Theme: Beyond Present, Embracing failure, change and growth.

TEDxHHL is a non-profit student initiative of the HHL Leipzig Graduate School of Management. Founded in 2014 by students of the HHL Leipzig, TEDxHHL has sought to spark inspiring and entrepreneurial ideas within the vibrant student community of Leipzig and beyond.

TEDxHHL aims to foster an environment for spreading ideas, with live speakers and TED-talks videos, serving as a means to inspire deep discussions and connections between individuals from various backgrounds. In turn, we hope that the HHL community will be challenged by the TEDxHHL experience and be motivated to make a positive impact on our world.

All speeches during the conference will be filmed and posted for free on the TED website and the TEDx -YouTube-Channel.

Stay inspired.

Werk 2 Kulturfabrik Leipzig e.V.
Kochstraße 132
Leipzig, Sachsen, 04277
Germany

Hedi Schaefer

Work-Life Innovation Expert | Life & Business Creation | www.hedischaefer.com

An award-winning coach, speaker, author, and host of the Change_Liscious: Turning Mess into Sweet Success podcast, Hedi blends over 15 years of experience with Fortune 500 companies, NGOs, and startups to guide individuals and teams through the chaos of transformation. As the founder of the 3Cs of Change and one of Germany’s first Design Thinking coaches, she helps people unlock clarity, heal subconscious blocks, and take bold, innovative actions. Having faced burnout and emerged stronger, Hedi’s mission is to help others thrive amidst change. Through her transformative programs and proven frameworks, she empowers leaders to turn overwhelming challenges into growth opportunities, enabling them to lead with purpose, passion, and impact. Named one of the "Most Influential Leaders" by BRAINZ Magazine, Hedi is committed to shaping a world where work-life innovation drives meaningful success and personal fulfillment.

Ina von Spies

Co-Founder Co-Founder numbers&words

Driven by one of life's rare constants: change – and the curiosity that fuels it. Since 2016, she has been giving pitch trainings for participants of the SpinLab accelerator program, helping founders discover their unique style of presenting their ideas. Ina thrives on learning from the diverse approaches innovators take toward growth and disruption. With a background as a spokesperson for publicly listed companies, Ina excels in crafting compelling storylines that resonate. Her corporate experience is complemented by her role as leadership coach for entrepreneurs, a founder of numbers&words, and a business angel. These diverse experiences give her a multifaceted perspective on leadership and growth, which she is excited to share with you. Ina’s message? Embrace the unknown, step onto the stage, and ask for what you need. After all, growth often begins by making that bold request.

Katrin Kreidel

Co-Founder & CEO of Hydro Systems

Is the co-founder and CEO of hydrop systems, a greentech startup based in Stuttgart that launched in 2025. hydrop systems is on a mission to make water consumption transparent and understandable for everyone, helping to foster greater awareness of this precious and limited resource. Together with her co-founders, Moritz Emberger and Raimund Koop, Katrin is driving the digitization of water meters to bring sustainability into everyday life for every person. Her journey began with a deep passion for environmental issues, which she initially explored through studies in literature and video journalism. Realizing she wanted to be an active force for change, she shifted her focus and pursued an engineering degree in renewable energy. It was during this time that she recognized how overlooked the topic of water is in Germany and decided to do something about it. This ultimately inspired the founding of hydrop systems.

Markus Badwal

Doctor of Neurology

Is a neurosurgery resident and neuroscientist with research experience at both the Max-Planck-Institute for Cognitive Neuroscience and Harvard University. His academic and clinical journey reflects a strong commitment to working with and understanding the human brain from both a scientific and medical perspective. In addition to his professional pursuits, Markus is deeply enthusiastic about physical exercise and the workings of the human mind, combining regular mental and physical practice to cultivate resilience, clarity, and long-term well-being. With over 12 years of meditation experience, he has explored the numerous benefits of insight meditation in a completely secular way, integrating mind, body, and science. He sees meditation as an essential habit — one that he hopes more and more people start implementing in their daily lives.

Samantha Chalmers

Communication Coach

Effective Communication Coach who supports professionals across 28 global markets and 13 industries in communicating effectively and reaching their goals in the global language of business. With a background in International Business and an MBA from HHL, she brings both international experience and a cross-cultural mindset to every project and conversation. During a time of global disruption, Samantha made a bold move — changing continents and building a business from the ground up in Leipzig. Today, she is a global entrepreneur, writer, and poet — dedicated to helping others grow beyond borders, communicate with impact, and lead with purpose across cultures. At TEDxHHL, Samantha will share personal insights and strategies in a talk titled From Uncertainty to Action: The Art of Choosing What You Really Want, inviting the audience to rethink fear, reframe failure, and take meaningful steps toward lasting change.

Sandra Janke

Founder of Artist of Leadership and Head of Junge Oper Leipzig / 360.

Opera Singer, opera singer, founder of Artist Leadership, and Head of Junge Oper Leipzig / 360°. With over a decade of stage experience across Germany, she combines powerful artistic expression with a deep commitment to creative empowerment. She is a fearless creative who thrives on crossing artistic boundaries. Known for her authenticity and emotional depth, she has performed across genres-proof of her bold artistic range. Beyond the stage, Sandra has worked as a university lecturer and is a certified coach. Today, she supports leaders and changemakers in breaking free from inner constraints to embody their full, authentic selves. Her initiative, Artist Leadership, was nominated for the Sächsische Gründerinnenpreis in 2022. In her role as Head of Junge Oper-within a shared female leadership model-she is driven by courage to explore new paths, strengthen community, and recognize the potential in others to help them shine.

Stephan Stubner

Academic Director and Patron HHL Entrepreneurship Master

With over 20 years of experience at the intersection of academia and practice, I am a passionate contributor in the fields of strategy and entrepreneurship. I love working with entrepreneurs, may it be in my classroom, through Incubators and Accelerators or within my own portfolio of Startup investments. As the Porsche AG Chair of Strategic Management and Digital Entrepreneurship at HHL Leipzig Graduate School of Management, I aim to inspire and empower individuals and organizations to pursue their goals and aspirations. I believe in the power of reflective decision making, and I strive to bring diverse perspectives and experiences to the academic and entrepreneurial ecosystem. For my contributions to the ecosystem I was named one of the 20 most influential Entrepreneurship Professors in Germany.

Tobias Krauss

CEO of Mister Spex

Tobias Krauss is the CEO of Mister Spex and a transformational leader known for turning complexity into clarity. He began his career at Porsche Consulting and went on to lead high-impact mandates across German industry, including as Chief Restructuring Officer at DAW SE. He later managed the Büll Family Office and served as Managing Director of ABACON CAPITAL GmbH, a family-owned investment holding that has invested over €500 million into the German venture and start-up ecosystem since 2019 – One of its first investments being Mister Spex. As a former Supervisory Board member, he helped shape the company's transformation before becoming CEO in April 2025. A master of capital and capacity allocation, Tobias drives growth through innovation, operational excellence, and bold, customer-centric leadership. He combines strategic foresight with empathetic team engagement and is committed to building resilient organizations that thrive in change.

Victoria Effert

Germany’s #1 LinkedIn Creator for Personal Growth & Productivity (favikon)

With over 30,000 followers, she is one of the most influential business creators in the DACH region—empowering others to live life on their own terms and finally go for what they want. As a keynote speaker and dynamic moderator, Victoria brings bold ideas and real-world insights to stages across Europe. Her content and talks inspire action—whether it’s building a personal brand, stepping into your power, or redefining success in the modern workplace. Beyond, Victoria is a board member at Joint Generation, where she advocates for intergenerational collaboration and age diversity at work. In 2023, she was named one of the Top 30 Most Impactful Voices in Tech by D2 – proof that her message isn’t just heard, it moves people.