Speaker Zarah Bruhn

Zarah Bruhn represents a new generation of female entrepreneurs who combine business acumen with social responsibility.

Born in 1991, the founder, social entrepreneur, board member and political influencer is one of the most prominent voices for social innovation in Germany. Through her work, she demonstrates how courage, entrepreneurship and technology can help not only to manage social challenges, but to solve them at their root.

Zarah Bruhn Lecture topics

New beginnings, courage & the positive unknown

- The world in leaps and bounds: innovation as the greatest opportunity
- It has never been easier to change the world
- Global inspiration – from Nobel Peace Prize laureate to superhacker

Entrepreneurship, impact & inspiration

- Radical thinking as the key to the future
- The role of corporations and every individual
- The courage to take risks, a desire for responsibility, a passion for innovation

Social Innovation, Technology & the State

- How Technology Solves Social Problems
- AI in Education, Democracy & the Welfare State
- Moonshots for Society – the Craziest Innovations of the Future

"My aim is to inspire listeners to take risks, take responsibility and boldly break new ground. The audience experiences a shift in perspective that shows: anyone can make a difference – in their own job, in their own team, in their own company." – Zarah Bruhn

Zarah Bruhn studied Economics and Technology at the Technical University of Munich and the University of Mannheim. At just 25 years of age, she founded the company socialbee, which since 2016 has helped thousands of refugees find work, addressed the shortage of skilled workers, and promoted diversity and openness to the world within the German economy.

In 2022, Zarah Bruhn was appointed as the first Commissioner for Social Innovation at the Federal Ministry of Education and Research and named to the Federal Government’s Council for Sustainable Development.

Since 2025, she has been developing the Social Innovation division at the Federal Agency for Breakthrough Innovations (SPRIND). She has received numerous awards for her work, including ‘Social Entrepreneur of the Year’.

She is the author of the book ‘Wer, wenn nicht wir’ (Who, if not us?), published by Rowohlt in 2025.

Zarah Bruhns’ talks inspire optimism about the future: they encourage a change of perspective, a sense of responsibility and courageous action.