Entrepreneurship Summit 2022 – Keynote speech by Prof. Dr Maren Urner

Summary

In her keynote speech, ‘Everything starts in the mind: Why we are all entrepreneurs,’ neuroscientist Prof. Dr. Maren Urner shows why change always begins in the mind and why we are all entrepreneurs in our thinking. The starting point is a central finding of brain research: there is no such thing as an objective perception of the world. Every brain processes experiences differently, shaped by biography, emotions and context. Communication is therefore the only bridge between individual realities.

Prof. Dr. Maren Urner argues that many social, economic and political crises are ultimately due to inadequate or problem-oriented communication. Instead of endlessly describing problems, she advocates a consistently solution-oriented approach. Attention is the most important resource of our time. It determines where we focus our energy, thoughts and actions.

Coming from a scientific background, she applies these insights to entrepreneurship, media and business. With the founding of Perspective Daily, she put constructive journalism into practice: not just ‘What's going wrong?’, but above all ‘What now?’ and ‘How can things be improved?’.

At its core, Prof. Dr. Urnercalls for dynamic thinking: asking better questions, overcoming mental pigeonholing and telling new stories about business, nature and success. Her thesis is that economics is not a law of nature, but a system created by humans and therefore changeable. Sustainable success means that as many people as possible benefit from it for as long as possible.

Key insights for founders

1. It all starts in the mind:
Every new experience and every thought changes the brain. Entrepreneurial thinking is not a talent, but a skill that can be trained throughout life.

2. Attention is the scarcest resource:
It is not capital or technology, but attention that determines impact. What founders focus on shapes their thinking, their decisions and their companies.

3. Problems are not solved by focusing on them:
Those who constantly ask ‘What's going wrong?’ remain mentally stuck in the past. Progress comes from asking ‘What now – and how do we move forward?’

4. Good entrepreneurs ask better questions:
Questions about ‘why’ activate imagination, innovation and courage. This is the basis for real disruption and new business models.

5. Long-term gains beat short-term profits:
Sustainable entrepreneurial success means creating systems that generate added value for many people over a long period of time – not quick profits at the expense of the future.

About the speaker

Prof. Dr. Maren Urner is a neuroscientist, author and entrepreneur. She earned her doctorate in cognitive neuroscience in London and conducted scientific research on learning, perception and the functioning of the human brain.

As co-founder of Perspective Daily, she transferred neuroscientific findings to journalism and shaped the approach of constructive, solution-oriented thinking in the media. Today, she is a sought-after keynote speaker, author and catalyst at the interface of science, business and society.

In her work, Prof. Dr. Maren Urner is committed to changing patterns of thinking and communication in order to enable sustainable decisions, responsible business practices and social progress. Her central concern is to move away from static, problem-focused thinking towards a dynamic, future-oriented mindset.