrid Work
Room A
Monday, Sep 16
12:00 pm – 1:00 pm CEST
Registration and Welcome
Marie Gonzalez, Advatera
Room A
Monday, Sep 16
1:00 pm – 1:05 pm CEST
Welcome by Volker Grünauer, conference chair
Volker Grünauer, Advatera
Room A
Monday, Sep 16
1:05 pm – 4:00 pm CEST
Workshop: A Leadership Journey: navigating difficult transitions with integrity
Felicity Sibindi, VSO
Room B
Monday, Sep 16
1:05 pm – 4:30 pm CEST
Workshop: Navigating the AI Revolution
GenAI strategy for communications and marketing managers.
David Drodge, Roche
Wolfgang Schöffel, Konica Minolta
Room C
Monday, Sep 16
1:05 pm – 4:00 pm CEST
Workshop: Bridging the Digital Divide - Empowering a Connected Workforce
Engagement strategies for overcoming disparities in the digital workplace and tackling the hidden costs of disconnected teams.
Yann Jeschke, NETZSCH Group
Side event
Monday, Sep 16
4:30 pm – 5:00 pm CEST
Walk to Albertina Modern
Meeting point Welcome Desk at the conference venue, House of Engineers
Side event
Monday, Sep 16
5:00 pm – 6:00 pm CEST
Tour at the Albertina Modern Museum
Erwin Wurm: The 70th Birthday Retrospective.
Foto Rupert Steiner
Erwin Wurm, Albertina Modern Museum
Side event
Monday, Sep 16
6:00 pm – 10:00 pm CEST
Diner: Stage & Savor
An Evening of Networking and Dining at the Akzent Theater.
Room A
Tuesday, Sep 17
8:45 am – 9:00 am CEST
Good Morning & Check-In
Marie Gonzalez, Advatera
Room A
Tuesday, Sep 17
8:45 am – 9:30 am CEST
Moderated Roundtable Discussions
- Intranet Search: Re-engage Employees with AI (Patrick Hiebert)
- Leveraging Employer Branding to Strengthen External Brand Perception (Kata Rasovszky)
- CSR & Comms: Story telling for true impact in external comms (Ewa Hermanowicz)
- Personalization vs. Privacy in Digital Communications (Patricia Piringer)
- Creating a Safe Space: Encouraging Open Dialogue in the Workplace (Dorottya Varga)
- Managing true Brand Consistency across Digital Channels (Peter Hofer)
- Leadership Strategies for Engaging Stakeholders and Driving Change (Mane Grigoryan)
- How-to Deal with Hate in the Internet & Social Media (Melisa Mete)
- Communications in the Era of AI: Opportunities, Risks and Ethical Dilemmas (Neringa Klimaite)
- Branding through Internal Communications: Aligning Identity and Employee Engagement (Barbara Angelus)
Patricia Piringer, Milestone Institute
Mané Grigoryan, UNISIL
Dorottya Varga, Waberer's
Barbara Angelus, Official .HU Domain Registry
Neringa Klimaite, Girteka Group
Kata Rasovszky, Continental
Patrick Hiebert, LumApps
Melisa Mete, ORF
Ewa Hermanowicz, FSC Forest Stewardship Council
Room A
Tuesday, Sep 17
9:30 am – 9:45 am CEST
Digital Leadership – thoughts by conference chair Volker Grünauer
Volker Grünauer, Advatera
Room A
Tuesday, Sep 17
9:45 am – 10:30 am CEST
Keynote: Human-Centered Leadership: Redefining True Leadership
Julie Bertolus, Advatera
Room A
Tuesday, Sep 17
10:30 am – 11:00 am CEST
Break & Networking
Room A
Tuesday, Sep 17
11:00 am – 11:30 am CEST
How FIFPRO has increased its digital footprint
David Childs, FIFPRO
Room B
Tuesday, Sep 17
11:00 am – 11:30 am CEST
Purpose-driven Storytelling – Sharing key learnings and insights for impactful communication
Serena Borghero, Steelcase
Room C
Tuesday, Sep 17
11:00 am – 11:30 am CEST
The Golden Rules for Engaging Blue-Collar Employees
Antonina Shelepova, Schneider Electriс
Room A
Tuesday, Sep 17
11:30 am – 12:00 pm CEST
AI Strategy for organisations
Arif Mohd, ASN
Room B
Tuesday, Sep 17
11:30 am – 12:00 pm CEST
The Art of Using Human Stories and Video Storytelling Techniques
Stefan Stojadinovic, Sompo
Darren Hill, Petrofac
Room C
Tuesday, Sep 17
11:30 am – 12:00 pm CEST
Intranet Demo
Mark will give us exclusive insights into his organization´s intranet (LumApps).
Mark Battcock, Imerys
Room A
Tuesday, Sep 17
12:00 pm – 1:00 pm CEST
Lunch & Learn
Room A
Tuesday, Sep 17
1:00 pm – 1:05 pm CEST
Afternoon opening thoughts by Volker Grünauer
Volker Grünauer, Advatera
Room A
Tuesday, Sep 17
1:05 pm – 1:50 pm CEST
Keynote - Leading with trust: Inclusive practices for engaging the workforce
Michelle Okwudiafor, S&P Global
Room A
Tuesday, Sep 17
2:00 pm – 2:30 pm CEST
Monolith to Headless CMS: A Web Transformation Journey
Everything, everywhere, all at once! Ramboll recently changed every aspect of the corporate website – part of it was a move to a new, headless CMS. The aim of Peter´s talk is to inspire ideas and a dialogue on how you as a web manager can set both your technical and organisational platform up for success. You will hear what the merits of headless are if your focus is not omnichannel – and an honest account of its challenges and other bumps that you might hit when you change everything.
Peter Nissen, Ramboll Group
Room B
Tuesday, Sep 17
2:00 pm – 2:30 pm CEST
My Medicine TV: a Collaboration with National TV
"Moje medicína TV" (My Medicine TV) is a series of studio interviews prepared by Roche in collaboration with the national television station A11. Each week, they delve into various healthcare topics, offering 20-minute interviews with experts in the field.
Jiří Pešina, Roche
Room C
Tuesday, Sep 17
2:00 pm – 2:30 pm CEST
Leadership in Action: Building a Culture of Trust through Transparent Communication
How leaders can cultivate a culture of trust and collaboration through clear and transparent communication. We'll delve into leadership communication strategies that empower teams, foster engagement, and break down silos by creating open lines of dialogue.
Viktorija Pirstele, Girteka
Room A
Tuesday, Sep 17
2:30 pm – 3:00 pm CEST
Break & Networking
Room A
Tuesday, Sep 17
3:00 pm – 3:30 pm CEST
Scroll down for change
How Syngenta Group transformed it’s long form content to create more brand engagement.
And how scrollytelling transformed our corporate communications team in return.
Barbara Bekalska, Syngenta Group
Room B
Tuesday, Sep 17
3:00 pm – 3:30 pm CEST
Navigating far-right Extremism: Community Management Strategies at DER STANDARD and why a newspaper should be on TikTok
Why DER STANDARD, as a newspaper, is active on platforms such as TikTok and Instagram, and how we manage our community there. I will also give examples of radical, insulting, and sometimes coded comments under our videos, and explain our strategies for appropriately addressing them.
Antonia Titze, DER STANDARD
Room C
Tuesday, Sep 17
3:00 pm – 3:30 pm CEST
Driving Strategic Employee Engagement in a Digital Workspace
This theme explores the significance of strategic measures in boosting employee engagement within a digital work environment. How can we leverage digital communication channels such as Intranet, Social Media/Viva Engage, Podcasts, and Videos to inform, motivate, and reward employees. From organizing employee awards, a Guiness World Record to integrating innovative technologies, we will explore how to foster a positive and productive work culture in an increasingly digital world.
Janine Kretschmer, Varo Energy
Room A
Tuesday, Sep 17
3:30 pm – 4:00 pm CEST
Beyond PPC: Growth through Data Driven Brand Marketing
Josef Hallmann, AUTO1 Group
Room B
Tuesday, Sep 17
3:30 pm – 4:00 pm CEST
Strategies to Amplify Your Paid Social Impact
Explore the key strategies for amplifying your paid social impact, from overcoming measurement challenges and maximizing ROI to leveraging cutting-edge trends in social media marketing.
Trixie Ann Garcia, refurbed
Room C
Stand-Up & Share
Tuesday, Sep 17
3:30 pm – 4:00 pm CEST
Showcase Your Digital Workplace/Intranet Highlight
Take the stage for a quick 5-10 minute spotlight on what’s working best in your digital workplace or intranet. Share your key feature, tool, or approach that’s driving real engagement and efficiency. Inspire others with practical insights they can apply in their own organizations.
Room A
Tuesday, Sep 17
4:00 pm – 4:30 pm CEST
Townhall - Summarizing the Conference
Erik Hartman, Advatera
Room A
Tuesday, Sep 17
4:30 pm – 7:00 pm CEST
Get-together, Networking, Wine and Good Food
Agenda and locations subject to changes
Join us...
Register below for the Digital Leadership Forum on September 16-17, 2024. The conference is held at House of Engineers, a prestigious Viennese city palace.
Included in the ticket are both days of workshops and sessions as well as the guided tour of Albertina Modern and dinner at Theater Akzent on Monday evening, catering for both days and the get-together after the conference on Tuesday.
Conference FAQ
The conference takes place at House of Engineers (Haus der Ingenieure), Eschenbachgasse 9, 1010 Wien.
The address of the museum Albertina Modern is Karlsplatz 5, 1010 Wien. Tours start Monday at 5 pm.
The address of the get-together on Monday at 6pm is Akzent Theater, Theresianumgasse 18, 1040 Wien.
Monday
- 12pm, noon: Welcome desk opens at Haus der Ingenieure, Eschenbachgasse 9
- 1pm: Start of workshops
- 4.30pm: Walk to museum Albertina Modern, Karlsplatz 5
- 5pm: Guided tour at museum Albertina Modern
- 6pm: Walk to Akzent Theater, Therasianumgasse 18, 1040 Wien
- 6.15-open end: Get-Together at Akzent Theater
Tuesday
- 8.30am: Welcome desk at conference opens, Haus der Ingenieure, Eschenbachgasse 9
- 9am: We start with moderated round table discussions, followed by a full day of knowedge sharing and insights
- 4pm: Short piano concert followed by our famous townhall session
- 4.30pm: Get-together and you can win prizes, including a drone by our sponsor Mediamid
- Explore Museums: Visit world-class museums like the Kunsthistorisches Museum, Belvedere, or Albertina (Keep in mind, we will be visiting Albertina Modern on Monday — a separate location from the main Albertina, focused on contemporary art) for incredible art collections.
- Café Culture: Cozy up in a traditional Viennese coffee house like Café Central or Demel, and enjoy coffee with a slice of Sachertorte.
- Try Wiener Schnitzel: Head to local favorites like Figlmüller, Plachutta, or Gasthaus Pöschl for an authentic Wiener Schnitzel experience.
- We recommend staying in the city center to avoid potential local commute interruptions.
No, you don’t need a printed ticket. The welcome desk at the House of Engineers, Eschenbachgasse 9 will already have your details, and they will provide you with your name tag upon arrival.
There’s no dress code, but if you’re wondering, we’d suggest business casual. Also, it might be a good idea to bring a warm sweater — it’s going to be chilly this weekend in Vienna!
We start with workshops on Monday, which are a great way to connect right from the start. In the evening, you can continue networking at the get-together at Akzent Theater. On Tuesday, the roundtables in the morning and various breaks throughout the day offer more opportunities to meet and engage with other participants.
Guided Tour at Museum Albertina Modern
Join us on Monday evening for a guided tour at the Albertina Modern, where we’ll explore an exhibition by the renowned artist Erwin Wurm, known for his thought-provoking and humorous sculptures that challenge the boundaries of art and everyday objects.
After the tour, we’ll head to the Akzent Theater for a relaxed get-together with wine and food. Don’t miss this unique evening of art and connection!
Erwin Wurm, Mind Bubble Walking Pink, 2024; Aluminium, Farbe
© Erwin Wurm / Bildrecht, Wien 2024
Foto: Markus Gradwohl
Advatera
Advatera stands for the regular exchange of experiences between digital, communication and marketing managers. Challenges you have faced in digital, web or intranet projects have almost certainly been experienced by others. The sharing of experiences can help your organization reduce its costs and sharpen its focus on essential success factors.
Address of conference venue:
Haus der Ingenieure (House of engineers)
Eschenbachgasse 9
1010 Vienna