Bertelsmann SE & Co. KGaA

With this year's "Talent Meets Bertelsmann" (TMB) event, Bertelsmann has once again created a platform for young talents looking for a stepping stone for their professional future. Around 50 top students from all over Europe came together for this year's anniversary event at the company's representative office at Unter den Linden. But what makes this event so special?

The three-day event, hosted by Vox presenter Amiaz Habtu, offered a multifaceted insight into the world of Bertelsmann. It featured discussions with high-ranking executives, workshops on developing business models with a focus on new technologies and data, as well as various networking opportunities. Participant Leonie enthused: " I didn't know anything about Bertelsmann before TMB and was very impressed by the company’s versatility. At the event itself, I was particularly impressed by the excellent organization and the focus on sustainability, both in terms of the food and the goodies.”

And the winner is ...

Six workshops were held to develop ideas on topics such as Personality Rights, Circular Economy, Generative AI, Sustainability, Digital Retail and Web 3. On the second day, the students presented the results of their intensive work to a jury of Bertelsmann executives.

The "Sustainability" team stood out with an impressive concept for optimizing Penguin Random House's supply chains, which could lead to significant CO₂ savings. They were awarded first place for their outstanding work: a five-day trip to Barcelona with exclusive insights into Penguin Random House Grupo Editorial, BMG and Fremantle. The program also included networking opportunities and various entertainment elements.

The "Circular Economy" team, which explored new approaches to the trade of used luxury goods, and the "Digital Retail" team, which explored the revitalization of local retail through digital solutions, came in second and third place. These teams also enjoyed exciting trips to other Bertelsmann locations. This year, the groups spent several days in Amsterdam, Cologne and Gütersloh.

For the first time this year, a team won the Community Award: The audience, either live on-site or via online streaming, was able to vote on which team used new AI technologies in the most creative way. Team Web 3 came out on top, winning a package of online learning opportunities from Udacity and Coursera.

Olga Ongsiek, who participated in the event as a coach and accompanied the trip to Barcelona, said: "I was thrilled by the high level of presentations – the three days in Berlin were exciting and very inspiring. I always enjoy meeting new young and motivated talents and staying in touch with them afterward.”

Participant Leonie also went to the trip to Barcelona: "As the winning team, we were able to spend wonderful days in Barcelona, with tapas, the beach and architecture. The tour of a Penguin Random House warehouse and the smell of thousands of freshly printed books was also very interesting. TMB and the subsequent winners' trip were an incredible experience, and I'm already looking forward to many more alumni meetings to gain even more exciting insights into Bertelsmann!"

For impressions of the event in Berlin, check out this "Best of TMB" video. This year's TMB will take place from 24th to 26th June 2024 in Berlin. If you would like to be part of TMB, feel free to sign up for our reminder to make sure to not miss the application period for Talent Meets Bertelsmann 2024: www.talentmeetsbertelsmann.com