After Think Tank’s 10th anniversary, we continued into our 11th year, for the first time at a new location. This year’s motto: Mastering Extreme Situations: Three Perspectives, One Topic. Clients, partners and interested parties gathered to explore new ways of being, gleaning new impulses for their own daily leadership and life practices. The central question was: How do people deal with extreme situations, gaining strength from their challenges?
The event was launched by Jan Gellusch, police director of the Witten district in Bochum. His talk, Between Blue Lights and Emergency impressively illuminated the daily responsibility, quick thinking, and heavy workload of his profession. He described various patrol car operations, his leading role in the acid attack on a Bochum café in 2024 as well as during the flood catastrophe in Bad Münstereifel in 2021. Clearly, for police, extreme situations are everyday occurrences. In moments when decisions must be made quickly, with little information to go on, clear procedures, well-oiled teams and mutual trust are prerequisites. To remain effective under pressure, regular training and mental stability are indispensable.
After this intensive opening, guests used the first break to engage in lively talk, many seeking direct conversation with our speaker. A multifaceted buffet offered the optimal backdrop for networking and probing discussions.
Samuel Kutger, Think Tank’s second speaker, brought a completely different perspective. In his talk, Suing for the Right to Found a Business, he told his unusual story. At 13 years young, he went to court to gain the right to establish his own business. Today, at 18, he is COO of emsbo GmbH, responsible for 100 employees. The business produces photovoltaic facilities and wall boxes. Samuel’s business story began at the tender age of 11, when he received a popcorn machine for Christmas. He then sold popcorn at family celebrations, where he gathered valuable teachings about interacting with clients. He learned to assume responsibility and how business works. He spoke openly about his mistakes and his long allegiance to his own bubble. Reflecting back, he recognizes this time as an important experience and advised his listeners to consciously step outside their mindsets to gain new perspectives. He brought his approach down to four short words: Substance, instead of hype. Especially challenging was proving himself to his much older colleagues. He won their trust with his knowledge, clear decisions and willingness to keep learning.
Closer to Heaven than to Fear, was the stirring Think Tank finale offered by Marlon Jonat of Salzkotten. As hang-glider, YouTube contributor and Yoga teacher, Marlon loves all aspects of flying. He seeks updrafts in Israel and Africa, crosses the Alps and the USA and inspires many people with his impressive photos and glimpses into his daily life. Yet, over time, pressure was building up in him, thoughts of having failed to meet his goals plagued him. His awareness of what he had already achieved faded. And then came the moment that changed everything. He felt it wasn’t right but went ahead with the flight anyway. He crashed, falling 530 meters to the ground, incurring severe physical and mental injuries. Doctors told him that he may well have reached the end of his sports and yoga career, but he refused to believe it. His motto became: Stillstand is regression. Step by step, he fought his way back. He believes courage is not the absence of fear but confronting it. Today, he’s no longer attached to what he does, as long as it feels right.
In the end, we could see how varied exceptional situations could be. Whether first responders, in daily business life or hang-gliding in the heavens. Decisive is: clarity, self-confidence, team spirit and the willingness to assume responsibility.
With food for thought, intensive conversations and deeply inspired, the 11th Think tank came to a close. We are already looking forward to the next in 2027.
