Migration and immigration offer enormous opportunities: for Germany as a business location, for individual sectors and for every company that is prepared to break new ground. Companies that embrace diversity are not only more resilient - they are more innovative, creative and sustainable.

But how can this potential be realised and measured in practice? Discover how to future-proof your teams and your company using real-life case studies, ROI-orientated approaches and important recommendations for action.

Thousands of highly qualified women with a history of flight and migration are available as skilled workers - full of expertise, motivation and the will to create. And yet they fail because of systems that put obstacles in their way instead of opportunities: Bureaucracy, prejudice, lack of recognition.

Martina Merz (former CEO of Thyssenkrupp) and Verena Pausder (Chairwoman of the German Startup Association) put it in a nutshell: It's not enough to ‘think along’ with women with refugee and migrant backgrounds - we need to finally roll out the red carpet for them. From companies to startups.

But how can this be achieved - on a concrete basis, on a structural level and right now?

In times of change - whether through digital disruption or economic or political change - one constant remains: Diverse teams perform better. However, building and maintaining this diversity, especially under pressure, is a strategic challenge.

In this high-calibre panel, leading business leaders will share how they manage complexity and change while putting diversity and inclusion at the heart of their talent strategy. How do they attract top talent from migrant and refugee backgrounds? What works when it comes to employee retention and long-term engagement? Join us as those who are shaping the future of work from the inside out share real insights, bold steps and actionable measures.

They are doers, fighters, trailblazers - and yet women with a history of flight and migration are far too often overlooked, underestimated or systematically held back.

But what barriers actually exist? What needs to change so that barriers make way for real opportunities? How do we create structures that not only integrate, but also empower and create visibility in the long term?

Witness how barriers become bridges - and empowerment becomes a movement.

Let's celebrate the success together - and clear the stage for our 12 great graduates of socialbee's current ‘The Female Accelerator’ programme!

Today we celebrate their strength, their stories and their path to a self-determined future.

In the Fireside Chat with Edding CEO Per Ledermann, we talk about the most pressing questions of our time: What responsibility do companies have in a world in crisis mode? What does it mean to take a clear stance today - on flight, diversity and democracy? What does taking a stand cost us and what do we gain?

An inspiring insight into Edding's sustainable profit-for-strategy and the question of why corporate communication is more politically relevant today than ever before.

Narratives shape what we think is possible - and what we stand for. This panel breaks with narratives of fear and division and makes room for new stories: Stories of courage, facts, confidence and attitude.

How do we actively shape social change - as media, companies and civil society? Who needs to recognise responsibility for destructive narratives? How do we shape a narrative of success together?

By boldly living the GermanDream of the many – and making it seen and heard – we help shape a country where we co-create the future together.

In 2017, the day I landed in Germany, someone looked at me and asked,
"Are you a refugee?"

I’d never heard that before.
Maybe it was how I looked.
Maybe it was how lost I felt.
I was confused, scared, and frozen.

I wasn’t a refugee. I was a student. But I said nothing. And that silence stayed with me for years.

Now, eight years later, I finally have my answer: Yes, I am a refugee.
Not because of status. But because I took refuge in scholarships, in jobs, in visas, in language courses in trying to belong.

Once you were forced to start over.
To leave everything behind you knew.
But now - it’s time to start winning.

In this masterclass, I’ll give you the exact blueprint I used to:

• Rebuild my identity from scratch

• Shift my mindset from fear to confidence

• Landed multiple high-paying jobs without knowing perfect German

If you’re ready to unleash your voice, reclaim your power, and learn how to get hired in Germany.

Welcome aboard.
I’ll see you inside.

Diversity is not a “nice-to-have” – it's a competitive advantage, especially when it comes to AI. This Masterclass will show you how to develop and implement fair, non-discriminatory AI solutions – and what truly matters in the process.

In this Masterclass, Aylin Eda Üsük and Anahita Thoms demonstrate how mentoring can become a true success factor for women – both as a personal growth opportunity and as a strategic tool in organizational development.

Real-life mentoring pairs bring its impact to life: women who empower each other, grow together, and don’t climb the ladder alone – but side by side.

Facing talent shortages? Join Sophia Wolpers (Labor Mobility Partnerships), Sinovuyo Moabalobelo (Harambee), Lerato Lehoko (Yellowwoods) in showcasing ways in which multi-stakeholder partnerships for apprenticeships can become true win-win models in achieving global equity – for countries, companies, and young international talent. Together we will explore how employers, recruiters, and training providers can collaborate to co-create solutions that reduce risks, streamline training, and deliver quality recruitment - highlighting a pathway for a scalable, fair, and truly impactful talent pipeline from South Africa.

In this masterclass, Leo Schweibenz, expert for recruiting & employer branding at Zeppelin, will show you how to position yourself strategically - as an expert, as a personality, as a brand.

Because if you clearly stand for something, you will be found for exactly that. Whether it's a promotion, industry change or visibility for the next big project - your personal brand is the booster for your professional future.

And companies? They have the chance to do more than just advertise benefits. They can provide a stage. Promote visibility. Empower talent. 

In this masterclass, Nadine Schulz, founder of Career & Care and former Growth Director at Beyond Gender Agenda, explores a crucial question: How can companies specifically support and retain female talent from a migrant background in the long term? Nadine shows how managers and HR teams can actively shape compatibility in everyday working life - and why this is not just a ‘nice-to-have’, but a decisive factor in securing skilled labour.

In this masterclass, IKEA and socialbee show how integration really works in a company. Using the long-standing ‘Creating perspectives’ programme as an example, you will learn how refugees are successfully recruited, supported and integrated in the long term - from project planning to day-to-day teamwork. Included: concrete insights into change processes, internal buy-in and cooperation with the workforce. A real best practice for anyone who wants to think strategically about diversity and practise corporate social responsibility.

Storytelling is both craft and conviction. This session explores how we shape narratives with intention—from the power of hopeful storytelling to the challenges of standing firm against resistance. Through a deep dive from the film industry's perspective via female sci-fi, we’ll examine how framing fuels impact, why optimistic narratives resonate, and how taking a clear stance can generate positive economic effects. With real-world examples and interactive elements, this masterclass is for leaders, creatives, and organizations looking to harness storytelling as a tool to attract talent and drive meaningful change.

In short get-to-know sessions, we get companies talking to women with a history of flight and migration. This unique format creates space for real encounters - and for career prospects that make a difference.