By Zsofia Raffa – Digital Marketing AI Consultant & Freelance Journalist
Since 2017, one event has consistently held a bold, capitalized spot in my September calendar: DMEXCO. It is the go-to event for connecting with like-minded, forward-thinking marketers. This year is no different. Taking place September 17–18 in Cologne, the trade show promises to be bold, sharp, and forward-looking.
Ahead of the event, I had the opportunity to speak with Verena Gründel, Host and Director of Brand & Communications at DMEXCO, to learn what’s driving marketing professionals, the industry and the key themes of the event.
The 2025 theme, “Be Bold. Move Forward!” is more than just a tagline. It’s a call to action for the industry at a crossroads. As Verena Gründel explained, the motto was born in light of the current economic and geopolitical challenges, but also due to the growing relevance of AI. Courage is a transformative force; for companies as well as for every one of us. “Scientists have found that courageous people are healthier, more economically successful and, in particular, drive innovation more strongly,” she said. Studies show: In times of uncertainty, bold investments often lead to disproportionate market gains. For marketers, that means it’s time to act.
Germany has the talent and tech to lead the next wave of marketing innovation. What’s missing? Confidence, and the courage to embrace risk. According to Ms Gründel, “German marketers don’t lack capability; some might just need a push to believe in their boldness again. “We have amazing entrepreneurs here, it is at least as important to create an environment where bold people feel empowered to act, even if it means risking failure.”
But boldness demands change and in established structures, change can feel uncomfortable. That’s precisely where effective leadership and change management come in. Marketing professionals are already known for creativity, agility, and experimentation. We’re naturally positioned to lead innovation, especially when it comes to adopting AI and redefining the meaning of success.
Marketers have the capabilities to lead this technology and mindset shift by trying, testing, and inspiring changes across the organization. That’s exactly what DMEXCO fosters: not just big ideas, but brave conversations because the future of work built on courage, collaboration, and bold culture.
At DMEXCO 2024, AI was already in the spotlight with conversations about fake news detection, creative automation, and predictive analytics. 2025 event marks a shift from experimentation to scalable AI integration. “It’s not about trying AI anymore; it’s about embedding it deep into business models” said Ms Gründel. AI wave has moved from hype to operational necessity and marketers are expected to ride it like pros.
Machine Learning isn’t something new. While the current buzz around AI and machine learning (ML) might suggest a recent breakthrough, the technology has actually been here for decades. Its roots trace back to the mid-20th century, with Alan Turing’s early work on computational intelligence in the 1950s.
Interestingly, since the 1970s, marketers have been among the early adopters of ML technologies, with the help of algorithms customer segmentation and sales forecasting were already available. However, the explosion of big data in the 2000s was truly a showcase of the machine learning’s potential in marketing.
With programmatic ads and predictive analytics, machine learning has long been part of the marketing toolkit and generative AI is even further transforming the creative workflows. From personalized content production to hyper-targeted messaging, it’s reshaping marketing at its core. But, as Ms Gründel reminded, “The big ideas still come from humans. AI boosts execution, but creativity remains a human superpower.”
One hot topic will be the impact of the EU AI Act, which is set to reshape how European companies’ engage with AI. While some fear it may slow down innovation, Ms Gründel offers a different take:“Europe’s approach is more ethical, privacy-focused. That’s not a weakness; but we can turn it into a strategic advantage.” Much like the GDPR positioned Europe as a global leader in data protection, the AI Act could place the continent at the forefront of ethical AI marketing.
With the debut of DMEXCO Asia in Singapore in October, the event covers the full global spectrum of digital marketing. “Asian markets bring a completely different energy, especially in commerce,” Ms Gründel explained. “Where Europe optimizes conversion rates, Asia inspires with content-first approach.” In Asia, social media influencers lead the marketing initiatives and they sell everything from real estate to t-shirts. This philosophy will be reflected, where TikTok-driven innovation, influencer collaborations, and social shopping will be front and center.
This year, DMEXCO’s lineup features visionaries like Carsten Maschmeyer, Sir Martin Sorrell, Holger Fischer and Vanessa Stützle, offering everything from pragmatic how-tos to future casting. “We’re not curating for hype. We’re curating for need, what the marketing community actually requires right” Said Ms Gründel.
Because the future of marketing isn’t just being written—it’s unfolding live in Cologne. This year’s message—Be Bold. Move Forward.—isn’t just for the brands on stage. It’s for all of us. It’s for the startup founder testing AI tools. It’s for the corporate strategist wrestling with compliance At DMEXCO 2025, bold isn’t just a theme, it’s a strategy.
Early bird ticket here: https://dmexco.com/de/tickets/
About the Author:
Let’s make things #zSofisticated!
Zsofia Raffa is a global digital marketing strategist with a journalist’s heart! With over 15 years of rocking the marketing world, she’s helped brands like Kodak, NVIDIA, Black Rock, and Lufthansa to shine digitally.
She’s all about turning data into stories that wow. As a regular newspaper writer, Zsofia knows how to make numbers turn into capturing attention. LinkedIn is her special field – she’s mastered the art of social selling, lead generation, and turning employees into brand ambassadors.
Will you be ready to make things zSofisticated?
📩 Stay up to date! Let’s make things #zSofisticated together! Subscribe to my newsletter for the latest AI trends and marketing insights: LinkedIn Newsletter or DM me for further consultation. More info: https://linktr.ee/zsofisticated
About the Author:
Let’s make things #zSofisticated!
Zsofia Raffa is a global digital marketing strategist with a journalist’s heart! With over 15 years of rocking the marketing world, she’s helped brands like Kodak, NVIDIA, Black Rock, and Lufthansa to shine digitally.
She’s all about turning data into stories that wow. As a regular newspaper writer, Zsofia knows how to make numbers turn into capturing attention. LinkedIn is her special field – she’s mastered the art of social selling, lead generation, and turning employees into brand ambassadors.
