Wolfgang Gründinger in interview

02. August 2021 – Mandy Weinand

Dr. Wolfgang Gründinger is a future lobbyist, author and publicist. He is one of the most controversial thought leaders in Germany.

For his work, Wolfgang Gründinger has received the “Das Politische Buch” (The Political Book) award, the Prize for Political Journalism, the German Environmental Foundation Book Prize, and the Generational Justice Prize, among others.

He was politically active from his earliest youth. In 2009, Handelsblatt magazine ranked him among Germany’s “young elite. According to Ernst Ulrich von Weizsäcker, his early political commitment to the rights and interests of today’s youth and future generations earned him a reputation as an “advocate for youth.” In 2009, Der Spiegel called him “Germany’s model mid-twenties.” In 2010, Zeit Campus named him one of the “100 students we will still be hearing from. (Source: Wikipedia)

Wolfgang Gründinger in an interview with Premium Speakers

Premium Speakers: What are the core subjects of your keynote speeches?

Wolfgang Gründinger: Politics & Society:

  • Artifical Intelligence (AI), Digital Ethics, Digitization, Digital Transformation
  • Digital Sustainability
  • Energy Transition, Climate Crisis
  • Intergenerational Justice, Demographic Change, and Future Generations
  • Future of Democracy and Sustainability

Life & Work Skills

  • Ten Years Smarter – How to get off your ass, make money, win every negotiation and live 100 years
  • Managing Time & Stress at Work
  • Relationship Building & Professional Networking

 

Premium Speakers: Are you a PREMIUM SPEAKER? Where do you get your insights from?

Wolfgang Gründinger: I am not only a keynote speaker, but also bring years of concrete and practical experience from digital business, government administration and leading startup. I have received numerous awards for my books as an author and publicist. As a scientist, I submitted a doctoral thesis and am involved with Scientists For Future. So I am not a marketeer and carnival barker, I have a deep and multicated understanding of the world both from research and practice.

Numerous clients have booked me as a keynote speaker, panelist or moderator – including McKinsey, Deloitte, the German Federal Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, Deutsche Bahn, Google, and many more.

My keynotes are deliberately light-hearted, paint the big picture, make abstract and complicated issues understandable, provide concrete examples, are intended to create and sharpen awareness, and motivate people to become active. Powerpoint yes – but never filled with bullet points.


Premium Speakers: What will be in the future? Does «time» play an important role in your work?

Wolfgang Gründinger: Especially in times of multiple crises – with climate crisis, digital disruption, social division, covid pandemic – many ask themselves: Is democracy fit for the future? Can we still cope with the crises of the 21st century? How do we manage to think about future generations, even though our society is getting older and older?

This is where I start: The future is open, and it is up to us to make it.

“The future is made of courage.”

Premium Speakers: Tell us your life motto? What do you want to give your listeners to take with them?

Wolfgang Gründinger: Did you already find out what you really, really want?

Thank you very much, Mr. Gründinger, for the interview!

Wolfgang Gründinger

Fighter for Future Generations and Author