Future Workforce
Summit

Dirk Willeke is an experienced manager leading an international team of senior experts in Data Analytics and AI. Throughout his career in large-scale international organizations, Dirk has built deep, hands-on experience in navigating complex leadership and business transformation challenges. These include managing multicultural teams, resolving conflicts, adapting to diverse leadership styles, and major organizational changes such as offshoring, downsizing, and the leadership shift toward agile practices.
As certified Coach and Mediator, and co-founder of a company- internal Coaching-Pool, Dirk actively contributes to people development and cultural transformation within his organization. Educated in Engineering and Business Administration, Dirk combines analytical thinking and a strong business focus with empathy, psychological insight, and has a genuine interest in supporting people.

Dr. David Drake is Founder and CEO of The Moment Institute, a global learning community focused on personal and professional development. He is Head of Ovida Labs for Ovida, using his work and AI to accelerate growth and improve outcomes for coaches and others.

David is most well known as the founder of Narrative Coaching. He is a Thought Leader for the Institute of Coaching, a 9x WBECS Summit speaker, and a member of the inaugural class of Coaches50 in recognition for his contributions. He developed The Five Maturities: A New Paradigm for Developing Coaches: www.themomentinstitute.com/the-five-maturities.

David earned his PhD in Human & Organizational Development from Fielding Graduate University. He has written over 70 publications, including as Co-Editor of SAGE Handbook of Coaching, Editor of The Philosophy and Practice of Coaching, and author of Narrative Coaching: The Definitive Guide to Bringing New Stories to Life.

David also founded Integrative Development as a new paradigm for developing people and organizations. He has used ID in change, coaching and leadership initiatives in organizations such as ARM, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Dropbox, European Patent Office, Google, Logitech, Nike, PwC, Westpac, and many government entities on three continents.

Thomas Breyer-Mayländer is a professor of media management at Offenburg University and an expert on organizational development. He is a network partner of the German consulting company Lernraum.Akademie. He obtained his first diploma in Industrial Engineering following the completion of his studies in the field of publishing management and publishing production at the Media University in Stuttgart. He possesses a second diploma in Information Science, having completed his studies at the University of Constance. Following the completion of his academic credentials, he embarked on his professional journey as a business development and multimedia expert at the German Association of Newspaper Publishers. Concurrently, he pursued his doctorate in media economics at the Institute of Journalism at Dortmund University. Prior to assuming the role of professor of media management at Offenburg University, he served as the Chief Executive Officer of the German Newspaper Marketing Association in Frankfurt. He occupied numerous leadership roles during his university years, including a tenure as Vice President that spanned over a decade.

His research, consulting, and teaching interests include leadership, culture, leadership training, entrepreneurial thinking, and evidence-based management and leadership development. In addition to his formal education, Thomas Breyer-Mayländer has obtained supplementary credentials in the domain of talent coaching (Clifton Strengths), mediation, and voluntary pastoral care/spiritual welfare. These credentials serve as a foundation for his projects and research in leadership culture, leadership skills, and organizational development.

Susan Caesar, Director of Artificial Intelligence at ICF, brings extensive experience in driving human-centered innovation, digital transformation, and ethical AI. Susan is passionate about promoting AI as a force for good.

I’m Strategic Key Account Manager at Speexx, responsible for the Coaching business in the DACH region. For over five years, I’ve been designing and scaling global coaching programs for international organizations—both in my current role and with previous providers. This has given me deep insight into the coaching market and the strategic levers for impactful program design. As a certified systemic coach, mediator, and corporate health manager, I combine business acumen with a strong commitment to personal development and cultural transformation.

Kirsten Dierolf, MCC, ACTC, EMCC MP, is a globally recognized Master Certified Coach, coach supervisor, and founder of SolutionsAcademy, an ICF- and EMCC-accredited coaching school. With over 20 years of international experience in executive coaching and leadership development, Kirsten specializes in creating and managing internal coaching pools, supporting systemic change, and embedding coaching cultures in organizations. She has mentored over 100 coaches to MCC level and serves as an assessor for ICF certifications. Kirsten’s approach blends Solution Focused and social constructionist methodologies, enabling leaders and teams to harness strengths, navigate complexity, and generate sustainable momentum. She works with multinational clients across sectors and cultures, guiding senior executives through transformational leadership challenges. A prolific author, Kirsten has published several books on coaching and supervision, and is an active contributor to the global coaching community through speaking, writing, and podcasting. Her work is marked by clarity, curiosity, and deep practical wisdom.

Dr. Amelie Schoenenwald studied Biotechnology and Biochemistry at the Technical University Munich and earned a PhD in Integrative Structural Biology after research stays in Austria, Israel, Singapore, and the United States. She also completed an MIT Bootcamp in Leadership, Innovation and Entrepreneurship and earned a European MBA with a focus on business leadership.

Certified in traditional and agile project management, Amelie has worked both across the biotech start-up scene and the healthcare industry. She currently holds a position in the business strategy department of a major pharmaceutical company in Munich, Germany. Alongside her full-time role, she lectures, gives keynotes, and is wholeheartedly involved in STE(A)M outreach.

Beyond her professional pursuits, Amelie is passionate about sports and exploration. She has participated in a range of expeditions, from jungle treks to Arctic man-hauling all the way to speleological explorations. She also enjoys mountaineering, motorcycling, and scuba diving, and occasionally plays one of her stringed instruments.

Amelie is a member of the ESA Astronaut Class of 2022, selected from over 23,000 applicants across Europe. In 2024, she began the first of three ESA Astronaut Reserve Training Sessions, preparing her for a potential mission to space.

Manjuri Sinha is a globally recognized HR and talent leader with over 20 years of experience building and delivering impactful people strategies across leading organizations such as Accenture, Zalando, and OLX (a Prosus company). Currently serving as VP HR, Head of Global GTM Org Success & Business Partner at Miro, she partners across Americas, EMEA, and JAPAC to drive business growth, culture, and high performance.

Manjuri has been named one of the Top 200 Global Voices in Leadership by LeadersHum, alongside visionaries like Simon Sinek and Marshall Goldsmith. She is a recognized thought leader in global talent dynamics, known for her ability to scale high-performing cultures and lead HR transformations that align with both business and human needs.

Her superpower lies in human-centric, AI-enabled talent transformation. She serves on the AI Advisory Board for GoodTime.io and is a founding Board Member of the world’s first Human-Centered AI Council (HCAIC) by Aptitude Research.

A trusted startup advisor, author, and keynote speaker, Manjuri has delivered talks at global platforms including LinkedIn Talent Connect (New York) and Unleash (Paris). Throughout her career, she has successfully led and scaled global HR and Talent teams from 40+ to 140+, bringing a unique blend of strategic foresight, inclusive leadership, and commercial acumen to everything she does.

Smaranda Dochia is a dynamic leader and innovator in the coaching industry, serving as the Director of Digital Learning & Podcasts and Board Member for the Association for Coaching. In this role, she empowers coaches to learn, develop, and make a meaningful impact globally. Under her leadership, the Digital Learning department provides coaches worldwide with access to thought leadership, cutting-edge tools, business-building skills, and the latest industry trends, fostering a vibrant global community of coaching professionals.

With over two decades of international experience, she has honed her skills across both not-for-profit and corporate sectors, specializing in Human Resources, Event Management, and Project Management. Her strategic focus on restructuring, organizational design, and strategy building has equipped her with a profound understanding of organizational dynamics and change management.

As an Executive Coach and certified practitioner in Applied Neuroscience and Motivational Maps, Smaranda brings a unique blend of scientific insight and creativity to her coaching practice. Her passion for coaching is matched by her dedication to helping coaches achieve their fullest potential, ensuring they are equipped to excel and make a lasting impact in their fields.

Ilaria Rossini is Global Manager – Learning Culture Lead at Boehringer Ingelheim, with a diverse background spanning marketing and HR across industries including automotive, oil & gas, and cosmetics. Her expertise lies in strategic communication, employer branding, and change management. Ilaria brings a cross-cultural mindset and a passion for creative, out-of-the-box thinking. She is dedicated to shaping meaningful employee experiences that foster engagement, learning, and transformation.

Araceli Canedo Bebbington is an ICF and EMCC-accredited Executive Coach with over 25 years of international experience in leadership, change, and people development. A former Managing Director in the financial sector, she led large global teams and complex transformation portfolios before transitioning into coaching to focus on what truly drives her: helping leaders grow and thrive through change.

She also serves on the EMCC Global Board as VP Thought Leadership and collaborates with organizations across sectors on leadership development and cultural transformation.

Her coaching practice supports senior leaders and mid-career professionals navigating change, reconnecting with purpose, and building the confidence to lead with courage and authenticity.

Having lived in multiple countries and speaking five languages, she also embraces transformation in her personal life.

Her belief: “Comfort is the enemy of growth. Embracing change is how we step into our full potential.”

Joel DiGirolamo is the Vice President of Research and Data Science for the International Coaching Federation (ICF), where he leads the organization’s efforts to study the science and profession of coaching. Joel has published numerous articles, book chapters, and white papers on coaching research. He has more than 30 years of staff and management experience and is the author of two books, Leading Team Alpha and Yoga in No Time at All. Joel holds a master’s degree in industrial and organizational psychology, an MBA, and a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering. He is an Associate Editor for Consulting Psychology Journal.

Prof. Nicky Terblanche is an academic, researcher, leadership coach and entrepreneur. He has a master’s degree and PhD in Leadership Coaching and a master’s degree in electronic and software engineering. He is Associate Professor of Leadership Coaching and Research Methodology at Stellenbosch Business School, South Africa. His research interests include leadership coaching with a focus on Artificial Intelligence Coaching. He also runs an executive and leadership coaching practice.

Nicky has published more than 40 peer-reviewed research articles and book chapters and regularly presents at international conferences as keynote speaker. He is also the founder and CEO CoachVici.com that creates AI Coaches for organisations.

Naomi Whitehead (she/her) is a freelance Solution-Focused Practitioner with a diverse portfolio. She runs her own coaching, supervision, mentoring, and training company, and co-creates leadership workshops and concepts internationally—drawing on social justice, feminist principles, and microanalysis. Naomi works with individuals, teams, and organisations, and is a Director at Solution Focused Trainers Community Interest Company and a Guest Lecturer at Sheffield Hallam University. She is also a faculty member at SolutionsAcademy, where she delivers ICF- and EMCC-accredited coach education, and represents the UK on the PR Task Group for the European Brief Therapy Association.

An entrepreneur by conviction, Sohrab has spent over 20 years helping leaders rethink how companies build products, empower teams, and adapt to a rapidly changing world. His mission: to turn agility into real business impact.

As the founder and CEO of Scrum Academy and Agile Academy AG he works with organizations across the globe—from startups to Fortune 500s—guiding them through strategic change with clarity and courage. Sohrab combines deep agile expertise, boardroom-level experience, and the mindset of a coach.

Through Agile Insights Conversations, his curated talks with global thought leaders, and his German translations of influential agile literature, he challenges conventional thinking and sparks new perspectives.

Sohrab lives in Cologne, where he balances life as a father of three with his passions: sport, music, and the pursuit of lifelong learning.

What fulfills Alissa Dittmar most is the moment when something shifts for the better in someone’s life—and she’s had the privilege of contributing to that change in a small way. For her, coaching is a powerful and effective tool to support such transformation. ✨

As a Purposeful Career Coach, trained according to the ethical standards of the ICF and with over 500 hours of coaching experience with real clients, Alissa guides individuals through personal change processes toward new insights and clarity.

In her role as Trainer Relations Manager at Haufe Akademie, she curates top talent for a pool of over 500 coaches and collaborates with an interdisciplinary team to continuously evolve the company’s coaching offerings.