Futuretalk 2023 took place on October 3 and 4, bringing together leading experts and personalities from all over Austria to discuss the motto "Re-Think the World of Work". This two-day event developed into a lively forum in which the future of the world of work was discussed in depth. This year's event was once again moderated by Doz. Dr. Andreas J. Obrecht, Ö1 presenter of the live program Punkt Eins.
The first day began with a welcome from the association's president - Prim. Dr. Josef F. Macher, who introduced the speakers, gave a first insight into the topic and why it is so topical today. Experts such as Doz. Dr. Eva Straus, Department of Work, Economy and Social Psychology , spoke about supporting staff in times of crisis and the consequences of digitalization. Dr. Christina Hainzl from the University for Continuing Education Krems addressed the transformation of society and how this affects the world of work. Renowned filmmaker Erwin Wagenhofer spoke about the relationship between people and their environment, using the example of his well-known films. Dr. Markus Horneber, CEO of AGAPLESION gAG, highlighted the importance of corporate culture. Topics such as education, migration, appreciation and consumer society continued to shape the day.
On the second day, Dr. Nils Kruse, ESG Manager at Samsung, gave a keynote speech on the shortage of skilled workers, emphasized the importance of social responsibility and sustainability and recommended how to prevent greenwashing. Furthermore, Prof. Dr. Andrea Hüttmann, Vice President of accadis University Bad Homburg, introduced the different generations in the labor market and spoke about the needs and motivations that drive the four generations. The conclusion: Generations - a must and a challenge for employers. Andrea Bertl discussed the introduction of the 4-day week, which is already a reality at her company epunkt. She also mentioned the unrestricted home office options and the authenticity of the corporate culture as a means of motivating employees and increasing their productivity. AI and digitalization were also discussed as important "players" in the world of work. Arno Reisenbüchler, Creative Director at AANDRS, mentioned the use of AI tools to improve meeting efficiency and the special interior design in the AANDRS office in the middle of the 8th district, while Sonja Widerin, Head of Organizational Development at Gebrüder Weiss, spoke about digitalization and AI in her company with a 500-year history.
One of the highlights of the event was the active involvement of the audience in the discussions, which generated various ideas on the future of the world of work. The Futuretalk 2023 agenda reflected the diverse topics that shape the world of work today. From sustainable practices to digitalization, from educational opportunities to fundamental values, from co-existence of the four generations to flexibility in everyday working life - each discussion gave an insight into the challenges and opportunities that the world of work faces every day.
Finally, we would like to thank our sponsors who contributed to the success of the event: Humanomed IT Solutions GmbH, PharmGenetix GmbH, 4voice AG, Nuance Communications, Georg Thieme Verlag AG, Paco Medienwerkstatt and K-Businesscom AG.
We would also like to thank all the guests and participants whose commitment madethis inspiring forum for discussions about the future of the world of work possible. We are eagerly awaiting Futuretalk 2024!
Further impressions and photos of the event can be found here: That was the VPKA Futuretalk 2023.
