Transatlantic Webinar Series: Leading Through Crises
Webinar Series for German-American Business
The global impact of COVID-19 made it clear that various production and logistics processes are susceptible to unforeseen levels of disruption. In this series of free, monthly webinars and online workshops, we analyzed the consequences COVID-19 had on various key industries for German-American business. We explored the responses German and American companies took to navigate and circumvent the economic hardships imposed by the pandemic.
This series targeted executives and representatives on both sides of the Atlantic involved in:
- private business
- industry associations
- economic development organizations
- political administrations
The events in this series initiated an exchange of knowledge, ideas, and experiences related to current developments, as well as industry-specific topics. They encouraged transatlantic dialogue to discover solutions to the threats caused by the pandemic.
Past Programs
February
Digitalization of Sales Models in Crisis
We discussed the shift to the digitalization of sales in light of the travel restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants learned how companies on both sides of the Atlantic reacted and listened to the effective strategies that have been adopted in this new digitalized era.
March
Supply Chain Shocks
We discussed the disruptions in supply chains due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants learned how players along the supply chain responded, and listened to the effective strategies that have been adopted to create more resilient supply chain processes.
April
De-Urbanization from COVID 19 - The Migration from Cities
We discussed the urban exodus away from expensive, locked-down metropolitan areas around the world. Participants learned what this means for business owners, how industries adapted to less city-centric customer bases, and if this trend would continue.
May
Crisis Management - Economic Responses in Germany and the US.
We discussed the different employment and social policy responses made by both US and German government institutions. Participants learned about how the US has learned from and adopted Germany’s Kurzarbeit model in times of crisis.
June
Startups during Crisis: Disruption Leads to Opportunity for Innovation
We discussed how innovators and thought leaders of tomorrow were seizing opportunities to reinvent the way economies live, work and operate in a pandemic world. Participants learned about how the startup response in the US and Germany differ.
July
Business Model Innovation - Leisure & Hospitality Industry
We discussed how the business models for the leisure and hospitality industry shifted to match pent-up consumer demand, while also keeping citizens safe. Participants learned about what the future of hospitality, tourism, and leisure activities would look like post-pandemic.
September
The Acceleration of E-Commerce from COVID-19: Will this trend continue?
We discussed how the pandemic has accelerated the rise of e-commerce and what this means for the future of sales post-pandemic.
October
COVID-19's Environmental Effects & The Transatlantic Fight Against Climate Change
We learned how the pandemic impacted the environment and brought about new initiatives to combat climate change. We discussed how Germany and the US are investing in new technologies and policies to lead global efforts to fight climate change.
November
The COVID-19 Vaccine Development and the Future of Biopharma Collaboration
We discussed the future of partnerships within the biopharma industry, and how they can lead to drastic changes in the healthcare worldwide.
January
Employment Market Disruption and the Post-Pandemic Workforce
We discussed the effects of the COVID-19 Crisis on the labor market, from changes in labor supply to the restructuring of work processes and compensation frameworks.
Transatlantic Leading Through Crises Summit: Forging the Path for 2022
On March 24th, 2022 we had the final event of our series in person at our office in downtown Chicago. We have invited back past speakers to share further insights on e-commerce, supply chain management, workforce disruption, and more. Furthermore, we release a special industry publication summarizing the key takeaways from our webinars and workshops.
Mission of this Series
Given the importance of the US market for German goods, a new approach to reviving transatlantic trade was urgently needed. Through intensive exchange with US and German professionals, both sides of the Atlantic learned from each other to better respond to the serious challenges for international trade caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and found solutions together. This German American Webinar Series was aimed at helping both nations grow closer together economically, politically, and socially as we looked toward economic recovery.
The project was supported by the Transatlantic Program of the Federal Republic of Germany, funded by the European Recovery Program (ERP) of the Federal Ministry of Economics and Energy (BMWi).
Read what previous participants have had to say about the program:
“It was a real treat to share my global research on women’s entrepreneurship with practitioners involved in the “Transatlantic Webinar Series” hosted by the GACC. I made several key connections with program leaders supporting women entrepreneurs and life science startups in Germany and the United States. I look forward to ongoing collaborations between the Diana International Research Institute (DIRI) at Babson College and our new GACC connections.” – Amanda Elam, Research Fellow, Diana International Research Institute
“GAAC gave me the opportunity to take part in the De-Urbanization workshop with top level experts from companies, public administrations and research institutions. I have heard in-depth analyzes of the situation in the USA and Germany, discussed possible solutions and gained new cooperation partners. A big thank you to the fantastic GAAC team for this unique opportunity, the excellent preparation and the friendly support. The offer exactly meets the need in a challenging time.” - Wolfgang Schmidt, Head of International Affairs, City of Kiel