Marietta Gädeke: book the debating champion!

Master trainer Marietta Gädeke Communication expert Marietta Gädeke

Marietta Gädeke is an author and expert in communication and strategic empathy. In 2008, she founded her company Lilit Kommunikation. As a trainer, coach and consultant in communication and intercultural competence, she serves clients throughout Germany. She studied at Johannes Gutenberg University in Mainz and the Université de Bourgogne in Dijon, France, graduating with an excellent Magistra Artium degree. As German debating champion 2007, she complements her theoretical expertise with rhetorical skill. Whether debating, working as managing director or leading seminars for the German armed forces, the automotive industry or politicians, she repeatedly succeeds in confidently asserting herself as a woman in male-dominated fields. She led the World Debating Championships teams in Berlin in 2013 and Chennai in 2014. Both were major international projects spanning several years, with over 1200 participants from around the world. There she demonstrated her intercultural expertise in project work and crisis management. Through the FRAUENunternehmen initiative, the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy named her a Role Model Entrepreneur 2014/15.

She draws on her experience in leadership seminars and consulting. A strong practical focus, engaging methods and specific strategies for real-life challenges distinguish her work. Marietta Gädeke makes complex theories tangible and practical. Her participants’ praise confirms her approach: the utmost professionalism, infectious expertise and dedicated seminar leadership distinguish her company Lilit. The focus is always on lasting learning success and thus high standards for staying current and continuing professional development—in keeping with the motto: ‘Who dares to teach must never cease to learn.’

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Education and further training

• Master’s studies in English, media studies and business administration at Mainz University and the Université de Bourgogne, Dijon, France: Magister Artium degree, grade 1.3, in English, media studies and business administration
• German Armed Forces Command and Staff College: three-week course in ‘Methodology and Didactics’
• Certified by ICU as an intercultural trainer for ‘Intercultural Potential Analysis’
• Erasmus University Rotterdam (NL): one-week seminar at the Dutch Anglo-Saxon Parliamentary Debating Institute (DAPDI)
• International Debate Academy Slovenia (Slovenia): one-week course on ‘Debating and the EU’

Awards

• Role Model Entrepreneur 2014/15, recognised by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy through the FRAUEN unternehmen initiative
• German debating champion 2007 and winner of the jury prize for the best speech in the final
• Quarter-finalist at the World Debating Championships in January 2012 in Manila, Philippines
• Quarter-finalist at the World Debating Championships in January 2011 in Gaborone, Botswana
• Quarter-final judge at the European Debating Championships in August 2013 in Manchester, UK

Professional experience

Since 2014 Association of University Debating Societies: master trainer for the train-the-trainer programme. Since 2008 Entrepreneur with Lilit—Rhetoric, Presence, Communication: focus on intercultural competence and communication. Working with clients in industry and politics and with leaders in the German armed forces. 2013-2014 Head of the international organising committee for the World Debating Championships in Chennai, India: one year advising the Chief of Staff, leading the event, responsible for over 150 staff. Areas: strategy, crisis management, staff leadership and intercultural consulting. Project duration: 1 year, event with 1200 participants. 2011-2013 Chief of Staff for the World Debating Championships in Berlin: two years heading the staff team, leading the event, responsible for over 200 staff. Areas: personnel management, internal communication, organisational development and staff leadership, organisational wrap-up. Project duration: 2 years, event with 1400 participants. 2011-2012 German Debating Society: board member responsible for internal communication. 2006-2008 Prime Research International F.A.Z.-Institut: PR consulting focused on media analysis and market research

Marietta Gädeke in her element: rhetoric and communication

National and international debating judge

• Quarter-final judge at the 2013 European Championships in Manchester
• Open final judge at various tournaments, including Vienna, Paris and Stockholm in 2013
• Chief adjudicator at the 2009 German Debating Championships
• Chief adjudicator at ZEIT Debatte Göttingen and ZEIT Debatte Potsdam 2008

Rhetoric and debating coach nationally and internationally

• Since 2003, member, coach and former president of Debattierclub Johannes Gutenberg
• 2005–2010: debating workshops for teachers and school students in Rhineland-Palatinate
• 2007: led the nationwide rhetoric training programme of the umbrella association of university debating clubs.

Intercultural experience

Since 2016 Close collaboration with people from Syria and Turkey. Support for refugees. 2013 Stay abroad in Israel. Cooperation with Michael Shapira, Israeli Institute of Rhetoric 2010 Stay abroad in India, working on the ‘Maher’ project with socially disadvantaged Indian women and children 2003 Stay abroad in England. Earned the Advanced Level Language Certificate at Margate Language Centre (accredited by the British Council) 2002-2010 Studied English with a focus on UK Cultural Studies in Mainz and Dijon (France)

Her secret passion: languages

• German: native language
• English: excellent command, fluent in negotiations
• French: very good
• Italian: advanced basic knowledge
• Basic knowledge of Hindi, Hebrew, Arabic and Turkish

All Lilit training is available in German and English!