Skills shortages and untapped potential in the labor market are increasingly reinforcing each other. In an ageing society with growing care demands, it is becoming clear that companies need new approaches to recruiting and work organization.
The event “Careers Open: Closing the Gaps!” will highlight where valuable potential is currently being lost – and how companies can actively unlock it. The focus will be on:
- Female Careers & Potential – rethinking career paths instead of ignoring real-life circumstances
- Flexible Working Models – productivity beyond traditional full-time and on-site structures
- Female AI Leadership – not only using technology, but actively shaping it
The discussion will explore how underrepresented groups can be better integrated into the labor market – for example through improved work-life balance, higher female workforce participation, or new approaches to recruitment processes. At the same time, the event will showcase opportunities for companies, including more precise hiring, stronger employee retention, and sustainable competitive advantages in recruiting.
The keynote speaker will be Virginia Thrun, founder of Mom Hunting and Ocean’s Million – platforms for innovative recruiting and career models. Her guiding principle: “The future of recruiting begins where companies start taking people’s realities seriously.”
Take the opportunity to exchange ideas and discuss how the labor market can be made fit for the future.
Location: Torhaus at Museum der Arbeit, Hamburg
Date: Wednesday, May 20, 2026
Time: 6:00–7:30 PM
Agenda
6:00 PM – Welcome & Introduction
6:05 PM – Keynote: “Closing the Gaps!” – Closing Gaps in the Labor Market
6:45 PM – Open Discussion
7:00 PM – Networking