Speaking

A good talk doesn’t leave people with more answers. It leaves them with better questions.

I speak at conferences, universities, leadership gatherings, public events, and organizational retreats. My talks invite people to look at familiar challenges from a different perspective and reconsider the assumptions that shape how we think, decide, and act.

Every talk is developed around the audience and the context. Some are keynotes. Others become conversations, workshops, facilitated dialogues, or podcasts.

No two are the same.

Recent Talks

2026 | Podcast with Martin Heiduk for his “Amasing People” podcast series

2025 | University of the Free State, National Community Development Conference, South Africa on Community Economy Development

2024 | Podcast with Thomas Schindler for Initiative Regenerative Martwirtschaft

2022 | TED Talk “Beauty of Transition” at TEDxHHL

Speaking Topics

Economy & Society

  • Regenerative Economy

  • Community Economy

  • Local Economic Development

  • The Future of Capital

  • Reclaiming Humanity in the Economy

Leadership & Organizations

  • Leading Through Complexity

  • Systems Thinking in Practice

  • Navigating Transition

  • Purpose, Strategy & Long-Term Change

Communities & Participation

  • Community-Led Development

  • Cross-Sector Collaboration

  • Participatory Processes and Large-Group Facilitation

  • Building Economies from the Ground Up

Formats

  • Keynotes

  • Fireside Conversations

  • Panels

  • Workshops

  • Facilitated Dialogues

  • Podcasts

  • Conference Moderation

If you are looking for a speaker who combines systems thinking, field experience, and practical insight while challenging people to think differently, I'd be delighted to hear about your event.

email me

  • “Nicole has an excellent ability to understand and question people's motivations and to open up the space for further development. With empathy and foresight, but also with clarity and exactly the right questions at the right time, she captures the core of issues and sets impulses for personal growth. If you need a fresh and enriching perspective on your problem, ask Nicole. If you need clear statements: call Nicole. For me personally, she is a very important and valued advisor and has been for years for my company as well. In two words: Thank you!”

    Isabelle Hoyer, Co-Founder and CEO of PANDA | The Women Leadership Network GmbH, founder and CEO of Employers for Equality GmbH

  • Collaborating with Nicole is always a learning experience. There's hardly been a meeting or a discussion where she wouldn't point out a fact or a detail I just didn't see that way before. Her approach to solutions is very unique, since she has a fine sense for bringing loose ends together in a way no one else I know would do. She's very versatile, with a generalist point of view. I enjoy working with Nicole on the PANDA Advisory Board because of that unique perspective and because of her loyal and innovative engagement towards gender equality in corporate environments and in the workplace. Nicole is a very experienced person with a thorough expertise in leadership and organizational development.

    Robert Franken, Expert for organizational culture transformation and DEIB. leadership and transformation

  • Nicole loves words and clear communication. I have learned a lot from her in the 10 years I have worked for her. She is a real role model for women in business and is very committed to female empowerment. One of her great strengths is to always see the good intention behind every action. And that women actively pursue their goals and do not just talk about them. I still like to discuss with Nicole and ask her for advice and I am always amazed at the depth of our discussions. Said in her words - JUST DARE!

    Simone Rudow, Managing Director at Aromapflege Evelyn Deutsch®

  • I know Nicole as my colleague within PANDA and I appreciate very much her very constructive feedback and her disruptive way of thinking. Working with her is very inspiring and her input brings you definitely much further!! It's great to know you as a professional - and as a friend!

    Katharina Miller, Strategic Legal & Ethics Advisor, ESG, AI & Data Governance, Innovation & Knowledge Valorisation

  • Reflecting on my work with Nicole since we started our collaboration, and especially this year, I consider her one of my key strategic advisor and thought partner in practicing life-centeredness. Her counsel elevates my ability to be resilient, especially in times of uncertainty and transition. The spaces she creates for communities of business and community leaders to elevate their consciousness and bring more humanity to their work expose me to an abundance of diverse perspectives that influence my business and personal decisions to create more impact. And more love. I always leave our brainstorm and work sessions with greater clarity about living and working on purpose.

    Caroline Trudeau, Storyteller, Futurist, Entrepreneur

  • Nicole Bastien dares to live and her gift is inspiring others to do the same, helping people to truly LEAD in the 21st century. If you need a fresh and enriching perspective on your problem or strategy, or CLARITY to communicate, look no further. Nicole has an uncanny ability to understand and to question, to excavate the "unsaid," to hear more heart than words, and to open up the space for further exploration and development. She has been a very important and valued advisor to me, and has helped shape my understanding of regenerative business, and how that translates technologically, economically, and yes, personally. My highest recommendation!

    Jessica Groopman, Founder of the Regenerative Technology Project, Regen Bridge, Senior Innovation Advisor at Intentional Futures; Innovation Strategist, Researcher, Speaker, Start-up Advisor; Warm Data Host