Keynote

Only 13% of employees in Europe feel engaged or motivated at their workplace.¹ At the same time, research suggests that increasing engagement can reduce the likelihood of resignation by up to 87%.^{2, 3} So the task seems clear: increase motivation and engagement in the workplace. But how do you actually do that?

The answer may come from an unexpected place: mathematics. Yes, really. As a school subject, math may be the most unpopular of them all. And yet, somehow, research mathematicians are among the most passionate people you’ll ever meet. Bertrand Russell captures it almost spiritually as “Mathematics, rightly viewed, possesses not only truth but supreme beauty.” (The Study of Mathematics, 1902), and Godfrey H. Hardy writes “Beauty is the first test: there is no permanent place in the world for ugly mathematics.” (A Mathematician’s Apology ch. 10, 1940)

It turns out, the same mindset that makes mathematicians love what most people dread is also the foundation of a motivated, engaged professional life: staying curious above all else, getting over your own ego, and reframing what success means so that dead ends become stepping stones rather than failures.

In her keynote “What if math could help you find your dreams?”, Dr. Judith Zeilinger draws on her life as a research mathematician to translate these lessons into 3 clear, actionable steps that anyone can apply. No math required (she promises).

Coming September 2026: “Let your innovation pour” is a keynote and hands-on workshop in cooperation with Paint By Motors diving into how innovation actually comes about, and how you can unleash your potential to innovate.