Digital Female Leader X-Change 2024 in Karlsruhe: Women are shaping the digital future
On On November 7 and 8, 2024, Karlsruhe became the meeting place for female leaders and visionaries in the digital industry. The Digital Female Leader X-Change 2024 (DFLX24), organized by Global Digital Women and Messe Karlsruhe, was held this year under the motto “Elevate the Game” – a call to all those courageous women who are changing the rules of the game, reshaping the economy and society and taking our working world to the next level.
In 2018, Tijen Onaran, founder of Global Digital Women (GDW), launched the Digital Leader Female Award (DFLA). The award recognizes women who have made a name for themselves in the business world with innovative projects and ideas. This year, the DFLA has become the DFLX. In the spirit of female empowerment and mutual support, the event offered space for intensive exchange and inspiration. Through interactive workshops, intensive networking and a festive award show, the DFLX24 encouraged women to turn their visions into reality and actively shape the digital future.
Workshops and visions: The first day at the DFL Forum
The DFLX24 kicked off at the DFL Forum. The Design Offices Karlsruhe were the venue for intensive workshops on key transformation topics. The participants delved into practice-oriented sessions on diversity, leadership, innovation and sustainability.
Representatives from karlsruhe.digital were also represented with a workshop. At the “Smart City Rally”, participants explored Karlsruhe on a specially organized bus tour and gained exciting insights into digital solutions and smart urban development.
The variety of workshops offered the participants the opportunity to obtain comprehensive information and gain new perspectives. At the end, the artist Dominique Macri summarized the highlights of the day in an emotional poetry slam and sent everyone off into the evening inspired. As a special highlight, Dominique Macri’s closing poetry slam summarized the highlights of the day and sent everyone off into the evening feeling inspired.
Exclusive networking at the DFL Community Connect
The Hirschhof was then transformed into a meeting place for digital thought leaders in the new “Happy Wrong” bar. At the DFL Community Connect, finalists, jury members and invited guests from politics and business came together in a relaxed atmosphere. Tijen Onaran and Lord Mayor Dr. Frank Mentrup opened the evening with moving words about the importance of networking and community in the digital industry.
In addition, the Minister for Economic Affairs, Dr Nicole Hoffmeister-Kraut, spoke about the importance of female leaders in digitalization and encouraged the participants to see themselves as shapers of digital change. The evening provided space for informal discussions and new contacts, which were quickly made in the special atmosphere of the location.
Why Karlsruhe is the perfect location for DFLX24
“Karlsruhe is not only my home, but also the city of law, media art and a city with a vibrant corporate landscape full of digital players,” explains Tijen Onaran, emphasizing Karlsruhe’s unique role as the ideal host for the Digital Female Leader X-Change. Thanks to the karlsruhe.digital initiative and a large number of local technology companies and leading research institutions, Karlsruhe has established itself as an innovative digital location. Onaran sees the event as an opportunity to “bring talent to Karlsruhe and give something back to the city.”
Britta Wirtz, Managing Director of Messe Karlsruhe, adds: “Women need the big stage, if not here, where else?” With its clear commitment to the visibility of women in the digital sector, she explains, the event at Messe Karlsruhe is just right. “After all, our motto at the trade fair is ‘We give emotions a stage’ – together, we are giving women the stage they need.”
Karlsruhe as a digital partner
“The motivation to have the DFLX in Karlsruhe is very high,” says Onaran, “Lord Mayor Frank Mentrup and Britta Wirtz actively support the event, and companies such as Stadtwerke Karlsruhe and dm are already actively involved.” However, in order for the event to continue to grow in Karlsruhe, Britta Wirtz believes that more stakeholders need to be involved: “The event’s appeal currently comes mainly from Tijen. We need more power here; our companies are also in demand here.”
Highlight: The glamorous award show
The second day culminated in a glamorous award show in the Garden Hall. Under the inspiring motto “Elevate the Game”, the winners in 16 categories were honored for their outstanding visions and achievements. “Digitalization doesn’t stop somewhere, it’s everywhere and that’s why we have this range of categories to represent the whole spectrum,” explains Onaran.
Accompanied by the LED drummers from Mission4Mars and other show acts, the evening provided a worthy setting for women who impress with their new ideas and drive.
In the beauty and lifestyle area, guests were able to enjoy the evening in a special way: whether in the styling bus from Langhaarmädchen, in the DB Networking Lounge or getting a tattoo in the DFLA tattoo studio – the event offered extraordinary experiences for the community.
Stage talk: Appeal for more dialog and cooperation
In the discussion that followed, Anıl Altıntaş (HeForShe ambassador) pointed out that many men already consider equality to have been achieved and sometimes even feel disadvantaged. “Anti-feminism can be a gateway for authoritarian attitudes,” warned Altıntaş and advocated actively talking to men about role models in order to break down prejudices.
Kerstin Wagner from Deutsche Bahn emphasized the potential of the German economy and the strength of the next generation: “We are doers and innovators.” Tijen Onaran concluded by appealing to the women to stay connected: “The worst thing for diversity is speechlessness.
An event that inspires and connects
DFLX24 2024 in Karlsruhe was more than just an event. It was an experience that not only brought women in the digital industry together, but also encouraged them to break new ground. Whether in workshops, at networking events or on the big stage – this event showed the strength and courage with which women are not only advancing the digital world. The importance of visibility and recognition should not be underestimated and DFLX24 has created exactly that: a platform for strong, committed women, which – according to Onaran – should be held again in Karlsruhe in the future. And then it will be expanded even further. So we can look forward to it.
