KEYNOTE SPEAKER. WORLWIDE.

The Vision

"Enthusiasm is the beginning of something new."

As a speaker, there is one thing above all that drives Fabian Hänle: inspiring people.

For almost 20 years Fabian Hänle is serving people with empowering impulses and inspirations for entrepreneurial and personal growth – on stages, in books and as a consultant and leader.

His vision is to get to the heart of crucial issues in business and society in an inspiring, critical, and constructive way. To question, to think anew, and to show how we can positively shape our future.

Academically sound and practical at the same time, the latest scientific findings and exciting case studies of European, American, and Asian organizations are combined with Fabian Hänle’s more than 16 years of experience as a senior executive in international business.

In addition to the internal view in case studies, he adopts an external view, comments on and places challenges, trends, and opportunities in a global context. In this way, his audiences are inspired anew and topics that are crucial for their future are presented in a refreshingly understandable and motivating way. Worldwide.

Voices of the audience

What a powerful appearance in Beijing, dear Fabian!

Impressive both in content and delivery – even partly in Chinese. A truly remarkable presence that left a strong impression on our entire delegation at the Hidden Champions Forum 2025 in Beijing-Shunyi.

Dialogue, innovation, and responsibility – exactly what we need today. Thank you for representing the German Mittelstand with such conviction!

Warm regards and see you soon,
Jürgen Pfitzer
CEO, TECNARO GmbH and ARBOTRADE GmbH

"A wake-up call for us" With all the information about the pioneering role of the Chinese SMEs, the expert posed the question: Can we keep up? And answered it clearly: "Yes, we can keep up with any country, including China or the USA, if we not only question others, but also ourselves." Germany needs a new "economic giant" vision, she said. Not least because Germany slipped out of the "top 3" in patent applications from 2003 to 2020 as an indicator of innovative strength and was overtaken by China. "This is a wake-up call for us," Dr. Hänle emphasised.

Perhaps some of you were a little surprised. A keynote speech on "China's SMEs and our future in Europe" at the annual event of the Balingen Economic Development Forum? That's only something for the "big players".

But Dr. Fabian Hänle's speech was convincing! Again and again, he interspersed points of reference and thus also took the smaller and medium-sized companies in the hall with him. After all, the developments in China definitely play a role here in Germany! Conclusion: It's time to focus again on our strengths in development and research!

Dear Fabian Hänle, Thank you very much for your impulse keynote yesterday evening in the city hall! It was not only the facts but also your heart and soul with which you presented them to us briefly and concisely. China has gained a new face and has moved a little closer for our medium-sized companies. I will gladly pass on your contact details.

Enthusiasm is the beginning of something new.
Book Professor Hänle as keynote speaker.

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Speaking Portfolio

2nd International Hidden Champions Forum, Beijing
Speaker, May 27, 2025
Keynote before an audience of around 3,000 decision-makers from business and politics – including 120 CEOs from Europe and China. Topic: “Hidden Champions in a Changing World – New Success Factors.” Bilingual speech (German/Chinese) focusing on excellence with integrity, global innovation, and dialogue over isolation.

4th International Economists’ Summit, Düsseldorf
Panelist, December 10, 2024
Discussion on “AI Technology Leadership between China and the U.S. – Where Does Germany Stand?” Hosted by the German Association of Business Economists (bdvb).

Handelsblatt Podcast “So klingt Wirtschaft”
Podcast Guest, May 17, 2024
Conversation with host Simone Nissen on the dynamics of China’s SME sector – and what German companies can learn. Key focus: new opportunities, geopolitical risks, and pathways to resilient cooperation.

Leaders Network by manager magazin
Speaker, Spring 2024
Invited to three events in Frankfurt (Villa Bonn), Hamburg (Hanse Lounge), and Stuttgart (Schloss Solitude). Speaker cohort included Günther H. Oettinger, Dr. Moritz Kraemer, and Erwin Staudt.

WirtschaftsWoche – Exclusive Interview
Interview Feature, April 16, 2024
In conversation with WirtschaftsWoche on key challenges and success factors for international SMEs – with a focus on China, Germany, and Europe’s role in global competition.

IHK Nuremberg (Chamber of Industry and Commerce)
Keynote Speaker, June 4, 2024
Talks on “Flying Taxis in Shenzhen – China’s Innovation Power and Its Impact on the German Mittelstand” and “The Global South Is Rising.”

Economic Talks of the City of Balingen
Keynote & Panelist, March 27, 2023
Speech and discussion at Stadthalle Balingen on economic perspectives for the global Mittelstand.

Belgian-Chinese Chamber of Commerce (BCECC), Brussels
Keynote Speaker, September 29, 2022
Speech on Europe–China collaboration in business and innovation.

Antwerp Management School, Belgium
Festive Keynote, June 23, 2022
Speech at the official reception with international guests from business, academia, and politics.

Euro-Asia Conference, Dublin Institute of Technology
Speaker, October 29, 2020
Academic lecture on strategic internationalization in the SME sector.

Engaged Management Scholarship Conference, Cleveland, USA
Speaker, September 11, 2020
Presentation of original research on leadership dynamics in the German-Chinese business context.

Mannheim Business School
Keynote Speaker, November 23, 2018
Talk before more than 350 guests at Mannheim Palace on international growth strategies for the Mittelstand.

Tongji University Shanghai
Keynote Speaker, November 14, 2017
Speech at the School of Economics & Management on the role of European companies in China.

Graduation Gala, Stadthalle Balingen
Host, July 2007
Already at the age of 19, Fabian Hänle hosted his high school graduation gala – speaking in front of over 1,000 guests at the Grand Hall in Balingen. A memorable first appearance on stage – and the beginning of a journey that would later take him to major international forums as a keynote speaker.

Every stage is unique – and every message deserves its own format.
Whether it’s an executive summit , a political panel, or an international business forum: Let’s connect.
Send your request or schedule a confidential briefing.

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Vita

Business background:

As a CEO in China, Prof. Dr. Fabian Hänle spearheaded the growth of a German hidden champion for over a decade, elevating it from greenfield to market forerunner. Having served professional stints in the USA, Canada, and France as well, Fabian Hänle boasts a wealth of expertise in strategy, sales, and executive leadership roles. Thanks to his practical experience in China, coupled with his scientific, on-site PhD research and proficiency in Mandarin, he possesses unparalleled insights into the local mentality, culture, and authentic Chinese ethos.
Today, he is a Professor at the Antwerp Management School and serves as Managing Director and CSO on the board of a European technology leader. As an international keynote speaker, multiple book author and the founder of Dr. Hänle & Partners Consulting, he collaborates with decision-makers across DAX corporations, well-known family firms, and global market leaders.

Vision

Fabian Hänle's vision is to inspire people and organisations to develop in a positive and coherent way. To support people in developing their potential, to break new, innovative ground, to create healthy, growth-promoting environments and team flows, to raise consciousness and energy levels, to bring cultures together across national borders and to put the most important thing at the centre with intuition and from heart: people - because they are the ones who carry a company to success.

Academic background:

For his bachelor’s degree in International Business Fabian Hänle studied at the Dual University of Baden-Württemberg (DHBW) and, thanks to an awarded scholarship, at the University of California in the USA (UCSB). Years later and already as CEO in China, he graduated at the Executive MBA program of Mannheim Business School and Shanghai Tongji University as Best of Class. Continuing his pursuit for academic excellence and for bridging theory to practice, Fabian Hänle then joined the PhD Program for Executives at the Antwerp Management School and the University of Antwerp, where he obtained his PhD in 2021 and serves as Professor starting from 2023. He is the author of multiple German and English language books, book chapters and academic articles in international, peer-reviewed journals. Through his business experience and continuous on-the-ground research in China, Fabian Hänle became one of the leading leading experts in the strategy, internationalization and innovativeness of Western and Chinese small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), family firms and the elite of hidden champions.