Why Zarah Bruhn is one of the most important voices for the future
“Anyone can make a difference—in their own job, in their own team, in their own company.” – Zarah Bruhn
There are people who talk about change. And there are people who simply make it happen.
Zarah Bruhn belongs to the second group. At the age of 25, she foundedsocialbee—and in doing so, she demonstrated early on what remains her hallmark to this day: that entrepreneurial thinking and social responsibility are not opposites, but rather reinforce one another.
Zarah Bruhn – A founder who recognized the spark
The starting point wasn’t a business plan. It was an encounter. In mid-2015, Bruhn befriended a student in Sweden who had fled Syria. Back in Germany, she volunteered at Munich Central Station to help refugees—and asked herself a question that hardly anyone was asking at the time: What comes next?
The welcoming culture was strong, but long-term solutions were lacking. Bruhn wanted to be part of the answer—and founded socialbee, the first social staffing agency to actively integrate refugees into the labor market. Today, the company has paved the way to secure employment for thousands of people.
From the startup world to federal politics
Zarah Bruhn’s path was not limited to entrepreneurship. In 2022, she was appointed the first Commissioner for Social Innovation at the Federal Ministry of Education and Research—and shortly thereafter named to the Federal Government’s Council for Sustainable Development. Since 2025, she has been building the Social Breakthrough Innovations division at the Federal Agency for Breakthrough Innovations (SPRIND): She searches worldwide for breakthroughs that improve the lives of millions and save the government billions.
Her motivation behind this is clearly stated:
“Social innovations make our government more effective, our society more resilient, and our economy future-proof.”
This is not a political platitude. It is a conviction she lives by every day—in research, in consulting, on stage.
The Book: A Plea Against Powerlessness
In 2025, her book “Who, if Not Us?” was published by Rowohlt Verlag. It is a compelling non-fiction work that shows how many people are already working today on solutions to the most pressing social and environmental challenges—from Nobel Peace Prize laureates to visionary social workers from around the world.
Bruhn’s message is deliberately anti-pessimistic: change is possible. It is happening. And it isn’t waiting for the big institutions to take the lead.
“For me, sustainability means the transformation toward a world that is worth living in for future generations—where ecology, economy, and society are in balance with one another.”
On stage: Sparks fly, perspectives shift
Zarah Bruhn is not a keynote speaker who promises hope and reaps applause. She is someone who inspires her audience to rethink their own role.
“My goal is to make listeners eager to take risks, assume responsibility, and boldly break new ground.”
She succeeds in doing so. She spoke to over 8,000 founders at the opening of Bits & Pretzels, gives TEDx talks, and, as a LinkedIn Top Voice for Tech & Innovation, is one of the most-heard voices in Germany on the topics of social innovation, entrepreneurship, and shaping the future. She has received numerous awards for her work, including “Social Entrepreneur of the Year.”
Who is Zarah Bruhn the right speaker for?
Her talks are particularly effective where companies want more than inspiration—namely, direction. She is the right choice for organizations that want to understand how innovation and social responsibility can be integrated. For leaders who want to not only motivate their teams but truly mobilize them. And for everyone who has stopped believing that individuals can make a difference.
That is precisely Zarah Bruhn’s strongest message—and she lives it herself.