Holding Space for Fresh Ideas

SpinLab, the innovative startup accelerator venue in Leipzig was the perfect venue for the event. The space is buzzing with innovation and warm energy—perfect for open conversations and developing fresh ideas.
From the very start, attendees got involved in discussions about the latest tech innovations in HR—particularly AI—and tackled challenges like compliance. But we didn’t just skim the surface of these topics. We got real about what’s working and what isn’t in our industry.
It wasn’t just another conference where people exchanged polite nods and business cards. This was about global people collaboration for real change.

Highlights from the main event

Event organisers Daniel Zinner and James Parsons opened the event by sharing their stories and how they came up with the idea that became the International HR Tech Conference. A special mention goes to James, whose proactive and hands-on involvement throughout the planning process played a pivotal role in bringing the conference to life.

Then the event officially kicked off with a passionate keynote from Florian Arndt. As a tech-savvy, Gen Z entrepreneur, he provided us with some great insights into the future of HR tech and how we can utilise AI in our processes. He challenged us to rethink traditional approaches to global mobility, emphasising the importance of adaptability and innovation.

Panels

Our panel sessions were buzzing with expert insights and deep ideas that gave us a clearer picture of how organisations are embracing technology to improve their global mobility strategies. Each session highlighted critical aspects of HR transformation, talent shortages, and international HR administration.

The HR Transformation panel with Daniel Zinner, Michali Henig and Timur Linde delved into how digitalisation and automation are reshaping the HR landscape. Panellists discussed tools that help them streamline decision-making, optimise processes, and prepare organisations for the future of work. One notable example was how Deutsche Bahn (DB) has developed tools and approaches to integrate foreign talent, representing, on a small scale, the broader mindset of innovation in Germany. The consensus? The transformation of HR is not just about technology but about creating a strategic advantage that enhances human capital.

On the same topic, we at PMA are currently helping to reshape the HR landscape through our Global People Collaboration Index. We want to better understand how global people collaboration is being implemented in companies, especially within global mobility departments. Your input will help us identify opportunities to improve collaboration and, in turn, drive business performance.

In the Talent Shortages and International Hiring panel, Dr. Susan Gritzka, Simon Wieland and Alla Belikova tackled global recruitment challenges head-on. They explored the widening skills gap and how technology, innovative hiring practices, and global strategies are filling those gaps. Real-world examples demonstrated how companies are successfully tapping into new talent pools, diversifying their workforces, and future-proofing against ongoing talent shortages.

The final panel on Global HR Administration with Michael Lazik, Kerstin Wollert-Risch and Dr. Julia-Sophie Ezinger provided critical insights into the complexities of managing HR functions across borders. From payroll systems to compliance management, attendees learned about the innovative solutions that help globalise HR processes efficiently. The discussions around automation in administrative tasks provided practical takeaways for organisations looking to reduce operational overhead.

Workshops

The interactive workshops held throughout the day gave hands-on strategies for tackling pressing global mobility problems. Participants engaged in brainstorming sessions to devise creative, actionable solutions that could be implemented immediately.

Our first workshop, led by Inga Höltmann, focused on aligning organisational transformation with business goals. It was an interactive session filled with practical insights on how to manage change effectively while maintaining a culture of innovation. Inga offered real-world strategies for transformation, offering guidance on adapting to change while keeping the team motivated.

At the same time, James Parsons explored the topic of language assessments in global hiring. Using the Pipplet tool from ETS as an example, James showed what technology can do to ensure accurate language evaluations for international roles that helps improve talent placement and reduces the risk of mismatches in global teams.

Patrick Westphal’s Global Payroll workshop offered a deep dive into the complex world of cross-border payroll management. He discussed real-life strategies for managing currency fluctuations, tax regulations, and employee benefits across jurisdictions, with a clear focus on streamlining payroll processes for better compliance and accuracy.

Dr. Julia-Sophie Ezinger led her workshop on Trends at Work, where we explored the emerging trends shaping the future of work. Remote and hybrid work models were central to the discussion, with a focus on how organisations can adapt to these trends to stay competitive in a rapidly evolving global workforce.

In workshop number five of the day, Achim Heuser addressed the intricacies of Immigration Law (FEG) and its growing impact on global mobility. Participants walked away with a better understanding of the latest legal developments and how to navigate immigration regulations to ensure smooth employee transitions.

Finally, Elia García Cañabate led the final workshop about Employee Integration. She delved into strategies for integrating expatriates into new cultural and corporate environments, and the importance of designing support programs to ensure employee well-being, productivity, and retention during international assignments.

People Tech Award

We also introduced something brand new just for the event — the International People Tech Awards. Developed by event organiser James Parsons and sponsored by Strickwerk IT, the awards gave rising stars in HR tech a chance to share their innovative solutions to today’s biggest challenges.

Congratulations once again to Anika Schmidt of FreeMOM and Daniel Hong of Area9 Lyceum who claimed the audience and jury prizes for their standout ideas!

Conversations with Purpose

As we walked around the event throughout the day, we couldn’t help but feel a surge of pride. We created an environment that allowed for passionate discussions—not just complaints about what’s wrong in our industry, but brainstorming real solutions to those problems.
The buzz of collaboration was everywhere and people connected on a whole new level.

It wasn’t just handshakes and exchanging business cards. Partnerships were born, ideas were validated and the seeds of future projects were planted.
#MissionPossible became a reality.

Leaving Inspired and Ready to Take Action

Post-event, the feedback we have received has been overwhelmingly positive. Attendees left feeling informed but also energised and inspired.
From the keynote to panels to impromptu hallway conversations, everyone took something valuable away from the experience.
Our mission wasn’t just to provide knowledge but to inspire action. And we couldn’t be more excited to see where these conversations will lead.

Looking Ahead: This Is Just the Beginning

The excitement doesn’t end here. We’re already gearing up for our next steps and starting to plan for next year’s event, which will be bigger and better than ever!
We also want to acknowledge the constructive feedback we received, particularly regarding the need for more English-language content. Given the international nature of HR and people mobility, we understand the importance of making our discussions accessible to a global audience. Rest assured, we’re committed to offering more English content in the future to ensure everyone can fully engage with the conversations and insights.
The future of international HR and global mobility is bright. We can’t wait to see what comes next!
We want to extend a big thank you to all of our sponsors and contributors for making the first International HR Tech Conference a huge success!