There is a claim that the industrial era is coming to an end and that we have entered a new era of globalization - an era of knowledge, new technologies, high-speed communication, innovation and services. At the 13th Transatlantic Forum, which took place on June 26-29, 2008, the BMW Foundation brought together some forty young leaders from the United States, Canada and Germany to discuss and analyze with the conference's distinguished speakers the implications of the ongoing globalization of the international worlds of work.

During those three days, the BMW Foundation wanted the participants to get to know each other and to learn to understand their different perspectives in order to strengthen the relations between their countries and to encourage them to be "change makers" who are ready and willing to take on the challenges of the future.

The 13th Transatlantic Forum took place at the Resort Schwielowsee near the quaint town of Potsdam, the former residence of the Prussian kings. This location offered the participants the opportunity to take a closer look at the famous castle of Sanssouci, built in 1747 by the most splendid representative of the house of Prussia, Frederic the Great. The participants of the 13th TAF also visited Castle Cecilienhof, a gift of Emperor Wilhelm II to his eldest son, Crown Prince Wilhelm, and his wife Cecilie in 1917.

During the welcome dinner, the chairman of the board of directors of the BMW Foundation Jürgen Chrobog, gave a warm welcome to the participants of the 13th Transatlantic Forum. He especially pointed out that, at this year's forum, the circle of participants for the first time was expanded to include also Canadians. Therefore, none other than the former Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Pierre S. Pettigrew, delivered the dinner speech.

During the four conference sessions on Friday and Saturday, the assembled young leaders and panelists took a closer look at how both sides of the Atlantic cope with the upcoming challenges, changes and opportunities of the globalized worlds of work.

Session 1 looked into the subject of "Technology. Challenges and Changes for the Future of Work."

Session 2 touched on more personal issues and raised questions such as how the new corporate cultures determine our worlds of work. Which philosophy of work - the contemporary 24/7 or the traditional "ora et labora" - is more likely to result in a win-win situation? Which philosophy of work allows a better work-life balance? Is there an increasing tendency towards self-exploitation in our work lives?

Session 3 focused on the competition for the best and brightest and on the question of why the United States and Canada have always been able to attract the most talented people. Germany, in contrast, seems to have a hard time both attracting talented and highly skilled workers and keeping its own best and brightest.
Why are the United States and Canada still more attractive? Which incentives do they offer? Which system will win the competition for talents: the European, social-welfare or the American capitalist system?

The final session was organized on the Open Space Technology model. The participants were given five hours and plenty of space to engage in an intensive exchange and stimulating discussions around the topic of "Technology, Time, Talent: Our Future, My Consequences?" The agenda of Session 4 was set by the participants themselves. At the conclusion of the session, responsibility was taken for the next step actions.

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