On 4 September 2026, Henkel’s headquarters in Düsseldorf once again became the meeting place for the annual gathering of the Dr. Jost Henkel Foundation. Scholarship holders, alumni, mentors, university representatives and members of the Foundation’s Management Board came together to share insights, exchange experiences and gain new inspiration for the future.

In the presence of Dr. Christoph Henkel (Chairman of the of the Management Board), Dr. Alexander Frey (Deputy Chairman of the Management Board), Sylvie Nicol, Agnès Thée, Birgit Helten-Kindlein and Prof. Dr. Thomas J. J. Müller, the guests enjoyed a day filled with inspiring talks, opportunities for exchange and insights into the world of work.

Already in his welcome address, Dr. Christoph Henkel made clear why this day is of particular importance to the Foundation: “The greatest asset is to educate and support young people,” he said. The following contributions built on this guiding principle.

Talks that encourage, inspire and look towards the future

• Sylvie Nicol, member of the Henkel Management Board and the Foundation’s Management Board, reflected on her own career journey in her keynote. She highlighted how curiosity, courage and continuously reinventing oneself have shaped her path. She shared these values with the students and encouraged them to remember that there is no predetermined career path – and that it is important to listen to yourself and your own ambitions. “You need to know yourself and know where you can make an impact,” she concluded.
• Bertrand Conquéret, President Global Supply Chain bei Henkel forderte die begabten Studierenden auf, unsere Welt mit ihrer Neugierde anzustecken und zu verändern: “Change the world, this is an invitation!” Besonders den Nachhaltigkeitsgedanken rückte er dabei als entscheidenden Antrieb für Innovationen in den Fokus und ermutigte die anwesenden Talente, Themen in der Zukunft weiterhin zu hinterfragen. Denn so könne diese Herausforderung als Chance verstanden und mit der nötigen Neugierde bewältigt werden. Sein Impuls an die Gäste: „The future is unwritten. Make the change!”
• Dorothee Brinkmann (Head of Market Strategy Aerospace) and Sarah Kaebisch (Director KAM Aerospace EIMEA) continued this forward-looking perspective with their presentation, “Ready for Take-Off: How Henkel Powers Modern Aircraft.” Their presentation provided insights into the aviation industry and how Henkel serves this highly demanding sector. With products that may seem inconspicuous at first glance, Henkel creates significant value in the field of air mobility, with a lasting impact. They demonstrated how Henkel’s solutions contribute to making aviation more sustainable and efficient – both in aircraft manufacturing and maintenance.
• Alena Nagornyak, Global Head of Talent & Performance and DEI at Henkel, also focused on the future. In her presentation, she illustrated how employees with individual skills and capabilities will continue to make a difference in the age of artificial intelligence. Among other things, the ability to critically question existing approaches and to adapt to change will be essential.

Exchange and insights into the world of work

Following the diverse presentations, the lunch break provided plenty of opportunity for networking and personal exchange.

In the afternoon, guests had the opportunity to gain deeper insights into various areas of Henkel’s operations at the Holthausen site. During several guided tours, they could visit, among other things, the laundry and home care production facilities, the Innovation and Customer Center of Henkel Adhesive Technologies and the Henkel Archives.

To round off the day, various information stands provided opportunities to connect with others and learn more about different career paths and professional perspectives. Once again, they highlighted what the Dr. Jost Henkel Foundation’s Get-together is all about:

personal encounters, meaningful exchange, inspiration and curiosity about the future.