Inspiring networking events: the "Talx" formats

How can the employees of the HDI Group network on topics across society? The answer to this question is the "Talx" formats: With SlamTalx, KitchenTalx and TechTalx, the company offers its employees a variety of opportunities for exchange beyond the daily work routine at the premises of the insurance group.

A slam is a performance competition, the best known of which are so-called "poetry slams", where word acrobats vie for the favour of the audience. At the "SlamTalx", three to four slammers present their topic for ten minutes each evening, regardless of the subject. The participants distinguish themselves through witty language, exciting topics and performance. "At the end, the audience decides which slammer has rocked the most," say the initiators Katrin Link and Sascha Müller. Five SlamTalx have already inspired around 330 employees in Hanover, Hilden and Cologne. The topics were a colourful mix: from "Intermittent Fasting" to the "Fear Fascination Sharks" to "Agility". "The best and most important thing is that colleagues get to talk to each other and have fun at the events," says Amrei Walter, one of the first organisers.

A stage, a microphone and exciting topics, both professionally and privately, that's all you need - and there are plenty of them at the HDI Group. So many, in fact, that with TechTalx another format has been created especially for technology fans. Topics include software crafting, machine learning, digitalisation and blockchain. "The first TechTalx were great. I didn't know, for example, that it was so easy to hack hardware. Such a format is ideal for driving knowledge transfer and networking among colleagues," finds Ina Dähre, part of the Orga team. "Anyone can participate - not just tech experts - and thus also get a taste of topics outside their field."

Since all that talking makes you hungry, there is a format for hobby cooks with KitchenTalx. In addition to the opportunity to expand their personal network, employees can improve their own cooking skills while preparing a four-course meal together and gain a better understanding of the interaction between each other.