Digital Leadership Forum · AI · Comms · Marketing · Corporate Culture · Boutique Conference

16 + 17 November · Vienna · hybrid conference · 13th Edition

Digital Leadership Forum 2026

Digital Communications, Corporate Culture & Digital Transformation in the Age of AI – Navigating with Clarity and Purpose

Join us for a boutique digital leadership conference in Vienna and online.

Two days full of inspiring workshops, thought-provoking talks, engaging discussions, and curated side events, all centered around on how to lead AI-driven change with clarity and purpose.

Together, we’ll explore digital transformation, digital communications, the future of hybrid work, social media, digital equality, corporate culture, and leadership in the age of AI.

The Digital Leadership Forum by Advatera takes place at the Haus der Ingenieure, a traditional city palace in the heart of Vienna, November 16+17, 2026.

Digital Leadership Forum · November 16+17, 2026

Conference Speakers

Anna Juen, Raiffeisen Bank International AG
Anna Juen
Raiffeisen Bank International AG (Austria)

AI Product Owner | Marketing Technology

What drives me is the question of how AI can truly empower people in marketing. We want to build a department where AI becomes a natural part of how we work, how we communicate, and how we show up as a brand. And beyond our team, I believe every person in this company deserves the knowledge and confidence to make AI work for them in their daily lives.

Antonina Shelepova, Schneider Electriс
Antonina Shelepova
Schneider Electriс (Hungary)

Global Communications manager Global Supply Chain, Europe

What excites me most about my role is the chance to shape impactful communication strategies that connect with diverse audiences. I love transforming complex ideas into engaging messages and fostering employee engagement through dynamic events. Seeing the tangible results of my efforts energizes me every day!

Bartosz Filipczak, The HEINEKEN Company
Bartosz Filipczak
The HEINEKEN Company (Poland)

Product Owner Digital Workplace

Corina Hummel, Leadec
Corina Hummel
Leadec (Germany)

Manager Global Communications

Elisabeth Schwab, PALFINGER AG
Elisabeth Schwab
PALFINGER AG (Austria)

Head of Data & Analytics

Erik Hartman, Advatera
Erik Hartman
Advatera (Netherlands)

Moderator

The atmosphere is always great. It’s an event I always look forward to and as a moderator a learn a LOT from the people who join the event. Helping people to speak out and connect is very rewarding as a moderator.

Felicitas Kilga, Swiss Life Select Österreich
Felicitas Kilga
Swiss Life Select Österreich (Austria)

Head of Advisory Services

My passion lies in combining strategy, technology and customer focus – from CRM rollouts and agile product development to creating seamless customer journeys. What drives me is designing solutions that are strategic, practical and digitally enabled, always with the goal of empowering people, strengthening customer relationships, and generating real business impact.

Gabi Wüstenberg, Advatera
Gabi Wüstenberg
Advatera (Germany)

Moderatorin

Lucia Čorbová, Slovnaft
Lucia Čorbová
Slovnaft (Slovakia)

Internal & External Communication Specialist

To me, communication is more than a profession — it’s a true passion. I see it as a creative space to generate real impact. What excites me most are projects where I can strategically integrate different tools and approaches to achieve meaningful, measurable outcomes.

Marie Gonzalez, Advatera
Marie Gonzalez
Advatera (Austria)

Moderator

From the organisation to the speaker inputs and get together times, the conference is a very rich learning space. The following quote catches her attention: “Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.” - Mahatma Gandhi

Rebecca Struijs,
Rebecca Struijs
(Netherlands)

Moderator

Teresa Karan, Austrian National Tourist Office
Teresa Karan
Austrian National Tourist Office (Austria)

Head of Technical Systems and Channel Development

Teresa works in the innovation department at the Austrian National Tourist Office. As an expert in digital transformation, she drives the development and implementation of numerous AI projects. Her work focuses on leveraging artificial intelligence to shape the future of Austria’s tourism sector in a forward-looking and sustainable way.

Ulyana Biasedzina, Oikocredit
Ulyana Biasedzina
Oikocredit (Netherlands)

Corporate Communications Specialist

Volker Grünauer, Advatera
Volker Grünauer
Advatera (Austria)

Moderator

Volker Grünauer is a European conference chair, speaker, and founder of Advatera. He helps communications, digital, and marketing teams understand and apply AI in a practical and responsible way. As a lecturer and workshop facilitator, he combines strategic thinking with hands-on experience in digital workplace, intranet, and transformation topics.

Zina Hanesová, O2 Slovakia
Zina Hanesová
O2 Slovakia (Slovakia)

HR Business Partner

What excites me most about my role as an HR Business Partner is the opportunity to truly influence both people and business outcomes. I enjoy being a trusted advisor to leaders, helping them navigate change, build strong teams, and create a culture where people thrive and deliver their best.

Digital Leadership Forum Agenda

Room A
Monday, Nov 16
12:13 pm – 12:00 am CET

Registration and Welcome

Dominik Schneider, Advatera
Anja Wimmer, Advatera
Room A
Monday, Nov 16
1:00 pm – 1:05 pm CET

Welcome by Volker Grünauer, conference chair

Volker Grünauer, Advatera
Room A
Monday, Nov 16
1:05 pm – 4:00 pm CET

Innovation/digitalisation in times of "budget-cuts" or "budget-sensitive" times

Felicitas Kilga, Swiss Life Select Österreich
Room B
Monday, Nov 16
1:05 pm – 4:00 pm CET

Leading AI adoption in your organization

Room C
Monday, Nov 16
1:05 pm – 4:00 pm CET

Workshop: AI in the Digital Workplace

Room A
Monday, Nov 16
4:15 pm – 4:30 pm CET

Walk to our cultural activity

Room A
Monday, Nov 16
4:30 pm – 6:00 pm CET

Viennese encounters: A cultural experience

Room A
Tuesday, Nov 17
8:30 am – 9:00 am CET

Good Morning & Check-In

Dominik Schneider, Advatera
Anja Wimmer, Advatera
Room A
Tuesday, Nov 17
8:45 am – 9:00 am CET

Moderated Roundtable Discussions

Room A
Tuesday, Nov 17
9:30 am – 9:45 am CET

Opening thoughts: Align & Lead

Volker Grünauer, Advatera
Room A
Tuesday, Nov 17
9:45 am – 10:30 am CET

Keynote: The Courage to Be Clear: Leadership Communication in the Age of AI and Uncertainty

Room A
Tuesday, Nov 17
10:30 am – 11:00 am CET

Break & Networking

Room A
Tuesday, Nov 17
11:00 am – 11:30 am CET

AI-Transformation in Marketing Communication & Processes

Anna Juen, Raiffeisen Bank International AG
Room B
Tuesday, Nov 17
11:00 am – 11:30 am CET

From launch to lifespan: Keeping a Corporate Influencer Program alive

Starting a corporate influencer program is easy; keeping it alive is the real challenge. Less guidelines, more freedom: Leadec's approach is to think of LinkedIn as a system, not a channel. With a bigger internal impact than you might expect.

Corina Hummel, Leadec
Room C
Tuesday, Nov 17
11:00 am – 11:30 am CET

Intranet demo

Medelina Anthony, Pilatus Aircraft
Room A
Tuesday, Nov 17
11:30 am – 12:00 pm CET

Turning Data into Business Impact at Palfinger

Elisabeth Schwab, PALFINGER AG
Room B
Tuesday, Nov 17
11:30 am – 12:00 pm CET

Everyone Has AI. Now What?

How Leaders Stand Out When Creation is Effortless.

Room C
Tuesday, Nov 17
11:30 am – 12:00 pm CET

The power of accessibility

Discover how to transform the digital workplace from a locked-down environment into an empowered ecosystem by providing users with intuitive self-service interfaces for creating and managing collaboration spaces. We will explore how to replace restrictive, "one-size-fits-all" templates with AI-enhanced flexibility, ensuring that digital tools are both highly accessible and perfectly tailored to the evolving needs of modern workforce.

Bartosz Filipczak, The HEINEKEN Company
Room A
Tuesday, Nov 17
12:00 pm – 1:00 pm CET

Lunch & Learn

Room A
Tuesday, Nov 17
1:00 pm – 1:10 pm CET

Afternoon Opening Thoughts with our Partners

Volker Grünauer, Advatera
Room A
Tuesday, Nov 17
1:10 pm – 2:00 pm CET

Keynote: AI with Purpose: How Leaders Turn Change into Progress Leading

What’s Next: AI, Trust, and Transformation

Room A
Tuesday, Nov 17
2:00 pm – 2:30 pm CET

Machine-Readable or Invisible – How AI Agents Are Hijacking the Customer Journey

Teresa Karan, Austrian National Tourist Office
Room C
Tuesday, Nov 17
2:00 pm – 2:30 pm CET

Selling Your Updated Brand to Your People First: How to Survive Love, Hate & Everything In Between

Ulyana Biasedzina, Oikocredit
Room A
Tuesday, Nov 17
2:30 pm – 3:00 pm CET

Break & Networking

Room A
Tuesday, Nov 17
4:00 pm – 4:30 pm CET

Townhall - Summarizing the Conference

Rebecca Struijs
Erik Hartman, Advatera
Room A
Tuesday, Nov 17
4:30 pm – 12:00 am CET

Get-together, Networking, Wine and Good Food

Agenda and locations subject to changes

Join us...

Register below for the Digital Leadership Forum November 16+17, 2026. The conference is held at House of Engineers, a prestigious Viennese city palace.

Included in the ticket are both days of workshops and sessions as well as a cultural side event and dinner on Monday evening, catering for both days and the get-together after the conference on Tuesday.

Digtal Leadership Forum – Conference Venue:

Haus der Ingenieure (House of engineers)

Eschenbachgasse 9
1010 Vienna

Advatera facilitates knowledge sharing among communication, marketing, and digital leaders to help organizations focus on what truly matters.

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