CONFERENCE

It is often better to ask questions than to have answers ready. How does a conversation actually work? Who speaks and who doesn't? When is there a response, and what does it really mean? How does an event work? How is a process designed? What kind of dramaturgy is expected? What milestones are set? How does an audience function? What is the role of a host? What are the expectations of the participants? How far should one convey visionary ideas on a meta-level or dive deep into content?

I have rarely experienced such a transformative and inspiring workweek as this one in Seoul, immersed in a culture that equally inhales and connects tradition and modernity. It is a beautiful experience to have everything that has been traditionally taught and that one tries to pass on questioned, only to realize how much of it is socialized within our cultural sphere and how little of it is inherently given. This was once again an absolutely inspiring experience, showcasing what a collaboration between different cultures can fuel and for me personally, it provided a new blueprint for future work.

After seeing a visually powerful exhibition by Ron Mueck at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, I made my way to the historic Changdeokgung Palace in Seoul – a place of serene beauty and layered history. There, I stumbled upon the Jeongdeokjeong Pavilion, a royal retreat from 1798. On the back lintel, a message from King Jeongjo, reflecting his lifelong effort to reinforce royal authority, reads:

“All streams of the world have moons reflected on them,
but there is only one moon in the sky.
The moon in the sky is me, the king,
and the streams are you, my subjects.
It is the principle of the universe that the streams follow the moon.”

Now that’s a keynote! ;) Poetic. Clear. Unquestioned. These days, we’d likely reframe it into a more participatory message. Add some inclusive language, a team slide – and maybe a metaphor with less gravitational hierarchy. But I have to admit: the power of this imagery stays with you. It’s a reminder that great communication doesn’t just explain – it evokes. It dares to lead with symbols. Different system, different century, different intentions, different rules. But a stage, a message, and the desire to move people - still familiar.