Learn from the best: Κey Insights from the 2025 Summit of World Market Leaders

The motto of the Summit of World Market Leaders 2025, held earlier this week, was "Learn from the Best.". This incredible event brought together over 600 participants, featuring inspiring keynotes, thought-provoking panel discussions, hands-on masterclasses, exclusive C-level networking and closed events like the Senate of German Economy (Senat der Wirtschaft Deutschland) lunch.

Having earned its reputation as the "Davos of the German SME Sector", the Summit continues to be the ultimate gathering for current and aspiring global market leaders, consultants, and political decision-makers. It is also an opportunity for the hidden champions of German medium-sized businesses to connect and learn what it takes to reach and sustain global market leadership.

This year was extra special, marking the 15th anniversary of the Summit. It gave us a chance to dive deep into some of the most pressing topics: geopolitics, market disruptions, Germany's role in the world, competitiveness, transformation as an opportunity, sustainability, innovation and technological openness. There was a lot to take in; however, the energy remained vibrant the whole time.

This Summit could not have come at a better time. It was the perfect opportunity to reflect on where we stand as a country, exchange perspectives with top political and industry leaders, as well as connect with the brilliant minds behind Germany's "hidden" champions. The conversations and insights we shared during these two days will shape the future of business in the intelligent era.

Summarizing two days of incredible discussions is tough, but here are a few standout moments:

• Cem ?zdemir , Federal Minister of Food and Agriculture and Federal Minister of Education and Research, opened with a powerful speech on the need to move beyond individual party agendas and build a unified national strategy to tackle geopolitical challenges.
• Nicola Leibinger-Kammüller, Chairman of the Executive Board – TRUMPF SE + Co. KG, elaborated on the "new realism" approach, emphasizing the urgency of safeguarding democracy and restoring a culture of hard work.
• Friedrich Merz Chancellor candidate and leader of the Christian Democrats (CDU), made a compelling case for economic recovery through Germany's traditional strengths and greater support for entrepreneurs.
• Marie-Christine Ostermann , President of Family Businesses in Germany/ DIE FAMILIENUNTERNEHMER , a strong community that represents the economic and political interests of 180,000 family businesses from all sectors and company sizes, gave a strong speech shedding light on what needs to be done, presenting a ten-point plan on how Germany can become competitive again.

We also attended a fascinating discussion on the role of media and the need to accurately portray reality, the challenge of staying neutral and their responsibility to maintain a constructive, rather than divisive, narrative.

One of the biggest takeaways: Instead of getting lost in uncertainty, we should focus on what needs to be done. That means embedding geopolitics as a key discipline in businesses and shifting the mindset toward flexible, mixed strategies rather than rigid, single-solution approaches. We should also review risk management and work on different case scenarios to help us navigate today's world's uncharted waters.

On a more personal note, I had the chance to meet so many amazing partners and clients. A highlight was the closed-session lunch with fellow Senate of German Economy members, where Yiyang Huang, Consul General of the People's Republic of China in Frankfurt am Main, delivered a keynote. He also extended an invitation for a business trip to China; an opportunity I am definitely excited about.

A huge shoutout to the organizers for putting together such an inspiring and well-structured event. These two days were filled with powerful discussions, fresh ideas, and meaningful networking opportunities. A special thanks to Dr. Ladislava Klein Dr. Mirjam Ringer and Dr. Hubert Staudt for the insightful discussions and valuable time during the forum, as well as to Gebrüder Dorfner GmbH & Co. Kaolin- und Kristallquarzsand-Werke KG CFO, Monika Timm for joining this year's #WFMGipfel and representing our company.

Finally, it was a privilege to hear from Walter D?ring , former Minister of Economic Affairs of Baden-Württemberg and the mastermind behind the Summit of World Market Leaders, who has transformed it over the course of fifteen years into an "unmissable" event.

And of course, I must not forget to mention Prof. Dr. h.c. mult. Reinhold Würth, Honorary Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the Würth Group 's Foundations. His speech was nothing short of inspiring as he reflected on his 75-year career and the lessons he learned from his father, whose guiding principle "Quality beats price" has been his lifelong business philosophy.

Ending on a high note, the Würth Philharmonic Orchestra delivered a great performance, reminding us that success is not just about achieving. It is about giving back.

I am certain that Germany has both the skillset and events like this to cultivate and strengthen the right mindset to navigate the challenges of today's intelligent era in a democratic environment that offers endless possibilities to thrive. But it's up to each of us to do our part.

Looking forward to next year's summit already.

Photo Credits: Foto Vogt GmbH