TEDxESMTBerlin

“We are all the Venture Capital of our Future.” Founders often ask: “What do investors really look for?” After years building biotech companies, investing, mentoring founders, and working across Europe, Asia, and the US, my answer has changed. The biggest predictor is rarely the slide deck. It’s resilience. Curiosity. The ability to recognize the moment when a tough decision must be made. And the willingness to keep going when things become difficult. This talk shares some personal stories behind that belief: - learning to swim by jumping into deep water, - what Pharaoh Cheops can teach us about building ambitious startup ecosystem pyramids, and - why “Europe goes to HEL” may not mean what people think it means. Would love to hear perspectives from founders and investors here: What trait matters most when building something ambitious? 🎥 https://lnkd.in/dUd5kCBH TEDx TEDxESMTBerlin Springboard Health Angels ESMT Berlin Creative Destruction Lab Nucleate Germany Springboard Health Ventures

Somewhere between the Olympics and the World Championships, I had the amazing opportunity to speak at TEDxESMTBerlin and share my story. With this year’s theme, “Unseen Currents - The Stories That Shape Us” it felt fitting to speak honestly and vulnerably about how sport has shaped my life. I share the highs, the lows, the setbacks, and everything in between. It took a lot of courage to share this side of my journey and I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity and everyone who helped make it possible - especially my parents Faye and Mark McGregor for encouraging and supporting me throughout the process. It might not be the most traditional TEDx Talk, but I hope it inspires people to keep moving forward, keep believing in themselves and remember that they are more than their results. Full talk is now on YouTube and the link in comments.

Are your workplace relationships quietly burning you out? Organizational behavior researcher Eric Quintane reveals four relational traps woven into the fabric of the workplace. Watch his TEDxESMTBerlin talk to learn how we can better connect, collaborate, and care for ourselves at work: https://lnkd.in/gDp43HHC

Ideas worth sharing. Thank you, TEDxESMTBerlin, for bringing together such inspiring speakers under the theme “Unseen Currents: Stories That Shape Us.” ✨ Some of these talks landed at exactly the right time for me. The idea of unseen currents felt very real, especially when, not long after the event, life brought a few unexpected shifts of its own. ⛵ A few ideas have stayed with me: 💡Kaitlyn McGregor, “You Are More Than Your Results” A powerful reminder for high performers everywhere: it is easy to tie performance to identity. But what happens when that performance is interrupted, challenged, or taken away? At a time when redundancies have become far too common, this felt especially relevant. Our professional identity matters, but it is not the only identity we have. We are more than our results. 💡Paola Carrillo-Bustamante, “When Adaptation Stops Being Smart” Such an important perspective: not every system is built to serve you. Some systems may, in fact, work against you. So the question is not just whether you can adapt, but whether you should. And sometimes, the smartest move is to leave. A powerful question to carry with us. 💡Ralf Kleber, “Inventor DNA” I really enjoyed his storytelling about obstacles, setbacks, and roadblocks, and how, instead of going down the “why is this happening to us?” route, those moments became a starting point for innovation and new possibilities. And a final shout-out to Ben J Munday for hosting the event. Pure charisma and energy on stage.🔥👏

👏 Congratulations to the ESMT students for the success of TEDxESMTBerlin 2026! Last weekend, our campus transformed into a stage for bold ideas and personal stories as students hosted TEDxESMT Berlin 2026 on campus.    Under the theme “Unseen Currents: Stories That Shape Us,” the talks shone a light on the subtle shifts and quiet forces that move individuals, organizations, and societies forward. From hidden motivations behind innovation to personal narratives that inspire courage and creativity, each talk revealed how unseen currents shape our choices, perspectives, and impact.    🙏 A special thank you to our speakers:  - Kaitlyn Anne McGregor, Olympian, Swiss speed skating.  - Ralf Kleber, investor and former CEO of Amazon Germany.  - Michelle Arrazcaeta, brand strategist and founder.  - Michela Andreolli, CEO of Arke and ESMT Berlin alumna.  - Matthias Treutwein, cofounder and managing director of enpact, and ESMT Berlin alumnus.  - Andreas Schmidt, venture capital investor and entrepreneur.  - Paola Carrillo-Bustamante, Ph.D, scientist and writer.  - Dyane Neiman, communications trainer and founder.  - Lars-Hendrik Röller, founder and chair of the Berlin Global Dialogue, in discussion with Michał Grajek, associate professor of economics at ESMT Berlin. Thank you as well to our talented performers and our moderator Ben J Munday, who guided us thoughtfully through the day.    🙌 Kudos to the dedicated student team who led and delivered such a successful event. Your initiative, professionalism, and energy truly reflect the spirit of the school and our ESMT community. Stay tuned—more pictures, behind-the-scenes content, and video links to the talks will be coming in the next few weeks! Photos by Ana Torres ESMT Berlin Alumni Network #leadership #TEDx #community