Franca Lehfeldt represents a driven new generation of media figures. Her knowledge and expertise regarding societal changes influenced by politics, business, and technology are highly sought after.
She gained nationwide recognition in Germany as the former chief political reporter for RTL magazines and as chief reporter and presenter for the news channel WELT. Currently, she runs her own communications and branding agency.
Franca Lehfeldt states: “The European single market cannot function effectively with a four-day workweek and remote working.”
Franca Lehfeldt: Economy, Politics & Society
As a keynote speaker and panelist, she is well-versed in contemporary issues. As a moderator, she brings deep insight into political Berlin and actively engages in socio-political discussions. Franca Lehfeldt is especially knowledgeable about social and financial policy topics.
- Personal branding – it requires authenticity. Many decision-makers do not fully recognize the significance of personal brands.
However, people are naturally drawn to other people. Stories are shaped by individuals, and these stories influence brands and stock values – thus, personal branding can become a measurable success factor for companies. Franca Lehfeldt shares insights on how to develop a personal brand and identifies the key elements for success.
- SPIEGEL bestseller ALTE WEISE MÄNNER: a tribute to the principle of performance
Following discussions about the four-day workweek, work-life balance, and remote work, the next challenge to the performance principle is emerging: the “zero buck day” is being debated by employers and employees alike. Franca Lehfeldt views this as a sign of complacency amid aging populations and global competition. She emphasizes that society must remember that nothing is achieved without effort.
How can society be redirected towards valuing performance? In her book “Alte weise Männer,” the author and entrepreneur conversed with prominent figures such as top manager Wolfgang Reitzle, journalist Stefan Aust, and SPD veteran Peer Steinbrück. She is convinced that much can be learned from the experiences and lifetime achievements of this generation, ensuring a meaningful cross-generational dialogue.
- Panel discussion
Debate culture in Germany: Why is there an increasing gap between public and published opinions?
Is it still possible to engage in proper argumentation? Why is lively debate often perceived negatively as conflict or disagreement? The contest of perspectives, solutions, and opinions is fundamental to democracy. Yet, debates on social media are becoming more intense, with anonymous insults replacing face-to-face discussions. Why are people turning away from traditional media and gravitating towards their own digital communities?
The solution lies in advocating for a more relaxed acceptance of diverse opinions in the media. It is not always necessary to convince or convert others. Arguments can be exchanged, and one’s own views examined. If consensus is not reached, respectful disagreement can be expressed. Media outlets can also present opposing viewpoints with equal consideration.
Franca Lehfeldt discusses why routine editorial work often results in mainstream opinions and how this poses a threat to freedom of expression and public trust in journalistic media.
Born in 1989, Franca Lehfeldt studied at the Glion Institute of Higher Education near Montreux, Switzerland, after completing high school. She earned a Bachelor’s degree (BBA) in International Hospitality Management and Development and Business Administration, as well as a Master’s degree in Strategic Marketing from the International School of Management (ISM).
Between 2017 and 2018, she attended the RTL journalism school while simultaneously working as a reporter at RTL. In April 2021, she was appointed “Chief Reporter Politics Magazine.” She spent five years reporting for RTL News, covering events at the Chancellery and Bundestag. In 2022, she joined the television station WELT as chief political reporter and co-hosted the TV magazine Welt Gesundheit with Hendrik Streeck.
Franca Lehfeldt: Bestselling Author
In collaboration with Nena Brockhaus, Franca Lehfeldt authored the book “Alte Weise Männer” – a homage to a vanishing generation.
An excerpt from the Spiegel bestseller: “There was once a world without gender symbols, Twitter controversies, or moralizing finger-wagging. That was Germany before a moralizing zeitgeist swept across the nation. While modernization in recent decades has eliminated some outdated attitudes, it has come at a cost. Values such as ambition, sacrifice, duty, and discipline appear to be declining. The embodiment of these values—the old white man—has been significantly affected. As the post-war generation men fight for their societal place today, the country’s prosperity and cohesion are simultaneously at risk. Is this a coincidence or the result of a society immersed in identity debates…”
