Yoko Ono, Mark Zuckerberg, and Ursula von der Leyen — the international conference and innovation platform Digital Life Design (DLD) boasts big names. This is likely due in part to its co-founder and managing director, Steffi Czerny, who has a strong network of contacts that has enabled her to attract well-known speakers for the DLD events in Munich, New York, Tel Aviv, Brussels, and Singapore for years. In this interview, we wanted to know how DLD came about, how she assesses Munich as a center of innovation, and whether she's optimistic about the future, despite global crises.
Munich Startup: Ms. Czerny, you co-founded DLD—short for Digital, Life, Design—in 2005. Can you briefly explain what has already happened within the framework of this conference and innovation platform?
Steffi Czerny: Originally DLD a small, intimate gathering of friends, and we are naturally proud of what it has become. Today, DLD stands for Europe's leading innovation conference, attended by visionaries from all over the world. Founders such as Mark Zuckerberg (Facebook), Jan Koum (WhatsApp) and Kevin Systrom (Instagram) took to the stage at DLD long before they became some of the world's most successful entrepreneurs. Our goal is to spark conversations that transcend boundaries and to work together to find answers to the most challenging questions posed by digital transformation. From a single event, DLD has grown into a series of conferences and events taking place in locations including Munich, New York, Tel Aviv, Brussels and Singapore. Among the speakers we have welcomed over the years have been Norman Foster, Arianna Huffington, Tony Fadell, Satya Nadella, Lady Gaga, Sheryl Sandberg, Jack Dorsey, Alanis Morissette, Ai Wei Wei and many others.
Munich Startup: In January the DLD Conference takes place again in MunichSpeakers include European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Evan Spiegel, founder and CEO of Snap. The conference's theme is "What are you adding?" What exactly can participants expect?
Steffi Czerny: The digitalized, globalized world offers us great opportunities, but it also presents us with enormous challenges. I am convinced that each of us has the opportunity to actively contribute—in business, through social, academic, or political engagement, but also in our personal lives. With this year's motto, "What are you adding?", we want to stimulate the now-necessary international discourse with outstanding role models of our time. This is not only about interdisciplinary exchange, but also about best-practice examples and solutions, which we will present on stage.
Great interest in better understanding the changes in the world
Participants can expect exciting talks and discussions from leading politicians and business leaders, tech pioneers and investors, but also environmental activists and artists, who, as seismographs of our time, are an important part of the DLD program In addition to artificial intelligence and robotics, leadership and politics, we will explore climate change and sustainable consumption, art and creativity, and the new journey into space.
Munich Startup: You yourself are a journalist and currently Managing Director of DLD Media GmbH. How exactly did your strong affinity for digital topics develop? And did you have to do a lot of convincing to create a future conference like DLD 2005?
Steffi Czerny: I would describe myself as more curious than particularly tech-savvy, with a keen interest in better understanding the changes in our world. This curiosity brought me to the USA in the 1990s on behalf of Hubert Burda to investigate an innovation called the internet in more detail. It quickly became clear to me that the internet would transform every aspect of our lives. My interest in better understanding this change so that I could respond to it positively was piqued. Hubert Burda, the Israeli investor Yossi Vardi, and I founded DLD together because we were convinced that an innovation conference was needed that would find answers to the most important questions of digitalization. I didn't have to do much convincing to do this—in fact, Hubert Burda inspired and supported me in creating this platform from the very beginning!
Munich Startup: Would you say you've had to assert yourself as a woman in a digital industry that's still male-dominated? And are there any women who have particularly impressed you in this regard?
Steffi Czerny: As a woman, I've never felt discriminated against or undervalued. Perhaps men in particular underestimated me a bit at first, but I see this as an advantage, as I was able to approach people very boldly and directly without being held against me. Over the course of my career, I've met many amazing women who continue to support and inspire me. My mother, who raised me single-handedly and moved through life with a great deal of vigor and determination, was certainly a particularly influential figure for me. She never held back my fearlessness and desire for freedom to conquer the world myself, and for that I'm very grateful!
Munich doesn’t have to hide, just connect better
Munich Startup: DLD has its roots in Munich. When it comes to innovation and future technologies, how strong do you rate the Bavarian capital compared to national and international competitors? Where do you see room for improvement?
Steffi Czerny: Munich is home to excellent startups and tech companies that are exploring future-oriented topics and working on innovations that will change the world. Munich is no slouch, both nationally—for example, with Berlin—and internationally!
However, I would like to see startups and big players, investors and universities in Munich network even better and work more closely together to further strengthen the city's innovative power. With our DLD events, we want to promote this networking and continually provide new impetus.
Munich Startup: Startups play a key role when it comes to solving major future challenges. Is there a Munich startup that has made a lasting impression on you? If so, which one and why?
Steffi Czerny: I am impressed Konux very much with its founder Andreas Kunze, who is extremely well connected.
Munich Startup: Your focus at DLD is always forward-looking. Despite the digital revolution, the climate crisis, and difficult political conditions worldwide, do you have a positive outlook on the future?
Steffi Czerny: There's no denying that we're facing major changes that will transform every area of our lives at a rapid pace. But there's no point in burying our heads in the sand and hoping it will all be over someday! Only if we see change as an opportunity can we approach it positively. Only if we better understand digitalization will it no longer frighten us. And only if we get involved ourselves—politically, socially, or in the field of science—can we actively shape the world of tomorrow.
Munich Start: Thank you, Ms. Czerny, for the interview.
