“A lot of what you wanted, and even more of what you didn’t expect!” Starting a new life in a foreign country is a significant challenge also when it comes to one’s own research and education. This workshop provides you with crucial support to mitigate the inevitable cultural shocks involved with starting a new professional and personal life by giving you tips on how to manage bureaucracy, administration and a new academic environment. The workshop helps you make the most of the opportunities that Germany has to offer. And it provides you with some tips on how to make the most of intercultural diversity for your personal and academic future.

Presenters are comfortable using a standard talk structure and want to try something new. Talks rarely vary from the known to the unknown in a compelling way and they want to lead the audience forward to a memorable conclusion. The workshop introduces unique ways of positioning your topic and structuring content by exploring and presenting in a variety of story formats. Central characters, motivation, storyline, action, dramatic tension, transitions and a satisfying conclusion are aspects of the playful investigation. Presentations are developed, practiced and presented with coaching and feedback.

„Wow, that presenter is so good in front of an audience. If only that were easier for me!“ Being at the center of attention is not everyone’s cup of tea. But having the talent and know-how is often a question of developing a set of skills and techniques. The use of voice and body language, an effective presentation structure and the dynamic use of language isn’t as easy as it seems, even if it appears that way. The workshop helps to identify and explore these requirements, from self-reflection to self-assurance and long-term excellence.

“How to network to advance my professional prospects?” Participants practice for specific academic contexts (in particular team meetings, international conferences and office small talk) to develop strategies to come into contact with senior scientists. Throughout the workshop, participants will be guided through interactive exercises to improve their body language, their self-marketing skills (pitching) and their long-term strategic networking competences. A healthy mix of theory and practice provides them with the opportunity to learn how to approach, engage and build up a relationship with key professional figures so as to become both more visible and influential in one’s own academic field across boundaries and cultures.