Today on LinkedIn, I came across a post by Rebecca Ulmann. She is an entrepreneur from Leipzig who built the brand "Networking Queen". Rebecca reached out to her network with a plea for help because her business has hit a severe financial crisis. The reason: clients are dropping off and parts of her work are being directly replaced by AI. She writes that she is now reluctantly considering looking for a full-time employed job again.
It's a painful realization. But an honest reality check is needed here: finding a corporate job in this sector is likely almost impossible. For the exact same reasons her agency is under pressure, hardly anyone in this field is hiring right now.
The book Who Moved My Cheese? immediately came to mind. More and more people are going through this exact experience. Our current neoliberal value system is neither sustainable nor resilient. It is fine-tuned for efficiency, status, prestige, and revenue, completely ignoring the physical and biological realities of our planet. The fact that the marketing industry is now hitting deep turmoil is a logical consequence of this disruption—and frankly, long overdue.
I truly hope Rebecca finds her way through this transition phase. She is well-connected and brings a wealth of talent to the table. Rather than clinging to the old marketing hamster wheel, the real opportunity lies in genuine transformation. I see potential for her in initiatives like System Delta, at Wandelkraft around Diana Osterhage, or within the Economy for the Common Good (GWÖ). That is where skills can be applied toward something truly sustainable. Perhaps a valuable exchange will emerge around spring 2027.
