Do you want to be a thought leader in your industry? You have to own your space! Digital thought leadership is an important catalyst for growth. Our hosts, Oliver Aust and Lena Carlson, dive in to how can you better position your start-up in ten clear steps. Tune in for another extra episode of How to Speak Like a CEO. 

South by Southwest is one of the most sought after conferences in the U. S., bringing together the biggest names in music, film, technology, media, entrepreneurship and much more –⁠ all in one place. So how did Roland Gerhards CEO of ZAL, Hamburg centre of applied aeronautical research make his way all the way from Germany to Austin, Texas to talk about flying taxis? Roland was always fascinated by aerospace, learning to fly at the age of 14.  Now, with over 25 years of industry experience, he remains an aerospace engineer at heart. At Zal, he bridges the gap between academia, industry and government by uniting people from across the aerospace industry to perform research. We spoke to Roland about how to foster open communication in a collaborative environment and why sometimes you simply just have to put yourself out  there. And that’s part of what got Roland and his team a spot at SXSW 2019. Enjoy!

Do you ever get the feeling that only the most noisy and problematic people are getting attention on the internet? Do you want to make your voice heard and feel like your opinions matter? Cornelius Frey is working to make that a reality. He is the CEO and co-founder of the online opinion-sharing platform and marketing tool Opinary. With a background in business and banking, Cornelius was frustrated about not being able to participate in Germany’s political discussions whilst living abroad. With his sister, Pia Frey, he founded the startup which currently has as many users as people living in Germany - that’s over 80 million. We spoke about what exactly draws people to use Opinary, the moral obligations of running such a platform and how to help your team grow and succeed. As well as the challenges and advantages of diving into entrepreneurship with a sibling. Tune to hear more.   

Nitzan Gal, who is a Forbes 30 under 30, certainly believes so. As the co-founder and CEO of Clique.AI,  a knowledge and skill sharing platform for professional communities, she’s seen first hand that people who provide value get much more out of business. Nitzan's company Clique.ai embodies the idea that communities and networks will be the future force of society. No person alone will achieve or change the world.  We spoke to Nitzan about how new ways of working are creating new leaders, how to differentiate yourself in a crowded market and what the key to community is. Enjoy!

Every year in Berlin, people spend 154 hours stuck in traffic. In Paris? 237. In Rome? 254! Traffic is undeniably a major issue for cities and is only expected to get worse as more people (and more cars) migrate towards urban centres. So today we’re skipping the traffic and getting from A to B with Tom Kirschbaum, CEO and founder of Door-to-door, finding smart solutions for the future of transport.  Despite a lot of talk about driving, let it be autonomous or eco-friendly, Tom is clear about not being driven by ideology, but rather by attractive solutions to real life problems. He lets us in on the specific challenges that come with convincing different actors of your idea, from politicians to manufacturers to investors, and offers us a concise roadmap to pitching your proposal in a clear and graspable way.  Tom believes people are driven by habit - especially in Germany where the mobility industry is sacred and difficultly disrupted. So, how do you break habits and make people believe that your solution is the best one out there? How do you get from A to B while convincing those you meet along the way?  Buckle up to find out, and let’s get this show on the road! 

Building a community is harder than it looks - just ask Orlie Dahan, the executive director of EcoMotion. With over 8000 members, Ecomotion aims to foster innovation by building a community comprised of individuals dedicated to improving smart transportation. For Orlie, business is done human to human, not logo to logo. But how can you keep communication personalised when your community is growing rapidly and expanding internationally? How can you make the most of offline events and online platforms like facebook groups to encourage new ways of interacting and form strong connections. We explore this and more on this week’s episode of Speak Like a CEO. Enjoy!

Getting people’s attention is hard.  Everyone is vying for our attention across traditional and digital media. Back on 9th May, we brought together a diverse panel of experts to share what established business can learn from startups and non-profits, about how to make an impact with campaigning - just in time for the European elections. You can listen to the live recording here. Enjoy!

Keep your ideas weird and wild. That’s what today’s guest Jörg Rheinboldt, founding CEO of APX, the joint accelerator programme of Axel Springer and Porsche, learned to do from childhood. Jörg was previously CEO of the Axel Springer Plug and Play accelerator, which invested in more than 100 companies including N26. He is a verifiable ideas man whose edge lies in his ability to take dreams and make them reality. This week we’re talking to him about where he finds inspiration, communicating your vision and investing in winners.  Do you want to know how to get the right people in the room for your event? Are you curious about the communication clues that spell success? Do you feel ready to do that thing you’ve always wanted to do? Then tune in and learn from the gentleman who landed Bill Gates as a speaker for his college conference. 

Sometimes, it feels like to be a thought leader you have be present at every single event. Our guest today tells us why this isn’t the case! Elena Poughia knows all there is to know about what makes a successful event. She is the managing director of Dataconomy and the founder & head curator of Data Natives, Europe’s largest data science conference. Data Natives has taken place twice in Tel Aviv and is now going on its fifth time here in Berlin! Elena is passionate about understanding how data science and connected devices are changing modern technology as well as how we communicate these changes in our everyday lives. With a background studying economics but also Modern and Contemporary Art, Elena brings a unique perspective to questions of data science, building business relations and curating the perfect event. Elena tells us all about how knowing your audience is one of the most important parts of a successful event - and a successful event is the best place to promote your company, build a community and add value to your communication. So what’s the secret to finding and creating the perfect event? You need to make choices, find your niche, have a clear goal and come prepared. Tune in to learn more!

Why are modern companies gravitating towards co-working environments?  Today we are back in Tel Aviv for an episode featuring Dan Zakai, CEO and co-founder of Mindspace. Mindspace offers inspiring, international co-working spaces that aim to serve as a platform for flexibility, efficiency and both social and professional interaction. On today’s episode, Dan gives us an insider look into the dynamic world of co-working and the secret behind creating an environment that fosters communications and helps companies retain the best talent in their industries.   How do you offer a boutique atmosphere when you are operating in 7 countries and 13 cities? What does work/life balance look like in Israel? Where did the shift from corner-cubicle to open seating come from? Dan answers all these questions and more! Dan strongly believes that communicating your company’s ambitions and achievements is one of the keys to a successful brand.  So if you want to improve your communication and get into a better mind space - do like Dan says: be prepared, come ready, and enjoy today’s episode.