🍺 Oktoberfest from Munich to Michigan 🍻 Although I grew up in the eastern part of Germany and spent most of my adolescence in the north, I always loved traveling south to Bavaria to celebrate Oktoberfest in my twenties. Yes, you heard correctly- Oktoberfest, with its dirndls and lederhosen, was originally celebrated only in Bavaria, which is just one of Germany's 16 states (Bundesländer). However, over the last decade, other German states have started to join in, albeit with smaller-scale versions of the festival. A similar trend has happened in the U.S., where Oktoberfest has become a big cultural event. Since moving to Michigan, I’ve embraced celebrating Oktoberfest here, enjoying Weißwurst, Sauerkraut, Brezeln, and polka music. I’ve come to love how open the U.S. is to embracing and integrating various cultural traditions. Fun fact 1: My German kids have never celebrated Oktoberfest in Germany- they’ve only experienced it here in the U.S.! Fun fact 2: I often encounter the belief that only Germans can wear dirndls and lederhosen. But please, feel free to join in and wear traditional German costume- whether you're in Germany or anywhere else! 💡 Have you ever celebrated Oktoberfest? ____________________________________ ✅ Do you operate globally? Are you hosting international teams? ✅ As a certified intercultural trainer, I can help you onboard new team members faster and more smoothly. With personalized training, I can improve your team's efficiency and reduce internal friction in just one morning. This will boost motivation and drive your company's success. ✅ Don't miss out on global opportunities—contact me today for more information. #interculturalcommunication #interculturalcompetence #expatlifeUSA #teambuilding #networking #interculturaltraining #Oktoberfest

When the German traffic announcements happen in Italian... A few years ago, I traveled to Munich in late September. The radio jockey suddenly switched from German to Italian, informing about the parking situation around the festa della birra. I then remembered—it was the Italian weekend during Oktoberfest. Traditionally, many Italians join the festive crowd on the second weekend. You can hear a lot of “ciao bella” and animated conversations all around Munich. One of my Indian colleagues shared how Oktoberfest changed his perspective of Germans, whom he had perceived as more strict and uptight. During Oktoberfest, his train commute was filled with laughter and singing. Yes, it might be the alcohol speaking, but it’s more than that. It’s about finding joy together, celebrating no matter where we are from, changing perspectives, and welcoming each other. 🍻 This is where the concept of Völkerverständigung (international understanding) comes in. It emphasizes fostering peace and cooperation among nations through mutual respect and dialogue, promoting cultural exchange, reducing prejudices, and enhancing global solidarity. By encouraging open communication and collaboration, Völkerverständigung helps build trust and understanding between different peoples, contributing to a more harmonious and interconnected world. 🌍 Oktoberfest is a perfect example of Völkerverständigung in action. It brings together people from all over the world to celebrate, share cultures, and build connections. This festive atmosphere fosters mutual respect and understanding, breaking down barriers and reducing prejudices. However, Oktoberfest is just one opportunity among many. We should embrace every chance to create open, inclusive spaces where people from diverse backgrounds can come together, share experiences, and build a more harmonious world. 🤝 #inspiration #culture #Munich #globalunity Photcredits: Flight picture from Creativemia (Instagram)

🍺 𝗢´𝘇𝗮𝗽𝗳𝘁 𝗶𝘀 🥨 which translates to "It's tapped" – and refers to the ceremonial tapping of the first beer keg that marks the official start of Oktoberfest. The Oktoberfest is here again, and with it comes endless opportunities for fun and festivities. But did you know that there's more to the Wiesn than just beer and bratwurst? As experts in the MICE industry, we've put together some additional reasons why you should consider incorporating the Oktoberfest into your event planning. 🎵 Cultural immersion: The Oktoberfest offers a unique opportunity to immerse yourself and your guests in traditional Bavarian culture. From the traditional clothing to the music and dancing, your guests will love experiencing something new and exciting. 🗨 Networking: The Oktoberfest is the perfect place to make new connections and network with other professionals in the industry. Who knows, you may even end up closing a deal over a stein of beer! 🤝 Team building: The Oktoberfest is a great way to build team morale and strengthen relationships. Encourage your employees to attend together and make memories that will last a lifetime. So, whether you're attending the Wiesn for business or pleasure, there's no denying the endless opportunities it offers. PS: For the for the spontaneous and last minute bookers among you, in case you still need a seat at a table or a bed to sleep in- take a look at the links in the commen section below ⬇

#Oktoberfest 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀! 🎉 I used to live right next to the 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘸𝘪𝘦𝘴𝘦, home to the world’s largest festival – Oktoberfest – which seems to be Germany’s calling card to the world. 🌍   Each year, it attracts over 7 million visitors from all corners of the globe. As a local resident in the neighbourhood, it often felt like a frenzy: everyone was becoming an Airbnb host, hotel prices were skyrocketing, and bakeries were bustling with unfamiliar faces buying 𝘉𝘳𝘦𝘻𝘯 (traditional pretzels) 🥨. Supermarkets would fill with shoppers hunting for snacks and less-than-nutritious treats. Day and night, the streets would come alive with partygoers reveling in a heightened sense of 𝘫𝘰𝘪𝘦 𝘥𝘦 𝘷𝘪𝘷𝘳𝘦. 🎊 At times, it could all be a bit overwhelming!   Yet, despite all the chaos, I find myself irresistibly drawn back to Oktoberfest. It’s the unmistakable spirit that captivates me: 𝘋𝘪𝘳𝘯𝘥𝘭 and 𝘓𝘦𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘯, the sound of laughter, toasting to 𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘪𝘵 𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘎𝘦𝘮ü𝘵𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘩𝘬𝘦𝘪𝘵, and the vibrant atmosphere that effortlessly turns strangers into connections, or at the very least, makes it easier to break the ice.   The Oktoberfest demonstrates how celebration fosters communication and builds meaningful connections. 🎈 Festivals serve as the universal key that brings people closer, whether in ancient times or today.   What have I learned? Communication goes far beyond words; it thrives through shared experiences, cherished traditions, and the power of connection. 💬 #Munich #Communication #Networking

November always feels like a transitional month—Halloween’s just passed, but it’s not quite Christmas…or is it? Some of us (ahem, me! 🙋♀️) already have our presents wrapped! 🎁 While the festive season is creeping closer, this month has been all about incredible projects, meaningful teamwork, and planning for what’s ahead. ⭐ ada Lovelace Festival: We started the month in Ludwigsburg, where Hannah, Laura, and Chris brought the theme of “New Utopias” to life. Months of preparation went into crafting a stunning visual stage concept, event branding, and a smooth technical production. Watching the event unfold perfectly on-site was a true highlight! ⭐ SZ-Wirtschaftsgipfel: Next, we traveled to Berlin to support Süddeutsche Zeitung with their annual economic summit. Toumaj Aminian led on-site efforts, ensuring seamless video animations, image recordings, and the complete event recording. With high-profile guests like business leaders and politicians, attention to detail was everything—and we delivered! ⭐ Ukraine-Konferenz NRW: Back in Cologne, the Ukraine Conference for the State Government of NRW took place at the Flora. Laura and Lara managed the production brilliantly, while much of our team visited to support on-site. Teamwork is key to the success of every event. So that’s why we also like to gather and celebrate together. And this is exactly what we did this month. Everyone gathered for a cozy team afternoon at the Christmas market in Cologne. These moments of connection are invaluable, even though this one was bittersweet as we said goodbye to Frederic and Chris. Farewell, but never goodbye—you’ll always be part of the PIRATEx crew. ❤️ Behind the scenes, we’ve also been busy preparing for 2025: 👉 Redesigning our offers and service portfolio 👉 Brainstorming exciting content for next year (hint, hint 👀) Anyway, it's time to (officially) start listening to our Christmas playlists and start December in the right mood! 🎄 Cheers, Clélia #behindthescenes #team #teamwork #events #highlights #eventproduction #nrw #koln #eventagentur ada

#High5club - or: Throwback Hannover Fair’24, part 2   It was a pleasure to meet so many interested people at the #HMI24, proud and motivated members, as well as engaged association partners and of course, potential new partners! I’d really like the spirit of the fair and the content related discussions we got: From #DigitalTwin to #Shopfloor to company specific challenges and how we face those challenges together!   Cause this is an important aspect of digitalization: Nobody can do this alone. You need to include your ecosystem partners and – even more important: Your staff! No transformation w/o motivated and engaged people. Always keep in mind: Transformation is done by people, not by a company. Therefore, it is required to provide a base for open discussions and reflecting your challenges in an open-minded round of specialized people.   #bettertogether is not just a buzzword – it’s the clear foundation, required to be successful on the road to #Industry40.   Last but not least: You may ask “What’s that bike idea and why your booth was equipped w/ so many bike parts?” Simple explanation: Using a bike as example, enables almost everybody to understand the composition of material and process, leading to a valuable end customer product – and fulfil certain requirements, like the Digital Product Passport #DPP and Carbon Footprint #PCF. It’s easier to have a common ground for discussion, instead of requiring highly specialized domain knowledge. The bike is a great way to explain and tackle the challenges together.   And yes - we’re proud to celebrate the 5.th anniversary of our great alliance: Great members, great people and challenging topics! All we need to face challenges together and pushing #digitalization forward! Thanks to all supporters, to all the engaged people, to all the great ideas and projects we’re going to realize! Jonas Grundler (Novatec Consulting GmbH) Jan-Rémi FROMENTIN, Bastian Schmick (ifm) Peter Raber (META-LEVEL Software AG) Michael Riester (Endress+Hauser Gruppe) Christian Guenther, Sebastian Fischer, Uwe Laechele (conplement AG) Thomas Neumann (M&M Software GmbH) Dominik Obermaier (HiveMQ) Dr. Thiago Weber Martins (SAP) Ekrem Yigitdoel (Open Industry 4.0 Alliance) Music: DRIFT by Philip E Morris #copyrightfree   #oi4alliance #oi4rocketboost #digitalisation #i40

#SeattleTechWeek is finally here! I wanted to share some thoughts about the week. Serving on the planning committee with Jen Haller, Sarah Studer, Raghav Baldania and the crew at Madrona has been an exhilarating experience. It has been my deepest hope and ultimate goal, that Seattle Tech Week be a celebration and exhibition of all that makes our ecosystem great that is open to everyone who wants to be a part of it. I know many on the committee share this commitment. This year, through the hard work of our committee, Seattle Tech Week is twice the size it was last year, and with nearly triple the attendee registrations. Most events are oversold, and so here are some things I think are important to keep in mind: 1️⃣ - Come with an open mind and be kind to the people putting on the events. 🙂 It is difficult to host an event where you dont know if 50 or 150 people will come. 2️⃣ - 👯 If you RSVP'ed yes, go. Nearly every event is overbooked. If you can't make it, update your RSVP so others can get off the waitlist. 3️⃣ - 🕥 Try to be on time - You get more out of the event, and the hosts will appreciate getting started and running on time. 4️⃣ - 👩 Be open to talking to new people! You never know where that next job will come from. Take pictures, follow up with people you meet, and get ready for a great week of events! See you there!

🍻 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗢𝗸𝘁𝗼𝗯𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗽𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗛𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗼𝗻 - 𝗔𝗻 𝗨𝗻𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 📊 A few days ago as I strolled with my husband through the colorful alleys of Oktoberfest, a surprising thought struck me: How similar the world of the largest folk festival is to my daily work in Corporate Finance! Let me explain: 1. 🎡 Planning is everything: Just as Oktoberfest is planned months in advance, we in Corporate Finance strategize for the long term. Every detail counts, whether it's placing a festival tent or structuring financing. 2. 🍺 Tradition meets innovation: Oktoberfest combines centuries-old traditions with modern attractions. Similarly, we navigate the financial world between tried-and-true methods and innovative financial instruments. 3. 👥 It's all about people: Whether toasting in the beer tent or negotiating deals - relationships and networks are key to success. 4. 📈 Managing ups and downs: Just as the mood at the Wiesn can fluctuate, we experience boom phases and challenges in the financial world. The art lies in mastering both with confidence. 5. 🧮 Numbers, numbers, numbers: From visitor numbers to revenue forecasts - Oktoberfest, like our professional lives, is characterized by key figures. 6. 🌍 Global appeal: Oktoberfest attracts people from all over the world. Similarly, we operate in an international environment where cultural understanding is just as important as financial knowledge. As I raised my stein last night, I realized: Whether in the festival tent or the office, it's always about approaching work with passion, precision, and a twinkle in the eye. What do you think? Do you see any other parallels between folk festivals and the world of finance? Let me know in the comments! #ForwardThinking #CorporateFinance #Oktoberfest #Finance #Leadership #Networking

🪗 𝑷𝙧𝒐𝙨𝒕 𝒕𝙤 𝙊𝒌𝙩𝒐𝙗𝒆𝙧𝒇𝙚𝒔𝙩! 🍻 Oktoberfest isn't just about beer—it's a massive cultural event that attracts millions worldwide. For brands, it’s the perfect opportunity to tap into this lively global festival. From Munich to wherever your customers are, here’s how to stay on top: 🍺 𝑪𝙧𝒂𝙛𝒕 𝒔𝙚𝒂𝙨𝒐𝙣𝒂𝙡 𝙥𝒓𝙤𝒎𝙤𝒕𝙞𝒐𝙣𝒔 𝒂𝙧𝒐𝙪𝒏𝙙 𝙩𝒉𝙚 𝙛𝒖𝙣 𝙤𝒇 𝑶𝙠𝒕𝙤𝒃𝙚𝒓𝙛𝒆𝙨𝒕. 📲 𝑬𝙣𝒈𝙖𝒈𝙚 𝙮𝒐𝙪𝒓 𝒂𝙪𝒅𝙞𝒆𝙣𝒄𝙚 𝙬𝒊𝙩𝒉 𝒇𝙚𝒔𝙩𝒊𝙫𝒆 𝒄𝙤𝒏𝙩𝒆𝙣𝒕 𝒂𝙣𝒅 𝒑𝙤𝒍𝙡𝒔. 🌍 𝑬𝙭𝒑𝙖𝒏𝙙 𝙮𝒐𝙪𝒓 𝒓𝙚𝒂𝙘𝒉—𝒓𝙚𝒎𝙚𝒎𝙗𝒆𝙧, 𝑶𝙠𝒕𝙤𝒃𝙚𝒓𝙛𝒆𝙨𝒕 𝒊𝙨 𝙜𝒍𝙤𝒃𝙖𝒍. Marketers, how are you integrating cultural events into your strategy? Share your ideas below! 👇 #Oktoberfest2024 #MarketingTrends #CulturalMarketing

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