zeb.Uni 2024 – Two days full of inspiration, networking and fun

A few months ago, it was once again time for zeb.Uni in Münster. In this testimonial, Anneke looks back on a couple of eventful days.

The event was held on June 13 and 14, 2024 at Halle Münsterland, giving more than 1,000 colleagues from all over Europe new impulses for the future as well as a chance to celebrate successes achieved earlier in the year. For the first time, the evening get-together took place in the fantastic atmosphere of the Skaters Palace.

Not only lectures on financial services made their mark on this year’s event, but also guest contributions on various current topics, presented by a total of 79 inspiring speakers. In addition to classic lectures, zeb.Uni also offered interactive workshops, fishbowl discussions and live podcasts. Over the two days, the employees got to listen to five keynote speeches and additionally had the choice between six presentations, discussions and workshops offered simultaneously in each of the other program slots. This meant that there were always opportunities to deepen existing knowledge or to gain insights into new topic areas.

On the first day, the guest lecture “Pioneering spirit and bursts of courage – about the power of breaking new ground” was a particular highlight. As an entrepreneur, author and podcaster with a keen sense of economic and socio-political responsibility, speaker Verena Pausder emphasized the need for innovation and courage in Germany. In her keynote, she described her thrilling journey and diverse experiences. She talked about the women’s soccer club, FC Viktoria Berlin, which she took over together with five co-founders, and about her upbringing, which was pervaded by caution and risk aversion. Contrary to these early influences, however, she has opted for a courageous life in which she regularly takes risks and dares to try new things. Ms. Pausder encouraged the audience to experience “bursts of courage” more often and not to let themselves be restricted by fear and caution.

Alexander Aretz and Christoph Wienert gave a truly extraordinary lecture together with representatives of Scharlatan Theater. In their keynote, they presented a very different kind of consulting project and gave fascinating and interactive insights into the collaboration between the client, zeb and the Scharlatan theater group. The unusual thing about the project: the colleagues on the team used theater techniques to present both operational situations and the need for change very effectively and to demonstrate the change process in a compelling manner. Members of the Scharlatan theater group presented some of these techniques very vividly, immediately bringing real-life situations to the attendees’ minds.

The final guest lecture “Deal! You give me what I want!” rounded off the two-day zeb.Uni in a highly entertaining and informative manner. Prof. Dr. Nasher, a renowned author, coach and researcher, is best known for his negotiation skills. His impressive academic career began as a student and lecturer in Oxford and Frankfurt am Main. He holds a doctorate from the University of Vienna and has taught at Munich Business School and the University of Liechtenstein, among others. In his presentation at zeb.Uni, he shared the methods and techniques he has developed to be successful in negotiations and effectively influence other people. Prof. Dr. Nasher’s expertise and real-life examples provided the audience with valuable insights and practical tools to improve their own negotiation skills.

Another highlight at zeb.Uni, as in previous years, was the “Marketplace”, where colleagues had the chance to get information on various exciting topics and have a chat between lectures. The Strong Partners stand offered an amusing, sporty and competitive challenge with its bicycle-powered car racing track. Here, colleagues were able to burn off energy on bikes and compete against each other. At the same time, wishes, ideas and suggestions were collected for future sporting events organized by the partner organization in order to continuously improve the offering.

In addition to the many items on daytime agenda, there was also an evening get-together on Thursday. After an aperitif and the last guest lecture of the day, everybody walked over to the evening venue – the Skaters Palace. On their walk, the colleagues were not only supplied with drinks at a small mobile “refueling station” along the way but could also work up an appetite for the varied dinner options provided by several street food stands. From classic pizza slices or currywurst and chips to Chinatown dim sum and frozen yogurt, there was everything a hungry heart could desire. Afterwards, the company’s very own band kicked off the party with an unforgettable performance. Overall, zeb.Uni was a lively and inspiring place for discussions and knowledge exchange, made all the more special through its diversity and the high quality of the contributions.