Back from Shanghai – Reflections on Scale, Image, and the Human-Machine Future
Just returned from Shanghai, where I served as Creative Director for a major live conference: 1,400 attendees onsite, over 50,000 joining via livestream. A project of striking scale—where scale itself became part of the story.
With more than 8 million impressions across digital channels, one insight stood out: image beats explanation. Visual storytelling is not just a tool—it’s the message. That message became physical during our visit to AgiBot, a robotics startup developing humanoid and service robots for real-world environments like supermarkets, homes, and eldercare. These machines aren’t concepts—they’re already adapting, learning, and engaging.
What was new—and striking—for me: for the first time, I rehearsed an executive appearance together with a humanoid robot. Not just a speech—but a shared moment of presence. A performance of proximity between human and machine.
Crafted Precision – On Working with an Outstanding Team in Shanghai
What made this project truly stand out was the outstanding local team. Their focus, clarity, and calm execution shaped every layer of the experience. You always sense the strength of a team by how seamlessly things run onsite—and this was world-class in the most grounded way.
Every process was sharp, smooth, and deliberate (from real-time photo uploads to instant cloud distribution for social media). But beyond logistics, what inspired me most was the team’s cultural fingerprint—the subtle ways their background shaped the creative flow.
It’s this blend of individuality and alignment with a global brand that gives such events their character. Their edge. Their identity. That’s how something becomes more than another event. That’s how it becomes its own.
Beside my role as Creative Director and Executive Coach, I was responsible for the rehearsals and dramaturgical arc of the event. This project explored what happens when technology, leadership, and storytelling converge at scale.
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