Failing Forward in the Age of AI: Real stories of setbacks, resilience & Berlin’s future as a tech hub.
The Growth Grid — Failing Forward in the Age of AI
Tagline: Real setbacks. Real stories. Real shifts.
Failing Forward in the Age of AI is a story-driven evening exploring what it means to grow through failure in today’s rapidly changing tech landscape.
As AI transforms the nature of work and startup timing becomes more critical than ever, this event dives into the candid experiences of tech professionals who’ve taken bold bets—some too early, some too late—and the lessons they’ve drawn from those moments.
We'll end with a provocative discussion:
Is Berlin still Europe’s tech innovation hub in the age of generative AI and language-model dominance?
In 2025, the job market is being reshaped by automation, AI, and shifting global dynamics. What does failure mean when the pace of change is exponential?
This edition brings together voices who’ve seen cycles of hype and reality—those who tried to build “Claude” before the world was ready, and those now grappling with integration of AI into enterprise workflows. Together, we reflect on how individuals and organizations can learn, adapt, and lead with curiosity and courage.
Current CTO of a Berlin-based startup — On failing fast vs. failing forward in AI product innovation.
Former founder & current Head of Data Product — On market timing, product pivots, and learning from building too early.
Senior leader at Amazon (AI-related) — On navigating failure and alignment in big tech organizations.
Moderator (Therizing Coach) — Brings expertise on career pivots, resilience, and coaching through uncertainty.
Panel: Failures That Shaped the Future
A candid, conversational panel where speakers share personal failures that changed their trajectory—AI moonshots that were too early, product missteps, leadership blind spots, and unexpected pivots.
Community Feature: “Failure Wall”
Guests anonymously post their own short reflections on personal failures or learnings, sparking silent connection and solidarity.
Panelists:
Lele Canfora is Head of Product at carbmee, with 10+ years of experience in B2C and B2B startups and scaleups. He specializes in data-driven SaaS solutions and is focused on helping global companies reduce CO2 emissions through AI-powered platforms.
Mihri Minaz is the co-founder of beams, the work intelligence platform for actionable insights into SaaS tool usage and resource allocation. Before beams, she developed, published and maintained products ranging from mobile applications for banking, e-commerce wallet, databases, and web services used by millions of people.
Moderator:
Irene Yu is the founder of Rizing, a coaching platform that supports professionals and organizations in navigating growth, leadership, and career transitions. With 15+ years of experience leading teams and building businesses across Asia, Europe, and the U.S. As a coach, she focuses on helping individuals align their values with their work, lead authentically, and grow with clarity in today’s fast-changing world.
Guided Networking: Growth Conversations
After the panel, attendees join open networking with light facilitation. Guiding prompts placed on tables or cards encourage deeper, story-driven conversations.
Sample prompts for attendees:
What’s something you’ve learned the hard way?
How do you define growth after failure?
What’s a work mistake that taught you more than any success?
Community Features
“Failure Wall” (physical or digital): Anonymous lessons learned from attendees on sticky notes
Therizing Growth Corner: Reflection prompts, coaching tips, resilience resource cards.
Unique Value Adds
Real, relatable stories (not success theater)
Practical frameworks + emotional insights
Highlights Bonial’s inclusive, growth-positive culture
Demonstrates Therizing’s facilitation and coaching expertise in live settings