Inspiring Speakers

Boris Becker

Boris Franz Becker (born 22 November 1967) is a German former professional tennis player, coach, and commentator. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential tennis players of his generation and one of the defining figures in men’s tennis of the late 20th century. Becker was ranked world No. 1 in men’s singles and won six Grand Slam singles titles: three at Wimbledon (1985, 1986, 1989), two at the Australian Open (1991, 1996), and one at the US Open (1989).

Becker achieved international prominence in 1985 when, aged 17, he became the youngest ever men’s singles champion at Wimbledon and the first unseeded player to win the title. His breakthrough victory is widely regarded as a landmark moment in modern tennis, contributing to the sport’s global popularity and redefining expectations of power, athleticism, and attacking play on grass courts. Known for his powerful serve, aggressive net play and dynamic movement, Becker played a significant role in shaping attacking tennis during the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Over the course of his playing career, Becker won 49 singles titles and 15 doubles titles on the ATP Tour. He was a key member of Germany’s Davis Cup-winning teams in 1988 and 1989, helping establish Germany as a leading nation in men’s tennis during that period.

After retiring from professional tennis in 1999, Becker remained closely involved in the sport as a commentator, analyst and coach. From 2013 to 2016, he served as head coach of Novak Djokovic. During this period, Djokovic won six Grand Slam singles titles and consolidated his position as world No. 1, holding the ranking for a record number of weeks.

In 2023, Becker briefly served as coach to Danish player Holger Rune, collaborating with him during part of the ATP Tour season.

From 2017 to 2021, Becker served as head of men’s tennis in Germany, overseeing the national men’s programme, including the Davis Cup team. During this time, he also acted as a mentor to Alexander Zverev, working closely with him during a formative period of his professional career.

Becker has continued to work as a tennis analyst and commentator for international broadcasters and has published several books reflecting on his sporting career, professional experiences, and public life.

Salil Parekh

Katharina Moser

Katharina has designed, organized, and moderated around 300 events. Since 2020 she has specialised in the design and moderation of in-person, hybrid and online events with a focus on how to make them more human. 2022 she joined the Executive Board of the Inner Development Goals, leading the summit 2023.

Previously, she worked for the Austrian Foreign Ministry, the British Council, and the European Forum Alpbach, before she founded the creative agency MOSAIK in 2015. (one of her projects was awarded the State Prize on Europe).

She is on the board of Bürgerforum Europa; the Austrian Society for European Politics, a founding member of Alliance4Europe, and a member of the BMW Responsible Leaders Network.