Keynote Speaker · Sales · Skill Shift
Your best argument? AI has it too.
Your sales team has the tools. The processes. The numbers. And yet deals are being left on the table that should have been closed. Christian Wehner shows what training programmes and CRM systems cannot deliver – and why the defining sales competency is not software. A keynote after which you enter conversations differently. Measurable effect. Immediately actionable. No theory. AI knows the data. You know the person behind it.
"Christian Wehner has been enriching our annual 'MARKENAKADEMIE SALES' programme at EBS University since 2020. Participants are consistently thrilled by his impulses, as reflected in the top ratings they give afterwards."
Jürgen Wollenschläger, MARKENAKADEMIE SALES, Markenverband e.V. Berlin
Background
SPIEGEL Bestseller
Author & TEDx Speaker
Daily Practice
SAP SE
Senior Director Innovation Strategy
The Core Thesis
Resonance
The competitive advantage that grows
The future of sales belongs to the deeply human.
Not those who use AI best – but those who manage, despite AI, to remain deeply human. Christian Wehner is Senior Director Innovation Strategy at SAP, a SPIEGEL Bestselling Author and TEDx Speaker. He knows both sides: AI transformation first-hand, and over 10 years of lived experience in sales.
AI can draft proposals. AI can handle objections. AI can automate follow-ups. What AI cannot do: create resonance. That is the competitive advantage that grows while everything else gets automated.
Most people listen to reply. Not to understand. This keynote is not about tools or trends – it is about the one factor that becomes the greatest competitive advantage in an automated world: the ability to truly connect.
Sales is changing fundamentally. Deals are no longer won through pressure or perfect arguments, but through trust, clarity and genuine understanding. Christian Wehner shows how your role shifts from seller to guide – and how to create orientation again in a complex, information-driven world.
The surprising part: the skills you need for this don't have to be learned from scratch. You already had them. As a child. This keynote makes tangible how much power lies in curious questioning, playful connection-building and clear storytelling – and why these are exactly what makes the difference in modern sales.
01
Resonance over rhetoric
This keynote doesn't replace any sales methodology. It lays the foundation that makes all methodologies work in the first place: genuine human connection.
02
First-hand experience
Christian Wehner worked successfully in sales himself. He built the business development of Germany's third-fastest-growing tech company and sold, among other things, the TV rights to the German Ice Hockey League.
03
Immediately applicable
This keynote changes how sales teams listen, ask and lead conversations. As early as the week after.
What used to work. What works now.
Presence
The best salesperson used to be the one with the best preparation. Today, AI researches everything about every customer in seconds. What AI cannot do: create resonance. Presence is not a technique. It is proof that you consider the person in front of you more important than everything you prepared.
Understanding objections
Every objection has an official version. And an honest one. The official says: "Too expensive." The honest says: "I don't trust you yet." AI can categorise and counter objections. What it cannot do: hear the difference between the two. That is exactly the skill that will decide everything going forward.
Opening strength
In classical sales, the close was considered the supreme discipline. In the AI age, it is often already decided before the first conversation begins. What counts is the first genuine moment. The quality of the opening determines whether an ending ever comes.
Atmosphere
AI can deliver every argument. Facts, references, ROI calculators, case studies. Better and faster than any human. What AI cannot create: the feeling when two people are truly on the same wavelength. Atmosphere is not created by what is said. It is created by what happens between the words. And that is exactly where buying decisions will be made.
The best salespeople
think like children.
Children don't ask questions because they're brave. They ask because nobody has taught them yet that some questions are stupid. That exact mindset is the rarest and most valuable competency in sales.
KIDULT combines what adults unlearn: the radical curiosity of the child with what adults possess: experience, judgement and responsibility. In sales, this means: listen like a child, lead like an adult.
Those who stop asking lose the customer. Those who ask like a child earn their trust.
Watch showreel
Tailored to your event.
15'
ImpulseThe Spark
A concentrated impulse that opens up a room. Ideal as an opener for a larger programme or as a connector between sessions.
45'
KeynoteFull Impact
Keynote including an interactive ritual with the audience. Not passive listening, but a shared experience that resonates long after.
90'
Deep DiveThe Transfer
Extended keynote with an interactive segment and Q&A. For leadership events and formats that require depth and dialogue.
30- and 60-minute formats are also available on request. All formats are individually tailored to your event context.
Testimonials – 5/5 Stars
"Christian Wehner has been enriching our annual 'MARKENAKADEMIE SALES' programme at EBS University since 2020. Participants are consistently thrilled by his impulses, as reflected in the top ratings they give afterwards."
Jürgen Wollenschläger, MARKENAKADEMIE SALES, Markenverband e.V. Berlin
"Christian is simply awesome. His presentations are vibrant and full of creativity and humour, yet they have real substance and convey fact-based insights into what it takes to succeed in a changing world of work. We all learned a great deal and would book him again in a heartbeat."
Anna Kopp, IT Director Germany (CIO/CDO), Microsoft
"Christian's energy is a blend of enthusiasm, optimism, charisma and strong insights."
Thiankai Feng, Head of Product Data Governance, Adidas
"We booked Christian as a keynote speaker for the Davos Digital Forum and are still very happy with that choice. He captivated a demanding audience with his relaxed style and created an inspiring exchange through the interactive elements."
Dr. Petra Arends-Paltzer, Founder, Davos Digital Forum
"Christian Wehner managed to inspire and captivate even seasoned innovation and digital managers at the Lisbon WebSummit. Christian is a brand in his own right – approachable and creative, he elevates every stage he stands on."
Benjamin Werner, Head of Group Marketing, fischerAppelt
What event organisers usually want to know.
Sales conferences, kick-offs, annual meetings, leadership events – across all industries. The concept resonates equally with sales teams in financial services, manufacturing, retail, consulting, media and SaaS companies.
While others talk about sales techniques or CRM tools, this keynote focuses on what truly decides: human connection. Christian Wehner shows why resonance is the competitive advantage that grows while everything else gets automated.
Yes – and that is the standard, not an extra. Every keynote begins with a briefing call. Industry context, internal challenges, audience profile and event format all feed into the final delivery. The core message stays; the touchpoints are individually calibrated.
After your enquiry you will receive a proposal. A short introductory call is available if preferred. Upon confirmation, one to three briefing and alignment calls follow – advisory in nature and, if desired, going well beyond pure keynote coordination. Christian Wehner draws on over 10 years of sales experience throughout.
I am happy to share my fee on request. It is consistent and fairly calculated for all bookings.
