Where in the World Is Petra? Chances to Meet in 2026
So much of our lives takes place online these days. But that only highlights the importance of in-person meetings and connections.
I’ll be speaking and leading workshops throughout 2026. If you’ve been craving the chance to catch up in real-time and nerd out about all things product leadership, you’re cordially invited to join me!
Here’s an overview of when and where I’ll be speaking as well as a preview of the topics I’ll be covering at each event.
April 20–21, 2026: Product at Heart Leadership Event, Hamburg, Germany
You may already know that I’m the co-organizer of Product at Heart, so this event is near and dear to my heart. The April Leadership Event is kept intentionally small and limited to product leaders (those with titles like “Chief Product Officer,” “VP of Product,” and “Head of Product” whose roles involve guiding, managing, and mentoring product managers). Our goal is to create a safe space where you can openly share your challenges and learn from your peers.
This year, we’ve made some major updates, transforming it into a two-day event that creates even more opportunities for you to dive deep into topics and connect in meaningful ways with your product leader peers.
As part of this new expanded program, I will be leading a workshop on my PLwheel. If you’ve been looking for a structured way to clarify your responsibilities or reflect on your product maturity, I’d love to see you there! But I’d also encourage you to act fast, because this event always sells out well in advance.
June 1, 2026: ProductTank Cologne, Germany
I’ll be visiting the ProductTank Cologne community to talk about how to prepare yourself to become a product leader, including the specific skills you can start building today.
This one is for anyone who's thinking about taking that step into leadership but isn't quite sure how to get there from where you are now. It should be a lively conversation and a fun evening!
September 16–17: WaysConf, Krakow, Poland
In early autumn I'll be at WaysConf in Krakow, covering one of the topics that comes up in almost every coaching conversation I have with product leaders: Managing up. We’ll be exploring questions like:
How do you build trust with your executives?
How do you keep them informed without overwhelming them?
How do you push back when you need to?
I have to be honest: The organizers may have won me over with the promise of an endless supply of pierogi. But really, I'm looking forward to meeting the Polish product community and digging into a topic that I think doesn't get nearly enough attention.
October 14–15: Inspire Africa, Lagos, Nigeria
Earlier this year, I spoke at the MENA Product Summit in Cairo and this experience reminded me that it’s critical to expand my perspective and get out of the usual product industry bubble. So I’m looking forward to heading to Lagos for the Inspire Africa Conference, where I can't wait to reconnect with all my dear product friends on the continent and to make new ones.
I'm also part of the faculty of the Inspire Africa Product Leadership Accelerator, a separate program that goes well beyond a one-time conference visit, so I’m also committing to a longer engagement and investing in the future of the product community throughout this region.
November 9–10: Product Owner World, Osnabrück, Germany
I'll be at the /why Product Owner World event in Osnabrück for a couple of days, with a mix of formats: an Ask Me Anything session, a community event, and my Storytelling for Product People talk.
If you're in the area, make sure to come say hi!
Can’t make it to any of the events listed here or have a topic you’d like me to cover for your specific community? If you’re interested in inviting me to speak at your company or event, I have limited spots available for speaking engagements for the remainder of this year. You can get in touch to discuss speaking engagements here.