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.”
Around 200 participants from across Berlin and beyond attended the free conference, where they experienced highlights including:
- ‘Inclusion as untapped potential’: In her keynote speech ‘Goodbye to wasted talent!’, influencer and activist Beccs Riley (autistic, non-binary, trans and severely disabled) demonstrated that only around three per cent of all disabilities are present from birth, whilst over 90 per cent are acquired later in life. Riley called for an end to ‘walking on eggshells’ and for highly qualified talent to be brought to the fore. Inclusion, she argued, must be understood as a corporate value put into practice, from which society as a whole benefits.
- ‘Reconciliation rather than accusation’: Journalist and activist Mo Asumang spoke about ways to overcome fear and helplessness. She highlighted how, through inner change, we can ‘de-train the anger muscle’ and instead strengthen the ‘dialogue muscle’. In her keynote speech, she outlined concrete steps towards maintaining composure amidst tensions.
Panel discussion: How diversity becomes everyone’s business – a prominent guest from the Bundesliga
A key theme of the conference was the extension of diversity measures from senior management to the entire workforce. In a panel discussion, Mo Asumang and Bessie Fischer-Bohn spoke together with Christian Arbeit, Head of Communications at 1. FC Union Berlin.
Union Berlin is playing a pioneering role in German professional football in this regard: as the first club in the Bundesliga (men’s), Union recently made history by appointing Marie-Louise Eta, thereby sending a powerful signal in favour of female expertise within the coaching staff of Germany’s top flight. Christian Arbeit provided insights into how such groundbreaking diversity decisions are received within teams and which approaches to fostering cohesion within organisations really work.
Diversity as an economic factor: a driver of innovation
The relevance of these topics is underpinned by economic data, such as that found in the McKinsey study “Diversity Matters Even More”. According to the study, companies with high levels of diversity in their leadership teams are 39 per cent more likely to achieve above-average profitability.
In addition, the conference offered a series of practical masterclasses – covering topics ranging from AI ethics to body language – thereby highlighting well-founded and innovative learning opportunities for everyday working life:
- AI and bias: Yolanda Rother analysed how artificial intelligence perpetuates existing inequalities using outdated, biased data. Through live demonstrations, participants learnt to recognise unconscious bias in prompts.
- Inclusive communication: Elizabeth Anderson taught techniques for difficult conversations in which ‘genuine growth takes place’. Her playful approach showed how confidence can emerge from tension.
- Body language: Arvid Nienhaus worked with participants to demonstrate how attitude and presence can stabilise communication and strengthen relationships, particularly in conflict situations.
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.
