About 200 people attended the Adlershof Diversity Conference 2026
The fourth Adlershof Diversity Conference took place on 7 May 2026 under the motto ‘Powered by Differences’. WISTA had invited prominent speakers to the Adlershof Technology Park, including TV presenter Mo Asumang, activist and influencer Beccs Riley, and 1. FC Union spokesperson Christian Arbeit.
Video of the event on YouTube
Highlights and videos on the WISTA Instagram channel
At a time when skills shortages and technological change are posing challenges for the economy, the conference highlighted diversity and the ability to engage in dialogue as key drivers of innovation and economic strength.
“Innovation needs diversity,” explains Bessie Fischer-Bohn, Head of Human Resources at WISTA Management GmbH, who organised the conference with her team. “The conference offers companies, start-ups and the academic community a platform to address blind spots in diversity issues that often cost teams motivation and success. Our programme provides concrete ideas on how individual differences can be turned into collective progress – through in-depth learning opportunities, inspiration and exchange, with plenty of practical ideas for everyday working life.”
Programme highlights 2026
Welcoming remarks from the sponsors:
Vanessa Penna
BTB-Blockheizkraftwerks, Träger- und Betreibergesellschaft mbH Berlin
Jasmin Weber
Berliner Sparkasse
Keynotes that move you…
Beccs Riley: Inclusion – from the microcosm to the macrocosm
What you will learn: Beccs will show you practical tips for implementing inclusion in your everyday working life.
Mo Asumang: Racism
What you will learn: Mo Asumang's important presentation on racism will inspire you to reflect and take action.
Masterclasses that inspire and deepen your knowledge…
Expand your expertise in our masterclasses and receive a certificate of participation afterwards. You can expect, among other things:
Yolanda Rother: Artificial intelligence, bias, and innovation
Yolanda Rother shows how AI drives innovation—and why it is essential to understand how bias influences our decisions and products.
Arvid Niehaus: Posture and body language in conflict situations
Arvid Nienhaus already impressed last year and will teach you how to act confidently in conflict situations through conscious posture and body language.
Meet & Gr:EAT: Engage with our role models...
Take advantage of the opportunity to engage at Meet & Gr:EAT. In addition to our speakers, many other role models will invite you to engage with their inspiring topics. It's an ideal setting to make valuable contacts and dive deeper!
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Programme Diversity Conference 2026 pdf (1,59 MB)pdf (1,59 MB)
That was the Diversity Conference 2025 …
On 7 May 2025, the third diversity meeting took place at the Adlershof Technology Park. Under the motto ‘Sharing differences’, this year's focus was on generational justice and inclusion.
The more than 200 participants had exciting encounters and engaged in lively discussions on this year's key topics of diversity and tolerance. In interactive masterclasses, workshops and panel discussions, guests exchanged ideas on topics such as neurodiversity, the economic impact of menopause, generations and female role models, sign language, and new skills for body language and potential development.
The Diversity Conference was opened in the morning by Roland Sillmann, WISTA Managing Director, and Bessie Fischer-Bohn, WISTA Human Resources Manager. The welcoming address was given by Michael Biel, State Secretary for Economics in the Berlin Senate Department for Economics, Energy and Public Enterprises.
The keynotes focused in particular on generational diversity and inclusion. The first captivating keynote was given by Sebastian Wächter, mindset coach and author, on the topic of ‘Barrier-free in your head: Look at me! How companies benefit from inclusion’. This was followed by several exciting masterclasses and workshops.
After the lunch break, during which participants networked on the WISTA terrace, the event continued with a keynote speech on the topic of ‘Youth obsession vs. wisdom of age: How generations can find common ground’ with Greta Silver, bestselling author, YouTuber and podcaster. In the subsequent panel discussion, Greta Silver, Bessie Fischer-Bohn and Nadine Primo discussed the question ‘How three generations view female role models’.
After further workshops and masterclasses in the afternoon, the 3rd Adlershof Diversity Conference came to a close with delicious drinks, finger food and music from DJane Angellica.
Recap Diversity Festival 2024
The 2nd Diversity Festival Adlershof took place on 15 May 2024. We would like to thank our top voices from racism and gender research, the lecturers of the masterclasses and, of course, all participants for their inspiring insights and experiences, newly gained perspectives, and for the exchange and enriching self-experiments in the workshops.
