This year's focus was on the exchange of knowledge and best practice

examples from different brands and locations to learn from each others

successes and mistakes.

Volkswagen Board Member for Human Resources Gunnar Kilian was

enthusiastic about the spirit of the conference and underlined the importance

of a diverse corporate culture for Volkswagen Group: "We need more effort

focused on diversity throughout the Volkswagen Group. Diversity is one of

our key success factors for the future, so that we can use the potential of

very different people in all their differences – whether nationality, gender, or

sexuality – for the benefit of the company."

Just how important this topic is to him is shown by the fact that the Group's

Diversity and Women's Advancement Team will be reporting to him personally

from October. "Thanks in part to Elke Heitmüller and her team, we have made

significant progress in recent years, and I am convinced that the team I met

here will make 'Diversity wins' a reality within the Volkswagen Group."