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Keynote Speaker · Consultant

Horst Wenzel

The Science of Winning People Over.

Emotional intelligence for sales, leadership and networking – and AI that actually lands in everyday work. In English or German, from short impulse to full-day format.

horstwenzel.com·booking@horstwenzel.com·Cologne, Germany

Known fromARD·ZDF·RTL·ProSieben·n-tv·WDR·BBC·The New York Times·The Washington Post

Profile

Horst Wenzel founded Flirt University in his early twenties – and became the coach German television calls when love needs explaining. Fifteen years, thousands of coaching clients and more than 200 media appearances later, his subject has never changed: how strangers become close. What changed is who asks for it. Companies book him because attention, trust and timing are the same mechanics that sell and lead. And as an AI manager and software founder, he shows teams how to put new technology to work without losing the human connection.

Keynote Topics (Selection)

The Science of Winning People Over

First impressions, genuine interest, trust: the real drivers of winning clients, networking and leading people.

Flirting Is Selling

Rapport, charisma and timing from fifteen years of flirt coaching – translated for sales teams and leaders.

Charm Beats Algorithm

How teams put AI to work and stay human while doing it. Field notes from a working AI manager and founder.

Keynotes & Stage (Selection)

  • ApoBank – Keynote, Leadership Day
  • BPI International – Keynote tour for Narciso Rodriguez, 8 events
  • European Summit of Occupational Pension Funds – Keynote
  • The Skilled Crafts Association (Das Handwerk) – Keynote
  • German Association of Opticians – Keynote
  • East German Savings Banks Association & regional Sparkassen – sales training, client communication

Consulting, Training & Moderation

  • E.ON – internal communication
  • Generali Insurance – moderation
  • LOVOO – brand positioning, consulting contract
  • CargoLine – leadership training
  • WeightWatchers – moderation · Cannamedical – trade fair training
  • MysteryRooms – brand strategy, AI integration · Zukunft durch Industrie e. V. – consulting

Attraction is not luck. It is attention, timing and honesty – and all three can be learned.Horst Wenzel

Horst WenzelCareer
since 07/2026

Founder & Managing Director

hafenstudios · software studio for AI-native WordPress products
  • Product suite for site owners: memberships, link management, ad serving and themes (MemberJet, Linkjet, Adjet, Hafen).
  • From product strategy through development to go-to-market – AI assistants and MCP integrations at the core of every product.
since 06/2026

AI Manager

Grone education group, Hamburg · one of Germany’s oldest private education providers
  • Owns AI strategy, AI products and AI upskilling; trains teams and leadership in productive AI use.
  • Builds AI tools for education and labour-market programmes, including an AI job application coach (pilot) and an “AI driving licence” course for care professions.
10/2012 – 01/2026

Founder & Managing Director

Charming Media, Cologne · Flirt University
  • Built Flirt University into Germany’s best-known flirt coaching brand: thousands of coaching clients, hundreds of TV appearances.
  • Ran marketing, sales, seminars and team; built digital products, funnels and e-commerce in-house.
05/2010 – 03/2012

Public Relations Coordinator

Agency for Project Development & Management GmbH, Dortmund
  • Press relations for publicly funded projects; websites and brochures.
06/2008 – 05/2010

IT Services

Impulse GmbH, Dortmund · support, installation, maintenance

Projects & Brand Building (Selection)

  • Bauerntüte GmbH – Head of Content, later Head of Marketing
  • Freedom Academy – digital products, funnels & media assets
  • Kompetenzzentrum KI – practical “AI at the office” guides, prompt libraries
  • beruf.zukunft e. V. – AI adoption in communication & strategy

Guest Lectureships · Entrepreneurship

  • University of Bonn (2015) · FHM Cologne (2016) · Fresenius University, Cologne (2017) · HSO Switzerland (2019)

Education

  • Business InformaticsUniversity of Münster, 2009 – 2012 · focus: internet economics & systems development
  • Business InformaticsUniversity of Duisburg-Essen, 2008 – 2009
  • Abitur (A-levels)Max Planck High School, Dortmund, 2008
  • Exchange year, USARochester High School, Illinois, 2005 – 2006

Scholarships & Awards

  • Hans Böckler Foundationscholarship holder, from 2010
  • German BundestagParliamentary Sponsorship Program, 2005
  • SPIESSERcivic engagement award, 2008

Certifications

  • AI ManagerAI Hub Cologne, 2025
  • Certified ToP® FacilitatorDGB, 2004 & 2006
  • Rhetoric trainingDGB, A.S.I., SEK
  • Group seminar facilitatorSV Bildungswerk / BMBF, 2007

Hands-on Digital

WordPress product development (PHP, JavaScript, HTML/CSS) · AI workflows & automation (incl. Claude, ChatGPT, Make) · funnels, SEO & email marketing · Canva, Photoshop

Languages

German native · English fluent, keynotes in English · French basic

Personal

Hobby beekeeper · beach volleyball · Skat

Full speaker kit with photos and technical rider available on request.

Book Horst