Redefining intelligence

The first session explored the meaning of intelligence and what it means to be human in an age of algorithms.

Anne Kjaer Bathel, founder of ReDI School of Digital Integration, opened with an empowering talk on how her organization successfully “hacked” the digital gender gap. What began as a tech course for refugees with only 5% female participation turned into a story of transformation. By designing programs with women’s lives in mind, they reached an impressive 65% female participation, with 50% in advanced tech courses. “At its core, my talk was about peace building, courage, and hope,” she wrote.

The theme continued with Deborah Reber, Founder & CEO of Tilt Parenting, who spoke about neurodiversity and the need to redefine intelligence beyond traditional measures of success. As Deborah showed, innovation begins when we embrace difference.

Léa Peersman, Talent Agent for Humans in the Age of AI, continued the reflection with a deeply personal talk about becoming a mother while building an AI career intelligence business. “Are we having an AI baby?” she asked. She shared that at the moment, we’re recreating AI, not augmenting it. 

“But as we automate, are we also dismantling the human village that nurtures real intelligence?” Léa’s words struck a chord as she called for a collective effort to leverage AI to bring our collective intelligence to the forefront and fulfill our original mission - to augment AI and use it to expand the boundaries of human potential.

Migration, identity, and belonging

Another topic that emerged was rediscovering identity while facing the challenges of migration and finding a place of belonging.

Daphne Hering, Founder of Cyra Capital, captivated the audience with her research into migrant entrepreneurship.

“Hollywood was built by migrants,” she reminded. “And migrants spot 22% more business opportunities than non-migrants. Their ability to live between two worlds gives birth to innovation.”

Her talk highlighted how openness fuels creativity, and how locking doors, both literal and metaphorical, can stifle potential. Towards the end of her talk, Daphne enlarged the audience to consider opening a door for someone. “Maybe you can open a door for the next Marie Curie,” she said.

Then came Jasmin Taylor, Entrepreneur, Founder, and Author, whose story of escaping fear and finding freedom left the audience speechless.

“Resilience isn’t the absence of fear,” she said. “It’s the decision to face it.” Jasmin described her journey from a teenager fleeing danger to an adult who found her voice through education. “Rising doesn’t matter when you’re alone,” she shared. “Rising matters when we lift others with us.”

Art, imagination, and storytelling

Between sessions, Johanna Summer and Malakoff Kowalski repeatedly returned to the stage, mesmerizing the audience with their piano and vocal performances. Their collaboration honored the emotional core of the event, affirming creativity as a key part of innovation and female empowerment.

Several speakers at TEDxBerlin Women explored art’s power to transform, connect, and question.

Maud Delaflotte, a photographer, asked, “Do I have the right to tell other people’s stories?” Her talk was a meditation on empathy and perspective. “Photography isn’t about taking sides,” she said. “It’s about showing the truth, and it’s up to us to choose what we see.”

Dana Al-Fardan, a leading Qatari composer, songwriter, and symphonic artist, shared how imagination shaped her music and identity. “Innovation relies on imagination,” she said. “It means we need to protect that magic. We all compose our reality and our stories note by note, choice by choice. The question is: who are you going to compose yourself to be?”

Another form of creativity came from Nike Wessel, Founder, Activist, and Moderator, who explored sexuality as a space of both vulnerability and strength.

“Those who want to suppress sexual freedom,” she said, “want to suppress power itself.” Her words urged the audience to know themselves deeply, embrace boundaries, and view pleasure as an act of agency.

Leading with courage and vision

As the day continued, attention turned toward leadership, sustainability, and innovation on a global scale, through the lens of setting progress into motion. That’s what momentum truly is.

Thaniya Keerepart, a creative strategist and media innovator, brought a deeply personal and empowering perspective to the stage. She shared that although she had an impressive career, there came a moment when she began to question her purpose. In searching for answers, Thaniya realized her true purpose was to help people through her work. 

Today, she is a decision designer and product strategist, exploring how the choices we make in life shape both our world and our inner selves. More recently, she has taken a broader holistic view that embraces holistic purposeful living. Her talk was a reminder that progress begins when we align what we do with who we are.

On the topic of wellbeing, Apameh Schönauer, an architect, entrepreneur, and Miss Germany 2024, explored how built environments shape identity and community. Her vision of inclusive spaces grounded the day’s energy in a future that can literally be built to uplift everyone.

Aneri Pradhan, Climate Ecosystem Builder and founder of ENVenture, brought the discussion to social entrepreneurship. Her model for bringing clean energy to rural areas illustrated how technology and empathy can coexist, driving both economic and environmental progress.

The discussion of innovation through empathy continued with Fatma Deniz, neuroscientist and Professor of Computer Science and Vice President for Digitalization and Sustainability at TU Berlin. Bridging science and humanity, she revealed how understanding the brain can deepen our compassion and enhance communication.

Chiara Cecchini, VP of Commercialization at Savor and Board Member at Food for Climate League and Future Food Institute, introduced the idea of circular food systems, demonstrating that sustainability is as much a social act as an environmental one.

The event culminated with Asma Al Thani, Qatari Mountaineer and Explorer, whose story embodied the day’s message: to lead is to dare. Her journey reminded the audience that true leadership is measured not by the height of one’s achievements, but by the courage to keep climbing.

This new for Berlin format presented talks spanning a wide range of topics, all united by one powerful thread: the strength and depth of women’s collective intelligence and resilience.

Tolga Ra put it beautifully: “From those who escaped warfares to those who care about what the future will bring to both womanhood and individuality, I think they had a common point: Women who believe in themselves are all we need for a better society, economy, and political culture.”