A DAX CEO and an AI expert, plus data privacy and social media experts highlight the Red Stage lineup privacy exp
OMR Festival 2024 is set to kick off in just a few short days in Hamburg. Today, we’re talking about the Red Stage. From Germany's most-valuable marketplace, AI predictions, regulatory frameworks and a pair of social media specialists, the breadth and depth of topics and discussion will provide inspiration, illumination and insights into the latest trends affecting the industry.
All eyes on AI, marketing, creators and more
No matter where you look, there is no bigger topic du jour in the digital economy than AI. Is it a boon or bane? Is it here to take our jobs or help us do ours more effectively? German thought-leader Pip Klöckner will provide some context and perspective as he takes the audience "Beyond the AI Hype" in a 40-minute keynote. If it's not AI, the next thing on everyone's mind, at least on this side of the pond, is data privacy. With the EU having passed new legislation last year, Europe would appear to be making inroads to finally getting US and Chinese tech behemoths to take data seriously. Privacy advocate and founder Max Schrems as well as the Minister of Germany's top tech regulatory body, Klaus Müller, will provide insights into the status quo and what's next.
It's not all politics and hard-core tech topics on the Red Stage. Washington Post columnist Taylor Lorenz will return to the OMR Festival and social media expert Matt Navarra from Geekout will discuss the current state of social media. Leon, aka "Leon X Skincare," one of Germany's fastest-growing creators, will discuss some DOs and a whole lot of DON'Ts. Scope3 co-founder Anne Coghlan will share ways, in which online advertisers can reduce their CO2 emissions.
Read on for a look at the entire Red Stage program. If you want to see what’s on elsewhere, click here.
Tuesday, May 7
10:05 AM: BACK TO THE SOCIAL FUTURE: A JOURNEY BACK IN TIME TO UNDERSTAND THE FUTURE OF SOCIAL MEDIA.
with Ann-Katrin Schmitz (Baby Got Business, Novalanalove)
Let's take a time machine to the future! After exactly being in the industry for almost a decade Ann-Katrin Schmitz can say that social media marketing trends are starting to repeat themselves. Join her as she rewind the clock on social media history, uncovering jaw-dropping events, timeless trends and game-changing moments. What can we learn from the milestones of the Creator Economy and which remarkable moments will let us predict the future? Get ready to fast-forward to tomorrow's trends.
10:30 AM: TRANSPARENCY V. SOULLESS SALES: DOS AND DON’TS IN INFLUENCER MARKETING
with LeonXSkincare
Leon’s xskincare channels on TikTok and Instagram provide his 2 million-plus followers relatable and useful skincare expertise. He’s not merely an influencer, but is also very hands-on in product development. Moreover, he’s not afraid to speak up and call out false promises or criticize the use of inferior ingredients—much to the delight of his community. At OMR, Leon will disclose why being independent is his most-prized possession, how he carved out his niche on social media and what needs to change in the influencer game—and fast.
10:55 AM: THE RESPONSIBLE COMPANY - BUSINESS UNUSUAL AT PATAGONIA 🇬🇧
with Jelle Mul (Patagonia)
A life-long warranty on products, free repairs for customers, actively supporting activists, NGOs and recently founder Yvon Chouinard named Earth its sole shareholder. It’s the latest step on a mission that Patagonia has been on for years: "Patagonia is in business to save our home planet.” At OMR24, Jelle Mul, Senior Marketing Manager EMEA, will discuss steps Patagonia is taking to push their mission forward and why responsibility is a core tenet of the brand in all sectors—including the digital space.
11:20 AM: FROM ECO-ANXIETY TO ACTION: EMPOWERING MARKETERS TO COMBAT CLIMATE CHANGE 🇬🇧
with Anne Coghlan (Scope3)
The climate crisis is top of mind for many, but most people feel powerless when it comes to doing something meaningful to impact climate change. This is particularly true among younger generations consumed with eco-anxiety. But, what if there were meaningful actions that brand marketers could take today to deliver better and more sustainable ads? Marketers at Sanofi, Mastercard, and more have already started. And, Scope3 Co-Founder Anne Coghlan can talk about how exactly they are doing it.
11:45 AM: THE MOST IMPORTANT INNOVATIONS OF THE PRESENT - AND WHAT THEY MEAN FOR COMPANIES
with Christoph Keese (Axel Springer hy!)
Christoph Keese is one of the most-renowned thought leaders for digital change in Germany. He’s also a passionate innovator, serial founder, business angel and author of bestsellers on digitization and economic policy. As Co-CEO of Axel Springer hy, he supports companies and government institutions on digital transformation and technological developments. On the Red Stage, he will draw on his extensive experience and explain what he considers to be the most important innovations of the present day—and what they mean for companies.
12:10 PM: "VERMIN LIKE YOU SHOULD BE SHOT." HOW TO COMBAT ONLINE HATE SPEECH
with Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann and Josephine Ballon
German politician Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann has pressed 250 charges per month for hate speech online. And she is by no means the only victim of defamation onilne. A recent study showed that people reduce their internet usage after falling victim to online harassment. New laws are to help expedite the removal of vicious content. But how can the newly passed legislation actually be effective? And to what extent do platforms need to be involved? That's precisely what Strack-Zimmermann and HateAid CEO Josephine Ballon will discuss.
12:50 PM: WHY NOT BOTH?! THE SYNERGIES OF AI AND SPATIAL COMPUTING
with Annika Hauptvogel (Siemens) and Simon Graff (nextReality)
Learn to leverage the interplay between artificial intelligence and spatial computing. In this slot, you will not only learn how and why AI and XR are on everyone’s mind, but also how to unleash real synergies. What makes a real trend and why are these two technologies more than just buzzwords? Join the experts on the frontline of this revolution for a reality check and explore how this combination will radically reshape our everyday lives, our work and our communication.
1:35 PM: FÚTBOL, FOOTBALL AND FINANCES—HOW TO SCORE A GOLDEN GOAL IN BUSINESS?
with Oliver Bierhoff and Philipp Klotz (Transform Sports)
In 2023, Oliver Bierhoff joined the NFL’s New England Patriots as a consultant. He also founded Finvia Sports and acts as Chairman for Family Office in Frankfurt. A star soccer player for both club and country, he began his career off-the-pitch with DFB (German Football Association) and brings a unique multi-faceted perspective of the sports business space. At OMR24, he’ll sit down with sports business expert Philipp Klotz to discuss business differences between soccer and football and current developments in the space. He’ll also talk about the challenges he faced transitioning from association official to entrepreneur.
3:55 PM: EVOLVING INTO A HYBRID PLATFORM—HOW OTTO HAS BEEN USHERING IN CHANGE FOR 75 YEARS
with Marc Opelt (Otto)
What does the future hold for eCommerce? Marc Opelt, CEO at Otto, has been tackling the issue with his team for years. After facing increasing competition and ever-evolving customer expectations, he radically transformed the company's business model into a hybrid platform. Marc knows first-hand how to successfully master such a massive change—by balancing transformation with values. He'll provide you with unique insights into how Germany's largest online shop has become a lab for new ways of work, a testing ground for new technologies and incubator for eCommerce innovation. And oh by the way, there will surely be a surprise guest or two.
4:20 PM: LIVE PODCAST RECORDING OF "MIT DEN WAFFELN EINER FRAU," HOST BARBARA SCHÖNEBERGER AND GUEST MICHAEL MICHALSKY.
Barbara Schöneberger is not only Germany's most popular entertainer, but she’s also a pretty successful podcaster with nearly 300 episodes under her belt. Every week she meets up with celebrities from the realms of music, television, sport and showbiz for "Mit den Waffeln einer Frau," where they eat waffles together and get down to real talk. At OMR24, she’ll be bringing her griddle and waffles to the Red Stage. Her guest: fashion designer Michael Michalsky.
Wednesday, May 8
10:05 AM TRANSITIONING FROM A PERSONAL BRAND TO COMPANY BRAND
with Jochen Schweizer
Jochen Schweizer turned his passion into a multi-mlliion-dollar business—and one of the most well-known names in the Fatherland. At OMR24, he'll not only discuss what his brand stands for and how one makes the leap to personal brand status, but he'll also share how he made the switch back to a personal brand after selling off his voucher platform to ProSiebenSat.1.
10:30 AM Turning a career on the catwalk to a global label: How Lena Gercke is taking aim at international expansion with LeGer.
with Lena Gercke
Lena Gercke once said that being a professional model is to be a service provider. But she also harbored ambitions for more. In LeGer, the winner of the inaugural Germany's Next Top Model has created her own fashion brand that she's scaled up to revenue in the 8-figure range. Now, she's taking the next step in the brand's natural evolution: putting the heretofore online offering in retail outlets. At OMR24, Gercke will take about her journey as an entrepreneur, the challenges of being a working mom, what new products she's working on and how she ended up designing soccer jerseys.
10:55 AM SCREAM OF JOY RELOADED: WHY ZALANDO IS BANKING ON EMOTION FOR THE NEXT CHAPTER IN ITS ECOMMERCE EVOLUTION
with David Schneider
From online shoe shop to fashion ecosystem: Some 15 years after its founding, Zalando is reinventing itself. To move ahead of the competition, the Berlin-based enterprise is not only overhauling its wares, but also its core values. While the word convenience was the guiding factor in eCommerce for years, Zalando is shifting its focus to values, quality, trust and entertainment. Customers can now find inspiration alongside products, while brands can better position themselves. CO-CEO David Schneider will provide an update on the strategic shift, the newly found focus on quality and why it's more about emotions moving forward than mere sales.
11:20 AM: FROM MEME TO MAINSTREAM: HOW CROCS HAS BECOME ONE OF THE MOST BELOVED FOOTWEAR BRANDS
with Yann Le Bozec (Crocs)
Barbie, Marvel, the NBA or McDonald's - they all have at least one thing in common: a collaboration with Crocs. The shoe brand from Colorado is known for its bolt releases and extraordinary partnerships with pop stars and other brands. Over the years, Crocs has created a real hype around its unique shoe which regularly leads to individual models selling out within a few hours. Yann LeBozec shares Crocs' brand vision, gives insights to the digital strategy, the power of collaborations and explains which role the Crocs fanbase plays into this.
11:40 AM: DOUBLE IMPACT: WHY REVERSE MENTORING IS AN EXCELLENT OPPORTUNITY FOR LEGACY BRANDS TO ACCELERATE THEIR MODERNIZATION EFFORTS
with Yaël Meier (Zeam) and Tina Müller (Weleda)
A top-level exec with decades of experience and a Gen-Z entrepreneur, a legacy brand and a start-up. Two generations, two strong female leaders with the same objective: to learn from each other, to boost company success and make an impact. When Weleda CEO Tina Müller and upstart entrepreneur Yaël Meier announced their Reverse Mentoring program on Linkedin, it generated thousands of likes and enthusiastic comments. While it’s no surprise that for the Tina Müllers of the world who want to modernize and rejuvenate a legacy brand, they need to know everything about the new target group. But the question remains: what is the true impact of such a mutual mentoring on day-to-day business operations? And what can others learn from them? At OMR24, the pair will speak about their personal motivations and divulge what’s really important to make a great idea a successful one.
12:05 PM: PLAYING WATCHDOG TO ONLINE PLATFORMS: HOW THE GERMAN GOVERNMENT AIMS TO IMPLEMENT THE DIGITAL SERVICES ACT IN GERMANY
with Klaus Müller (Bundesnetzagentur)
With the Digital Markets Act and the Digital Services Act, the EU has drafted a piece of legislation akin to a digital constitution for Europe. However, now comes the tricky part–putting the theory into practice. Germany’s main consumer protection authority, Bundesnetzagentur, is tasked to play a central role in realizing this goal in Germany. While Bundesnetzagentur historically was tasked to regulate gas supply and mobile communications, its future role is to act as Germany's chief watchdog of online platforms. In this interview, President Klaus Müller will explain how the agency intends to enforce the new legislation, which investigations are already underway and what the more than 5000 digital companies affected in Germany generally need to bear in mind.
12:35 PM: TONY'S CHOCOLONELY: REDEFINING THE NORM AS A CHALLENGER BRAND IN THE CHOCOLATE INDUSTRY
with Sadira E. Furlow
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1:25 PM: EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE: HOW TO USE AI EFFECTIVELY AND KEEP HUMANS IN THE GAME
with Miriam Meckel and Léa Steinacker (Ada)
It's no stretch to say that AI will impact every business model, all aspects of our lives, our economy and society. So the question is: How can we apply this trailblazing technology practically to increase our productivity, thus rendering it a useful tool for humanity moving forward? Miriam Meckel and Léa Steinacker will discuss what role we need to play in the interaction between humans and machines.
2:15 PM: THE NEW GLOBAL TECH RACE—CAN EUROPE CATCH UP AND TAKE THE LEAD?
with Philipp Freise (KKR)
The battle for technological supremacy in the 21st century is raging as we speak. The belligerents: business locations and technological innovations. While tech companies with trillion-dollar valuations tower atop stock markets, the deck is being reshuffled, it seems, in light of rapid developments and investments in AI. One of the most-pressing questions at present for Europeans is what role will Europe play moving foward? In an interview with presenter OMR editor Florian Rinke, Philipp Freise, Co-European Head of Private Equity at KKR, explains why he believes the “Old World” will in fact has a major role in shaping the future.
2:40 PM: WHY GERMANS COMPLAIN TOO MUCH ABOUT DATA PRIVACY, AND WHY THE STRUGGLE IS STILL NECESSARY
with Max Schrems (noyb)
There's always one culprit people are quick to point out whenever the topic turns to Europe's economic struggles and why they're greater than other regions: data privacy. And yet, Max Schrems continues to fight for it. A data-privacy advocate and activist, Schrems has initiated privacy-based legislation aimed at protecting EU citizens' privacy and founded the NGO NOYB (None of your business). In a Fireside Chat, Schrems will discuss his work, why he's fighting for a seemingly lost cause and if data privacy really is to blame for Europe's economic woes.
3:30 PM: "ONE FOR ONE": HOW CELL PHONE RECYCLING IN GHANA PROTECTS THE ENVIRONMENT AND CREATES NEW JOBS
with Oliver Petszokat
How can the ever-increasing flood of electronic waste be stemmed? Together with its partner company Closing the Loop, Vodafone collects one old cell phone for every one it sells - in countries without safe recycling systems, such as Ghana. The old devices are recycled professionally and in an environmentally friendly way, which not only recovers valuable raw materials but also creates local jobs. Oli P., "One for one" ambassador for Vodafone, presents the campaign and its results to date on the Red Stage.
4 PM: BEYOND THE AI-HYPE: THE STATUS QUO AND WHAT'S TO COME
with Philipp Klöckner (Doppelgänger Tech Podcast)
Already a recurring guest in the OMR Podcast, Pip Klöckner is on the fast track to landing coveted recurring Festival speaker status. For the second time running, Klöckner will take stock of the industry's most-pressing topics: Where are we on AI? What's a pipe dream and what's reality. And what do all these developments mean for our companies and our economy?
