We were thrilled to welcome many members of the current 2024-25 NextGen cohort for our first Frankfurt Day as an official component of the annual NextGen program. The day agenda included a set of meetings to provide an exchange between representatives of transatlantic politics and business in the Rhine-Main area.
The morning was kicked off with a meeting at the U.S. Consulate General Frankfurt, providing an exclusive exchange with U.S. Consul General Brian Heath. Topics included an overall assessment of transatlantic relations, global dynamics, and the opportunities between the two countries to enforce a stronger relationship in the years to come, based on the strong cultural, economic and historical ties. U.S. Consul General Heath also highlighted the essential role young leaders play in bringing these dynamics to life and sustaining them.
At Procter & Gamble’s Innovation Center in Kronberg, together with AmCham Germany Regional Committee Co-Chair Gabriele Hässig, Managing Director Communications & Sustainability at Procter & Gamble, and Marcus Helling, HR Site Leader Kronberg , we heard about the company’s mission in the DACH region, such as their customer centric approach, and gained an inside look at cutting-edge advancements in the Powered Devices Labs and technological developments thanks to Robert Damaschke, Director R&D Global Devices/F&HC Devices at Procter & Gamble and one of our current NextGen participants.
We continued our session at Procter & Gamble with an engaging panel on intergenerational learning and collaboration and its potential to drive leadership forward. We explored how fostering leadership within teams — grounded in mutual trust and respect — can make the workplace more adaptable and innovative and strengthen a company’s impact and results. As part of this panel, we were thrilled to have Megan Deardorff as member of the NextGen Steering Committee and Thomas Henneberg, Head of Department, Strategic Partnerships, Regional Coordination & Events, representing AmCham Germany. Further panelists included Marcus Helling, Robert Damaschke, and Claudia Regojo Montero, Scientist at Procter & Gamble.
Our day concluded with an engaging Fireside Chat at Deutsche Bank featuringits economic and financial experts such as Gerlinde Siebert, Group Head of Governance, Markus Müller, Managing Director, Chief Investment Officer ESG Private Bank; and Kristian Snellman, IB Head of Transformation and COO Germany and Europe, and moderated by NextGen Alumna Shelley Cantrick, Vice President, Global ESG Change and Implementation. They shared perspectives on sustainability, governance, and strategic transformation in the banking industry, as well as future-oriented topics, such as the impact of AI. They also gave insights on their own career development, setting the stage for an insightful and cross-sectoral Q&A session.
We wrapped up with a networking reception at Deutsche Bank, exchanging ideas, building connections, and strengthening the NextGen community.
We are grateful to our hosts, our speakers, and all our participants for their support in organizing this NextGen Frankfurt Day with us and for their contributions in making this day a resounding success!
We look forward to welcoming our NextGens at the upcoming 18th Transatlantic Business Conference in November and to our upcoming Berlin Day in 2025.
