Digital Leadership Forum · Digital Comms · Corporate Culture · Boutique Conference

3 + 4 November · Vienna · hybrid conference · 12th Edition

Digital Leadership Forum 2025

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 · 3rd + 4th November 2025

Speakers

Antonina Shelepova, Schneider Electriс
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)

Dale Brodie, Five Guys Europe
Dale Brodie
Five Guys Europe (UK)

Internal Communications Manager

Dale Brodie is an expert in internal communications and creative brand content, specializing in engaging storytelling, design, and event management.

Erik Hartman, Advatera
Erik Hartman
Advatera (Netherlands)

Moderator

Expert in enterprise information management and business process optimization

Ewa Hermanowicz, FSC Forest Stewardship Council
Ewa Hermanowicz
FSC Forest Stewardship Council (Italy)

Senior Regional Communications Manager Europe

Guy Van Leemput,
Guy Van Leemput
(Belgium)

Guy Van Leemput is an expert in digital workplaces and intranet solutions, leading the ValueIntranet Community of Practice in Belgium and advising organizations on effective communication and technology strategies.

Judith Pinkas, Brain & Heart
Judith Pinkas
Brain & Heart (Austria)

Expertin für Prozessmanagement, digitale Transformation und strategische Kommunikation mit Fokus auf Effizienzsteigerung und Innovation.

Kerstin Valet, CRIF Deutschland
Kerstin Valet
CRIF Deutschland (Austria)

Regional Director Marketing & Communications

Le Thuy Duong, Global VAT Compliance
Le Thuy Duong
Global VAT Compliance (Netherlands)

Marketing Communications Specialist

The quote that resonates with her: “Innovation means starting from customers’ experience towards the product, not the other way around”. Her perspective embraces the idea that customer-centricity, allows marketers to build genuine connections, foster loyalty, and ultimately drive sustainable innovation that resonates deeply with the audience.

Lucia Čorbová, Slovnaft
Lucia Čorbová
Slovnaft (Slovakia)

Internal & External Communication Specialist

Marie Gonzalez, Advatera
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

Nicolas Ospina, Schneider Electric
Nicolas Ospina
Schneider Electric (Spain)

Senior Communications Manager - Digital Customer Experience

Oliver Bartelt, DMK Group
Oliver Bartelt
DMK Group (Germany)

Global Head of Corporate Communications

Peter Erni, Brain & Heart Communication
Peter Erni
Brain & Heart Communication (Switzerland)

CEO, Author and Lecturer

Peter Erni is an entrepreneur and expert in strategic content and social media marketing. He teaches at HWZ, ZHAW, BFH, and HSLU and has published recently a case study on Reception Marketing in Essentials of Modern Marketing by Philip Kotler.

Rafaela Swersina, Primetals Technologies
Rafaela Swersina
Primetals Technologies (Austria)

Digital Marketing Manager

Sarah Sunderbrink, zooplus
Sarah Sunderbrink
zooplus (Germany)

Head of Social & Influencer Marketing

If our pets could order for themselves: The first social media campaign at zooplus

Susanne Richter, MKS Instruments
Susanne Richter
MKS Instruments (Germany)

Communications Director

Tuanni Marshall, Transport for London
Tuanni Marshall
Transport for London (UK)

Social Media Manager

Ulyana Biasedzina, Oikocredit
Ulyana Biasedzina
Oikocredit (Netherlands)

Corporate Communications Specialist

Viktorija Pirstele, Girteka
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.

One of her favorite quote is “It’s hard not to feel happy when you make someone smile”. Roy T. Bennett

Volker Grünauer, Advatera
Volker Grünauer
Advatera (Austria)

Moderator

Moderator of the Advatera community of practice

Yann Jeschke, NETZSCH Group
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
Track B
Digital External Communications & Marketing
Track C
Digital Internal Communications, Digital Workplace & Hybrid Work
Room A
Monday, Nov 3
12:00 pm – 1:00 pm CET

Registration and Welcome

Marie Gonzalez, Advatera
Room A
Monday, Nov 3
1:00 pm – 1:05 pm CET

Welcome by Volker Grünauer, conference chair

Volker Grünauer, Advatera
Room A
Monday, Nov 3
1:05 pm – 4:00 pm CET

Workshop: Making digital transformation a winner: How to align strategy and execution

Erik Hartman, Advatera
Room B
Monday, Nov 3
1:05 pm – 4:00 pm CET

Workshop 2

Room C
Monday, Nov 3
1:05 pm – 4:00 pm CET

Workshop 3

Yann Jeschke, NETZSCH Group
Room A
Monday, Nov 3
4:30 pm – 5:00 pm CET

Walk to our cultural activity

Room A
Monday, Nov 3
5:00 pm – 6:00 pm CET

Viennese encounters: A cultural experience

Room A
Monday, Nov 3
6:00 pm – 10:00 pm CET

A flavourful Austrian night: eat, chat & enjoy at Akzent Theater

Room A
Tuesday, Nov 4
8:45 am – 9:00 am CET

Good Morning & Check-In

Marie Gonzalez, Advatera
Room A
Tuesday, Nov 4
8:45 am – 9:30 am CET

Moderated Roundtable Discussions

Judith Pinkas, Brain & Heart
Susanne Richter, MKS Instruments
Sarah Sunderbrink, zooplus
Guy Van Leemput
Peter Erni, Brain & Heart Communication
Erik Hartman, Advatera
Room A
Tuesday, Nov 4
9:30 am – 9:45 am CET

Digital Leadership – thoughts by conference chair Volker Grünauer

Volker Grünauer, Advatera
Room A
Tuesday, Nov 4
9:45 am – 10:30 am CET

Keynote: The Art of Leadership Communication

Viktorija Pirstele, Girteka
Room A
Tuesday, Nov 4
10:30 am – 11:00 am CET

Break & Networking

Room A
Tuesday, Nov 4
11:00 am – 11:30 am CET

Navigating the Ethics of AI and Experimentation in Marketing: Driving Digital Transformation Responsibly

Le Thuy Duong, Global VAT Compliance
Room B
Tuesday, Nov 4
11:00 am – 11:30 am CET

Innovative and engaging approach of presenting stories via story maps

Ewa Hermanowicz, FSC Forest Stewardship Council
Room C
Tuesday, Nov 4
11:00 am – 11:30 am CET

Enhancing Manager Communication for Greater Impact

Susanne Richter, MKS Instruments
Room A
Tuesday, Nov 4
11:30 am – 12:00 pm CET

Power of collaboration – How to successfully lead and create synergies between marketing and sales

Kerstin Valet, CRIF Deutschland
Room B
Tuesday, Nov 4
11:30 am – 12:00 pm CET

Amplifying Corporate Communication: How Podcasts Drive Engagement and Brand Awareness

Lucia Čorbová, Slovnaft
Room C
Tuesday, Nov 4
11:30 am – 12:00 pm CET

Initial launch of Five Guys internal comms platform, with an intranet demo

Dale Brodie, Five Guys Europe
Room A
Tuesday, Nov 4
12:00 pm – 1:00 pm CET

Lunch & Learn

Room A
Tuesday, Nov 4
1:00 pm – 1:05 pm CET

Afternoon opening thoughts by Volker Grünauer

Volker Grünauer, Advatera
Room A
Tuesday, Nov 4
1:05 pm – 1:50 pm CET

Keynote

Room A
Tuesday, Nov 4
2:00 pm – 2:30 pm CET

Building Engaged and Resilient Communities

Sarah Sunderbrink, zooplus
Room B
Tuesday, Nov 4
2:00 pm – 2:30 pm CET

Bridging Borders: Empowering a Global Workforce for Authentic and Localized Social Media Success

Rafaela Swersina, Primetals Technologies
Room C
Tuesday, Nov 4
2:00 pm – 2:30 pm CET

The Industry, the Boomers, and Us? How We Strengthen #teamDMK for Change and Drive Transformation from Within

Driving change in a conservative industry is a challenge. This talk will showcase how the DMK Group communicates internal values and leverages change management campaigns to inspire employees for transformation and make them more resilient to external influences.

Oliver Bartelt, DMK Group
Room A
Tuesday, Nov 4
2:30 pm – 3:00 pm CET

Break & Networking

Room A
Tuesday, Nov 4
4:00 pm – 4:30 pm CET

Townhall - Summarizing the Conference

Erik Hartman, Advatera
Room A
Tuesday, Nov 4
4:30 pm – 7:00 pm CET

Get-together, Networking, Wine and Good Food

Agenda and locations subject to changes

Join us...

Register below for the Digital Leadership Forum November 3-4, 2025. 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 a cultural side event and dinner on Monday evening, catering for both days and the get-together after the conference on Tuesday.

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