When: 24th June 2026, Registration from 17.30. Event starts at 18.00
Where: Marriott Courtyard Hotel, Schwanthalerstrasse 37, 80336 Munich
The Exchange is one of the most distinctive events in the AGBC calendar, bringing together members and guests who are passionate about sharing ideas, experiences, and perspectives that matter to them. This year’s programme explores a diverse range of topics, from artificial intelligence and space exploration to entrepreneurship, personal finance, and community impact.
Alongside our featured speakers, we are also introducing a new World Café format, creating opportunities for participants to join informal discussions, exchange insights, and explore topics of mutual interest in a highly interactive setting.
Whether you come to learn something new, challenge your thinking, expand your network, or simply enjoy an evening of stimulating conversation, we hope you leave inspired by the ideas, stories, and experiences shared by our community.
This year’s programme naturally falls into three themes:
AI & Technology
- Paul Salazar – Back to the Moon
- Sebastian Wrobel – AI in Education and Negotiation
- Elisabeth Schlag-Lawrence – AI is a Tool, Not Your Strategy
- Brod Justice – Become AI Literate in 20 Minutes
Business & Entrepreneurship
- Marc Ritter – Starting and Running a Business
- Sascha Liebhardt – The Psychology and Truth About Money
- Paulina de los Santos – How To Start A Podcast
Community & Personal Impact
- Robert Summers – Overcoming Resistance to Change
- Takuya Kamiyama – Running for Charity
- Dr. Fritz Lebowsky – Reflecting on Emotional Energy
New for 2026: World Café Sessions
Our World Café format offers a series of informal, participant-led discussions where everyone has the opportunity to contribute, share experiences, and explore ideas in greater depth.
This year’s topics span a diverse range of personal and professional interests, including emotional energy, goal setting, AI agents, podcast creation, overcoming resistance to change, and the role of AI in business strategy. Facilitated by experienced practitioners, educators, entrepreneurs, coaches, and technology specialists, these conversations are designed to encourage curiosity, fresh perspectives, and meaningful connections.
Unlike a traditional presentation, the World Café invites you to join the discussion, ask questions, exchange ideas, and help shape the conversation.
Speakers:
Paul Salazar
Back to the Moon: The Artemis Program and the Return of Human Exploration
Paul Salazar is an entrepreneur, technology professional, and passionate amateur astronomer. Originally from Los Angeles, his 40-year career in software and technology has taken him from California’s Silicon Valley to Munich, Germany. Alongside his professional career, Paul has maintained a lifelong fascination with astronomy and enjoys sharing the wonder of space exploration with audiences of all ages.
Marc Ritter
Starting and Running a Business
Marc Ritter is a neuroscientist, coach, entrepreneur, and co-founder of AWE Wellness, an international mental health platform operating across Europe and North America. He also advises organisations expanding into international markets, helping bridge business opportunities between Europe and the Americas. His work combines science, entrepreneurship, and practical leadership experience.
Elisabeth Schlag-Lawrence
AI is a Tool, Not Your Strategy
Elisabeth Schlag-Lawrence is a senior transformation executive and Managing Partner at CatalystProcurement, Munich. With 35+ years of leadership experience, she has led transformations across Life Sciences, Manufacturing, FMCG, Media, and Consulting, most recently at Bayer.
Having held senior roles across the USA, Asia, and the Middle East, Elisabeth believes sustainable outcomes depend on aligning people, process, and technology. Today, she advises on transformation, executive coaching, and AI adoption.
McElory Hoffmann and Johan van der Merwe
Talking about AI Agents”
Dr. McElory Hoffmann is CEO and Founder of Praelexis, where he helps organisations translate AI, machine learning, and emerging technologies into practical business value. He works across strategy, innovation, and implementation, guiding leaders to identify high-impact opportunities and build solutions that are commercially relevant, technically sound, and responsibly governed.
Dr. Johan van der Merwe is AI Strategist and responsible AI specialist at Praelexis. He helps executives across financial services, health, agriculture, retail, the public sector, and education identify business cases and deliver classical ML, generative AI, and agentic AI solutions. His PhD in ethics, MBA on sustainable value frameworks, and research on auditing and governing AI ground his work in accountable, long-term outcomes.
Sebastian Wrobel
AI in Education and Negotiation
Sebastian Wrobel is a trainer, keynote speaker, and business advisor with over 25 years of experience in companies like Siemens, MAN Truck & Bus, and Steelcase.
What drives him is a simple idea: knowledge only creates value when it can be applied – which is why his sessions are practical, interactive, and sometimes a little unconventional.
In his talk, Sebastian shows how AI can help you learn faster and negotiate smarter – whether you’re closing a deal, negotiating your salary, or just trying to win the next family discussion.
World Café Facilitators
Sascha Liebhardt
The Psychology and Truth about Money
Sascha wears many hats: educator, entrepreneur, business leader, and passionate supporter of fresh ideas. As Founder and Chancellor of New European College in Munich, he loves connecting academic knowledge with real-world experience. With an international background and a curious mindset, he inspires people to think differently, keep learning, and embrace new opportunities.
Brod Justice
Become AI Literate in 20 minutes
Brod Justice is a Munich-based CTO, business owner, and economist specializing in AI and IT. With over 30 years of experience, he leads ChatBar AI Pte and Business Landing Ltd, providing custom software and enterprise solutions. An expert witness for software source code and former European Commission advisor, Brod combines a background in psychology, AI and Unix/Linux to consult on digital strategy. He joined the AGBC in 2021 and is an active professional in the Munich tech scene.
Dr. Fritz Lebowsky
Reflecting on Emotional Energy
Dr. Fritz Lebowsky received a PhD degree in electrical engineering from the Technical University of Braunschweig, Germany. He became profoundly curious about investigating astonishing human performance in visual perception. As a result, he is passionate about exploring concepts of creating harmony between human social-emotional intelligence and artificial intelligence technology enabling a more easily sustainable human future, better together.
Robert Summers
Overcoming Resistance to Change
Robert C. Summers is a facilitator, coach, and trainer based in Augsburg, Germany. For over 20 years, he has helped teams and organizations navigate conflict, unblock decisions, and have the conversations that actually matter — without escalation, without blame, but with clarity. He works under the brand rcsworks and has a background in linguistics, political science, and journalism.
Naomi Isaacs
Living Without Set Goals
Since moving from the UK to Germany in 1968, Naomi has built a diverse career spanning business, jazz singing, vocal coaching, and mentoring. Since 1984, she has helped people from business, politics, the arts, and beyond strengthen their stage presence and audience impact. She also offers Tarot readings in English and German . Naomi is passionate about inspiring people to embrace unconventional ideas and enrich their personal and professional journeys.
Paulina de los Santos
How To Start a Podcast
Paulina de los Santos is a Texas native who moved to Munich in 2016 for a master’s degree at TUM and quickly found a second home in Germany. In 2025, she launched The Pod Abroad, a podcast exploring culture, migration, and the realities of building a life in another country. In its first year, the show reached more than 825,000 views, nearly 4,000 subscribers, and featured guests from 16 countries across 6 continents.
At the AGBC Exchange, Paulina will share how she built The Pod Abroad from scratch and the lessons she’s learned about podcasting, storytelling, and growing an audience around meaningful conversations.
Takuya Kamiyama
Running for Charity
Takuya has been a resident of Munich since 2016 and a member of AGBC Munich since 2017.
Having come to Munich first to carry out scientific research at the Technical University, he has been managing projects at a global consultancy firm since 2021.
One of his activities aside from work is his participation in charity runs – since 2019 – mainly in Munich.