We are the Change

took place on November 8th 2025.

The program

Arina Zonner | 3 keys to redesign organizational mindset

What if organizations weren’t just places we work, but living social systems that shape who we become? In her TEDx Talk, Arina pulls back the curtain on the psychology behind teams, relationships, and human courage. With bold insights and years of leadership experience, she reveals the three keys that help people grow, connect, and perform at their highest level. Her message is clear: when we use these three keys, we unlock human potential within organizations in ways we never thought possible. This talk will change the way you see work, leadership … and maybe even yourself.

Who is Arina Zonner?

Arina Zonner is a business psychologist (M.Sc.) and business lawyer (LL.B.), a certified Scrum Master, and an experienced senior leader in management. She is a recognized expert in HR, organizational culture, and leadership. In addition to her executive background, Arina is a published author, keynote speaker, and content creator specializing in organizational development, strategy, work psychology, and change management. Her work focuses on empowering people and organizations to thrive in times of transformation.

Sam Bay | Who owns your face?

In an age of deepdakes, digital twins, and AI personas, Sam Bay explores what it means to own your identity, and why presence, not perfection, it our most powerful signature. A journey through neuroscience, technology, and human dignity.

Who is Sam Bay?

Sam Bay is an entrepreneur and AI researcher, founder of iBrain LAB, AI Factory, and iBrain Academy. He also Head of growth at BioID, world’ first Liveness Detection focusing on detecting fraud, deepfakes, and synthetic media. Combining neuroscience, engineering, and AI, he explores what it means to be truly present and authentic in a digital world.

Milena Störmer | The silence of business in war

Milena invites us to rethink what it means to be responsible in a world shaped by conflict. Drawing from her doctoral research and her experiences across regions such as Mexico, Uganda, and Vietnam, she explores what happens when ethics meets reality — when companies operate in places where peace and justice can’t be taken for granted. Milena challenges the illusion of corporate neutrality and exposes how silence, whether chosen or imposed, can make businesses complicit in harm. Blending insights from historical thinkers with real-world examples, she calls for a reimagining of business as a moral actor — one capable of thought, reflection, and compassion even amid conflict. Her talk is both a warning and a call to courage: to break the silence, reclaim responsibility, and let ethical thought become ethical action.

Who is Milena Störmer?

Milena Störmer is a doctoral researcher at Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, where she studies how businesses operate in environments where peace, justice, and stability cannot be taken for granted. Having lived and worked across multiple regions — including East Africa, Southeast Asia, and South America — she has seen firsthand how silence, corruption, and violence shape everyday life and business decisions. Her research explores the ethical responsibility of companies in conflict zones and challenges the myth of corporate neutrality.

Markus Utomo | Why we need play-based learning

In this deeply personal talk, game designer Markus Utomo shares how a medical diagnosis and spiraling anxiety disorder left him lost in fear, and how play brought him back to life. But this isn’t just his story. It’s ours. Drawing on powerful studies Markus makes a bold claim: We’re facing a collective anxiety disorder; as individuals, as schools, as a society. The root cause? Fear-based learning, broken education systems, and an overload of information without meaning. His solution? Play. If fear is the virus, then play might just be the antidote we’ve been looking for.

Who is Markus Utomo?

Markus Utomo is a studied toy- and game designer on a mission to bring back playfulness into how we learn, work and grow. With over 15 years of experience, he designs analog games for airlines, companies and schools that spark joy, curiosity and deep transformation. As a speaker, workshop host and father, Markus uses play not as a gimmick, but as a tool to overcome fear, unlock emotion and create real connection. His motto: Play is not the opposite of seriousness. It’s the foundation of growth.

Guenes Guenaydin | Has cultural diversity really failed?

Guenes shows how cultural diversity becomes a true superpower — not by itself, but through belonging, empathy, and connection. Drawing on his multicultural background and international business experience, he shares personal stories and insights that reveal how small acts of kindness and bridge-building turn differences into strength for teams, communities, and society.

Who is Guenes Guenaydin?

Guenes Guenaydin is a digital sales leader with a multicultural background and a strong belief in the power of human connection. Raised by a Turkish family in Germany and having lived in Türkiye, Austria, Germany, the U.S., and Ireland, he brings a deeply international perspective to his work. Today, he leads a Digital Sales team, helping organizations rethink customer experience and the future of work. His passion for belonging and cultural diversity is rooted in his migration story and strengthened through years of personal & business experiences. His mission is to show how empathy turns diversity into a superpower.

Blanca Mélendez del Castillo | Driving change through visual identity

Why do 81% of people struggle to achieve their goals? In her TEDx talk, Blanca Melendez del Castillo reveals it’s not about lacking ambition or discipline. As a Personal Brand Strategist, she uncovered a surprising pattern in how we pursue big dreams—and why visualizing your goals might not be enough to make them a reality. Drawing from her own transformation and years of working with clients chasing ambitious goals, Blanca shares a counterintuitive approach that challenges conventional wisdom. Her bold claim? What if change doesn’t have to start from the inside out? If you have big dreams still sitting on your bucket list, discover how to hack your brain to turn them into reality.

Who is Blanca Meléndez del Castillo ?

Blanca Meléndez del Castillo is a Personal Brand Strategist, Visual Brand Expert, and founder of Leadbridge Consulting & creator of PeopleBrands. Born in Costa Rica, with a foundation of 10+ years in international corporate roles across multiple continents and over 15 years as a business owner, she bridges both worlds. Through her S.H.I.N.E. Framework, she helps founders, executives, and professionals transform their stories into powerful personal brands to be seen as true experts, attract the right opportunities while creating meaningful impact—because she believes that “Your life is a story that deserves to be told.”