Workshop Facilitators

Workshop 1: AI tools - AI Is Not Your Co-Author: Practical Ways to Use It in Research

Anne Jantos holds a doctorate in Business Education with a focus on digital competencies. She designs innovative, audience-centered workshop formats that enable people to use AI tools confidently and reflectively. Her teaching draws on practical case studies that make AI tangible and directly applicable to everyday work contexts.
A particular focus of hers is accompanying organizations through AI adoption fostering acceptance, resilience, and empowerment in the face of digital change.

https://we-explain.ai/

Dresden, Germany

Workshop 2: Networking skills - How to Network Without Awkwardness: Assertive Communication Skills - Basics, Tips

Meet Paulina Makol — Performance & Career Coach and Trainer, former pro tennis player, and founder of her own tennis academy in Munich.
Her philosophy in one line: you perform your best when you know your worth and feel okay saying it out loud.
After years in multinational companies and running her own business, Paulina coaches people around the world through career changes and helps them achieve ambitious goals — especially when they're building a life abroad, in a language that isn't their own. Her work brings together coaching, psychology and the mindset of elite sport, in workshops that are warm, practical and full of tools you can actually use the next day.

www.paulinamakol.com

Munich, Germany

Workshop 3: Funding strategies - Smart Project Selection for Early-Career Researchers

Dr. Louise Settle is a research funding expert based at Tampere University (Finland) who specialises in EU funding, especially European Research Council (ERC) and Marie Curie Skłodowska Actions (MSCA). Louise has many years of experience helping researchers improve their research funding applications and she is especially passionate about helping early-career researchers succeed in their academia careers.

Louise Settle | Tampere University and TAMK

Tampere, Finland

Workshop 4: Developing Leadership Skills for Early-Career Researchers

Kate Jennings is an internationally accredited executive coach and leadership development consultant with over 15 years’ experience helping people lead with greater confidence, self-awareness and impact. She works extensively with scientists, researchers, academics and technical specialists, supporting them to develop the people-leadership skills that often become essential as their careers progress.

Kate has delivered coaching, training and tailored leadership programmes across research, higher education, healthcare, pharma and technology. 

Through programmes such as Leading Your Lab and 1:1 coaching, Kate helps early career and emerging scientific leaders communicate clearly, build confidence, navigate challenging conversations, develop others, influence stakeholders and create collaborative research cultures where people can thrive and progress their careers.

https://www.katejenningscoaching.co.uk/

Stamford, UK

Workshop 5: Celebrating Achievements, Envisioning Tomorrow 

Workshop celebrating 10 years of the YCN committee, combining history, reflection, and forward planning. The first part will feature a presentation on the history and development of YCN, including personal insights and experiences from long-standing members. The second part will include interactive sessions where participants work in small groups across thematic stations linked to established YCN activities. Participants will have the chance to learn more about YCN initiatives and brainstorm future activities, new formats, and potential directions for YCN.

https://www.youngceramists.eu/en/yc/committee