"I #DERRtobedifferent, I dare to be me"

- Dr. Ludmilla Derr

Dr. Ludmilla Derr is a distinguished thought leadership coach and the Managing Director of Elite Experts Conferences, where she excels in bridging the gap between innovative start-ups and established tech giants. Despite not holding a formal degree in marketing, Dr. Derr has successfully coached marketing, sales, HR and technical teams at renowned tech companies, demonstrating her unique ability to translate technical expertise into strategic marketing insights. Her approach is characterized by a blend of technical acumen and creative thinking, enabling her to guide companies in effectively promoting their technologies and innovations.

Dr. Derr organizes and moderates C-level panels, crafting strategic marketing initiatives around these high-profile events. Her panels serve as a platform for knowledge exchange and collaboration, connecting industry leaders with emerging talents. Her work involves tailoring content to resonate with diverse audiences, ensuring impactful discussions that drive innovation.

As a coach, she offers tailored training sessions, including C-level one-on-one coaching and group training for LinkedIn corporate influencers, helping companies enhance their digital presence and thought leadership in the competitive tech landscape. Dr. Derr's commitment to fostering innovation and her ability to connect with diverse audiences have made her a sought-after coach in the industry.

Lucie Šlahorová, Industry Marketing Lead at Rockwell Automation  

"I have already cooperated with Dr. Ludmilla Derr and the Elite Expert Conferences at several projects, some more, some less standard ones. I must say, the scope of what Ludmilla can offer goes far beyond the podcasts, conferences and coaching. This year, at the Battery Show Europe, we had the opportunity to have Ludmilla onsite to lead and conduct short video interviews with mostly global battery OEMs. After Ludmilla's professional preparation and online pre-briefing of each customer, very cool content was created during the show. I can confirm working with Ludmilla is always enjoyable, entertaining, inspiring and last but not least also very educative."

Christian Weber, Head of Advanced Engineering ADAS at Continental 

"It really works, even for the non-digital natives! Admittedly, I was skeptical about the LinkedIn training before, but already after a short time some valuable professional contacts and connections have developed, which I appreciate very much. Ludmilla made the training so lively, engaging and entertaining that everyone could take their part from it without being under pressure to become a LinkedIn professional right away. I especially appreciate that she puts so much emphasis on authenticity and personal statements."

Eman Martin-Vignerte, Director External Affairs and Government Relations at Bosch UK

"Working with Ludmilla as my coach has been an invaluable experience. Her guidance and expertise have played a significant role in shaping my professional journey. I am grateful for her belief in me and for pushing me to reach new heights. Fantastic deep dive in Linkendin usability and insider knowledge about managing better your profile and maximise the best of posting and blogging. Definitely will recommend. Ludmilla is a great expert!"

Tarcis Berberat, Vice President and Managing Director Region Switzerland, Austria and Adriatics at Renault Trucks Switzerland 

"Dr. Ludmilla Derr showed us what is possible in a one-day seminar. And more is possible than you think!!! Using concrete examples, exercises and live posts, we learnt how to use social media platforms much, much better. Ludmilla presented the topics in an uncomplicated, pragmatic and very grounded way! In addition to the learning effect, we also had a lot of fun in the group. And the new reach we achieved speaks for itself... I can only recommend this seminar, which was customised to our needs - thanks for that!!!"

Hengameh Rabbani, Head of Global Marketing at AVL

"When we started individual thought leadership coaching my main question was: “How can I optimise my personal brand on social networks, especially LinkedIn?” The idea behind this was to use the insights we gained to coach other managers in the company and strengthen our brand presence.

But it quickly became much more than that: who am I and what makes me unique? When you've held the same position for years - as Global Director Marketing & Communication at AVL - it's easy to forget to ask yourself such questions. So, who am I? A really exciting question!

The coaching brought my long-buried passions back to light - the things that had previously fuelled me with ideas for marketing management. Suddenly I was travelling again, engaging with art and people and ending up in networking communities where I met like-minded people from completely different industries. The encounters with these exciting personalities inspired me to start further training in the field of sustainability. I realised that my many years of management experience in marketing was a great basis for passing on my knowledge - whatever that might look like!

Since our sessions, I have regained the courage to embark on new adventures - even if they sound a little crazy. I follow my curiosity and passion as if they were old friends that I have rediscovered. And see, it's even fun to update my own knowledge! Sometimes it feels like I've hit the reset button and I'm ready to try anything that comes my way.

What began as a professional business relationship quickly developed into a warm, motivating connection that I wouldn't want to miss. Without Ludmilla's persistent questions and her positive energy, I probably wouldn't have realised even half of the last few months. You immediately realise that she cares about her coachees - she gives her all so that you can really draw on the full potential and also bring hidden talents to light. Her enthusiasm is infectious, and that's exactly what motivated me to reach new heights!

You should be aware of your values - but they tend to get lost in everyday private and professional life. When I dug them out again and reflected on them, I quickly realised: “Ooopss, no, something's missing!” The result? A personal bucket list that I decided to work through. And so I spent months gradually working my way through my new to-do list. Who would have thought that such a small reflection would involve so much 'tidying up'?

Managers in particular rarely take time for self-reflection - except when they slip into burnout. They prioritise economic goals, leaving little room for themselves. Ludmilla brings a breath of fresh air here: She knows the challenges of being a managing director and has met many people from a wide variety of fields in her career. Her mixture of motivation, perseverance and empathy helps you to restructure yourself, question yourself critically and recharge your batteries. I can warmly recommend her for this - and I really mean it!"

Alexander Diehnelt, Head of Marketing & Communications Autonomous Driving at Continental

"Thank you so much Dr. Ludmilla Derr for taking us on this journey! I really enjoyed seeing my whole team joining in and moving forward together! Looking forward to see us moving to the next level."

Andrea Hees, Director Product & Program Management Global XBU Innovation at Yanfeng

"Ludmilla has been with us in YANFENG for some time now to report and communicate the important and interesting issues we face in the automotive industry. With her very positive and open form of communication, it is simply a great pleasure to do interviews and technical discussions.

I was even more pleased to have the great opportunity to be part of a C-Level Podcast together with Jörg Brandscheid from Polestar and Gustav Tuschen from AVL. What a positive experience! 

Of course also with the great and professional support of Ludmilla, especially for me as a "media newbie".... ;-) With her help and guidance, her great training on how to use LinkedIn properly, I dare to "play" with LinkedIn step by step. Ludmilla - a very big thank you !!!"

Katharina Sobota, Marketing and Communication Coordinator and Controlling & Used Trucks Admin at Renault Trucks Austria 

"I recently had the honour of attending an extremely exciting and informative workshop with Ludmilla on the subject of social media. Her charismatic manner paired with professional knowledge made her workshop an unforgettable experience, which focussed above all on personal development and self-presentation in social networks. With the newly gained knowledge and personal tips, you see them in a different light and can use them more efficiently in all areas."

Ralph Grewe, Head of Perception and Environment Model at Continental

"It’s just about 3 month ago that I had my first Social Network Training with Ludmila. Before I was using LinkedIn mainly to accept all the invites every few days - but the Training really gave me motivation to start sharing some insights and thoughts I have. Just a quarter year later the result is amazing: not only that I met people which „Knew me from LinkedIn“, but also several times people mentioned they enjoy to read what I write. So I can really recommend everybody to get an insight into how LinkedIn works and try it out yourself 👍"

Viktoria Ilger, Team Lead Startup Initiative at Creators Expedition - an AVL Initiative

"I had the pleasure of meeting Ludmilla when I participated in one of her Elite Experts podcasts. Right from the start, it was clear that Ludmilla is excellent at creating an environment where engaging and open discussions come naturally. We immediately hit it off during that podcast, as it was obvious that Ludmilla and I shared a "just do it" philosophy. Since then, we have collaborated on several projects and I have had the privilege of doing thought leadership coaching with Ludmilla.

It quickly became apparent that Ludmilla's coaching approach goes beyond the typical LinkedIn coaching. I was impressed by her thoughtful integration of self-awareness and values with her LinkedIn expertise. Ludmilla's openness and positivity were not only motivating but also a driving force when needed.

Ludmilla is a remarkable professional who does a great job in helping individuals align their actions with their core values, enabling them to communicate and share these professionally. I am grateful for the insights and guidance she provided, and I wholeheartedly recommend her as a coach and thought leader. She's an inspiration, and I look forward to our continued collaboration."

Sabrina Streubel, Manager Strategy and Leadership Communications in Business Area Autonomous Mobility at Continental 

"LinkedIn has become an integral part of corporate communications and it is therefore essential to understand the platform and use it correctly. During the live training with Ludmilla, I learned a lot about the mechanisms of the platform and also gained more confidence to use it regularly. The interaction and the exchange of concrete examples helps immensely. I recommend this training for all those who want to improve their professional appearance in the long term."