Support for Female Founders “Leadership Under Uncertainty”: hei_INNOVATION hosts workshop for EXIST Women scholarship holders
July 10, 2026
published by hei_INNOVATION
On June 30 and July 1, 2026, hei_INNOVATION, Heidelberg University's transfer agency, hosted the workshop “Leadership under Uncertainty” in the Idea Room. Organized as part of INSPIRE BW in cooperation with the agency TAKTgefühl, the workshop brought together scholarship holders from the exist Women program across the six INSPIRE BW Hubs. The aim of the two-day format was to make leadership and decision-making under uncertainty tangible on both a physical and emotional level.
The first day centered on working with Dr. Birgit Stelzer, who combines leadership development with a sense of rhythm (TAKTgefühl) and the experience of conducting a live orchestra. Through partner exercises, the participants explored the topics of presence, communication, and collaboration before working with an orchestra themselves—the Collegium Musicum of Heidelberg University, conducted by Michael Sekulla. The day concluded with reflection, and networking. On the second day, Christine Rittner from encourageventures e.V. applied the experiences from the previous day to the participants’ professional lives —with a focus on values, bold decisions, and personal development.
“Leadership comes from being present, from listening, and from the trust needed for others to reach their full potential,” says Dr. Birgit Stelzer, describing the essence of the workshop. For her, music and entrepreneurship are no longer separate worlds—both thrive on precisely these leadership qualities.
The direct interaction with the orchestra also left a lasting impression on the participants: one scholarship holder later described how closely conducting a live orchestra mirrors leading a team — both require presence, clear guidance, and trust. In this context, a single clear gesture can achieve more than a long explanation.
The workshop is part of hei_INNOVATION’s commitment to the six INSPIRE BW hubs, through which scholarship holders in the exist Women program are connected across universities and supported during their start-up phase. Special thanks go to the Collegium Musicum Heidelberg and conductor Michael Sekulla for their willingness to provide the participants with an orchestra, making it possible for them to experience an extraordinary approach to leadership under uncertainty.
