Profile of Dr. Nikolai A. Behr CSP®
This video was originally produced in German and has been synchronized into English using AI.
Effective communication – in front of the camera from an early age
Millions of people were touched by him before most of them even knew how to spell “communication.” As a child, he stood in front of the camera, and he later became the voice of “Karl” in TKKG. Therefore, Nikolai A. Behr has practiced empathetic communication from an early age. Today, he is a keynote speaker on communication and trust. He appears on stages at home and abroad, where he inspires executives, decision-makers, and teams.
His topic is more relevant than ever in times of crisis, change, and AI because genuine, empathetic communication on an equal footing creates trust. Therefore, his speeches are compelling because they combine experience, attitude, and resilience in a down-to-earth way. His mission is to strengthen leadership through communication, especially when trust has become the hardest currency.
Nikolai A. Behr’s career is unconventional, rich in experience, and full of diversity. As a teenager, he founded a school newspaper, where he won advertising customers and learned the basics of presentation, argumentation, and target group analysis. That was long before “personal branding” even existed. However, what sets him apart is an alert mind, a broad education, and a biographical depth that continues to shape his work today.
As a result, his keynotes on leadership communication are authentic. He holds a doctorate in environmental policy science and an MBA (TU Munich, Columbia University, USC Los Angeles), so he combines theory with practice. Moreover, he brings decades of experience in media, management, and journalism to the table. This combination allows him to connect academic knowledge with practical experience and real-world communication challenges.
Communications expert with global experience
During his career, he has worked for Bayerischer Rundfunk, CBS Seattle, TV Berlin, and BMW, among others. While there, he established an internal TV program for employees in German and English, and he was also responsible for interview formats with board members. In addition, he accompanied trade fair appearances worldwide and managed complex communication projects. As a speaker on trust, he therefore became a voice for transparent, empathetic, and clear communication in a corporate context.
However, he always looks ahead. He understands digitalization, knows AI not only from theory, and sees how the demands on leadership are changing. Today, leadership is no longer just about organizing. Instead, it is about inspiring people, which can only be achieved through effective communication, genuine listening, and empathy.
His speeches bring this idea to life because he shows that what goes on in your head is not automatically what your counterpart understands. After all, communication always begins with clarity about the goal, the target audience, and the message. When leaders understand this, they can communicate more clearly and build stronger relationships.
Leadership communication in times of change
He is the founder of the German Institute for Communication and Media Training® (DIKT), where he coaches executives, board members, and teams in seven languages. He knows that only those who learn to speak clearly and empathetically can provide guidance, particularly in times of crisis, future technologies, and social change.
Therefore, his training and speeches cover a wide range of topics. They range from one-on-one conversations and media appearances to digital communication and leadership in hybrid work environments. In addition, his approach connects communication skills with the practical challenges that leaders face every day.
Speaker, motivator, human
His keynotes are not theoretical lectures. Instead, they are engaging and interactive, and he always delivers them with a twinkle in his eye, full of stories, eye-opening moments, and practical knowledge. As a keynote speaker on communication, Dr. Nikolai A. Behr takes his audience on a journey through real leadership situations, intercultural misunderstandings, digital faux pas, and classic communication mistakes. He then shows ways to do better.
Speeches
In his speeches on trust, empathy, leadership, and communication, he creates space for reflection and personal development, while even sensitive topics have their place. Whether for medium-sized businesses or large corporations, he brings clarity to complex contexts, including executive development, change processes, and corporate communications.
In addition, he strengthens empathy as a leadership tool and inspires a new understanding of leadership that remains relevant in the world of AI and digitalization. Thus, he combines experience with the future. As a speaker on trust, Nikolai Behr provides inspiration that has a lasting effect because his approach connects experience, communication, and the challenges of a changing world.
As a person, he remains curious. He travels a lot and learns about different cultures, yet he also thinks in a networked way and bakes his own bread.
Dr. Behr is a member of the German Speaker Association e.V. and supports it on a voluntary basis as a lecturer at the GSA Academy. With the course “Fit for the Interview,” he accompanies course participants together with his DIKT colleague Georg von Stein for one day and supports them in becoming professional speakers. The GSA is the leading professional association for professional speakers, trainers, and coaches in German-speaking countries. Through the umbrella organization Global Speakers Federation (GSF), the GSA is connected to over 6,000 experts worldwide.
Nikolai A. Behr is also a member of the National Speakers Association, the world’s largest association of speakers. In addition, he regularly participates in its training programs and annual conventions.