Lessons from the Edge

Hochschule Heilbronn | TV0.50, Building T / No. 14, Bildungscampus | ,

How Timor-Leste, the Ocean and Extraordinary Experiences Shaped BOLDER

An insightful evening on the topic of leadership to mark the publication of BOLDER, featuring the author Birgit Hermann

What can one of the world's youngest nations, the ocean and the edge of human potential teach us about leadership?

Leadership advisor, speaker and author Birgit Hermann shares insights from more than two decades of work in humanitarian response, ocean conservation and international development. Drawing on professional experience as well as personal challenges such as crossing the Sahara on foot and cycling across Africa, she reflects on leadership, resilience and collaboration in complex and uncertain environments.

From Timor-Leste to Antarctica, from freediving beneath the ocean to the Presidential Palace in Dili where her leadership book BOLDER was launched by Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and President José Ramos-Horta, Birgit shares stories from the edge of possibility. Through them, she explores how courage, resilience and collective leadership are forged in uncertainty, and why these lessons matter today more than ever.

Originally from Heilbronn and now based between Timor-Leste, New Zealand and Germany, Hermann returns to her hometown to provide insights into the experiences that shaped BOLDER and the leadership framework developed across cultures, continents and some of the world's most challenging environments.

The evening concludes with an interactive Q&A and an opportunity to meet the author.

Why BOLDER

The world doesn't need louder leaders.
It needs leaders who can stay calm in uncertainty, inspire trust under pressure, and mobilise people towards something bigger than themselves.

Drawing on experiences from global boardrooms to remote communities, from freediving beneath the ocean to running across the Sahara Desert, BOLDER offers practical tools and powerful stories to help you lead with greater confidence, presence and purpose.

Because bold leadership isn't about having all the answers but about having the courage to take the next step.

What you'll discover
Inside BOLDER, you'll learn how to:
• Make better decisions when the path ahead isn't clear.
• Build teams that take ownership instead of waiting for permission.
• Communicate with confidence and authenticity.
• Navigate change without burning out yourself or your team.
• Turn uncertainty into opportunity.
• Lead with courage, clarity and lasting impact.

https://www.birgithermann.com/bolder.html

Birgit Hermann

Hi, I'm Birgit.

I help purpose-driven leaders and organisations navigate complexity, inspire change, and build sustainable impact.

Over the past two decades, I've worked across more than 20 countries, supporting leaders through transformation, crisis, and culture change.

From international development, peacebuilding and ocean conservation to the Sahara Desert and the depths of the ocean, my work has taught me that leadership asks for more than competence.

It asks for courage, presence, resilience, and the ability to stay grounded when the stakes are high.

That's the mindset and capacity I help build.

Bold impact starts in the mind.