Transcultural Perspectives on Transformations
In 2025, Transcultural Caravan Network (TCN) and the Bodensee Innovation Cluster (BIC) invite you to a dynamic hybrid event exploring the intersections of digital, social, and cultural transformations and transitions. Designed for practitioners and students from our networks, this gathering connects diverse perspectives and expertise.
This event will take place on 13 and 14 November 2025, with local events at Zeppelin University, HFU Business School (Furtwangen/Schwenningen), University of Pretoria, and other partners of the TCN and BIC.
As transformations accelerate, the upcoming years will demand innovative approaches to business models, leadership, organizational strategies, and collaboration across various stakeholders. New technologies, such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML), are transforming industries, while changes in how we work, including “new work” trends, are challenging traditional leadership, management, and teamwork models. These changes call for companies not only to adapt but to harness these transitions productively.
The two-day event is designed to explore exactly these shifts. On Thursday, internal formats will be developed that focus exclusively on students of Zeppelin University, fostering early-stage ideas and dialogue in a more intimate setting. The main event will take place on Friday in a hybrid format, bringing together international partners and participants from various fields.
A central element of the event will be the World Café on Friday, an interactive group process centered around transformational questions. As a unique and transculturally adapted format, the World Café invites participants from diverse backgrounds to engage in meaningful dialogue and collaborative reflection. Designed to facilitate open exchange, it offers a space to explore complex challenges and co-create ideas across cultures and disciplines.
In addition, the event features a panel discussion with approximately four distinguished speakers from different professional sectors who will share their insights on current transformation dynamics. A series of impulse talks—short, ten-minute “impressions”—will further inspire attendees with fresh perspectives and provocative questions.
The event offers a unique platform to explore these transformations and transitions through a transcultural lens, bringing together best practices and insights from countries including Germany, Brazil, South Africa, Vietnam, Poland, and others. By bringing together the expertise of the BIC and TC networks, we want explore these digital and social transformations. With a focus on transcultural understanding, the event highlights how diverse perspectives can foster meaningful solutions and nourish an optimistic outlook on future challenges.
Connecting the BIC and TCN networks for a unique learning opportunity
The idea for the foundation of the Bodensee Innovation Cluster lies in the fundamental conviction that the Lake Constance region as one of the most innovative technology regions in Europe has extensive explicit as well as implicit knowledge about the framework conditions, consequences and above all opportunities in the context of the digital transformation in the economy and industry Company. Against this background, the Leadership Excellence Institute Zeppelin (LEIZ) is pursuing the goal of promoting the future viability of highly industrialized and highly innovative locations such as the Lake Constance region by setting up the BIC. The Transcultural Caravan Network is an alliance of universities from different countries around the world that share the goal of facilitating international and interdisciplinary research projects and transcultural learning experiences for students, educators, and practitioners. It is organized by the Leadership Excellence Institute Zeppelin (LEIZ) at Zeppelin University, with support from the Baden-Württemberg-STIPENDIUM program. The network emphasizes and strengthens transcultural leadership, encouraging participants to explore global challenges through interdisciplinary projects, events, and cooperation across cultural boundaries.
The BIC and TCN share the ambition to connect people from diverse backgrounds and develop formats for mutual exchange and learning. Both networks bring complementary strengths to this unique event by combining insights on transcultural leadership with innovation-oriented expertise. Together, we look forward to hosting this unique event.
Be part of this unique exchange and expand your understanding of transformations through a transcultural lens!