Julian Nagelsmann, ISPO Textrends and the Baller League - recap of the first day

"You have to make good decisions," explained Julian Nagelsmann during his appearance at ISPO Munich 2024, providing a deep insight into his philosophy as a coach and leader. For Nagelsmann, leadership is one thing above all: "70 to 80 percent is people management," he said, emphasizing that this aspect is the key to success not only in sport, but in any business.

For Nagelsmann, courage and clarity in decision-making are central elements of good leadership. "Part of being a leader is making decisions," he emphasized. It is essential to make decisions in such a way that you can live with them - even if they later turn out to be wrong. "Courage is the anagram of happiness," he reflected, "because if you make courageous decisions and are successful with them, it feels all the better."

According to Nagelsmann, a good leadership style also means defining clear roles and fulfilling them together with the team members. "You fulfill the role with things that I want to see," he said, explaining how he creates a common basis through discussions and commitment. In doing so, he listens to different opinions, draws the best from them and adapts them to his own philosophy: "You shouldn't change your mind every day just because someone else says something."

"Healthy leadership begins with a clear vision and ends with a sense of appreciation," emphasized Heli Herdt, Sports Director at the German Ski Association. The session "Leading (Healthy) Like a Pro" showed how the principles of success from top-class sport can be transferred to everyday business life. The central message: leadership means more than just results - it requires a focus on people's well-being.

Reiner Gerstner, a long-standing expert in the mountain and sports industry, explained that it depends on four pillars: "Healthy leadership encompasses physical, mental, social and spiritual aspects." Herdt added: "A strong team is created through a clear performance culture that lives values such as trust and respect - whether in sport or in the company."

The speakers emphasized how important resilience and regular exercise are for mental and physical health. Tamara Lunger, professional alpinist, put it in a nutshell: "Regeneration is not only essential in sport, but also in everyday working life. It's about pausing in time and listening to your own needs." The session offered inspiring approaches for a leadership style that combines performance and humanity - a model that goes far beyond the boundaries of sport.

"It's not about breaking the rules, but rewriting them for the next generation," said Hendrik Ruhe, co-founder of Eintracht Spandau, about the Baller League - a format that brings soccer back to its roots while catapulting it into the future. With small teams, fast-paced games and celebrity managers from the worlds of sport, music and entertainment, the league delivers an experience that combines the spirit of the football pitch with thrilling entertainment.

"It feels like back then on the football pitch - and I've never had more fun playing soccer," explained Marco Raimondo, captain of Beton Berlin. But the league is more than just a fun event: "We have so much talent in the league, from former professionals to newcomers who are taking the game to a new level," he added.

With plans for expansion into the USA and the UK, as well as an upcoming women's league, the Baller League shows how soccer can be reimagined beyond the mainstream - energetic, inclusive and totally engaging.

"The age of traditional retail is over - the future belongs to a holistic ecosystem that creates experiences," explained Roger Herney, behavioral marketing strategist, during the presentation "The Renaissance of Retail: Outthink! Doing the Same Thing Over and Over is Over". In a lively discussion, experts analyzed how brands and retailers can work together to redefine the shopping experience.

Owen Comerford, former CEO of Moosejaw, emphasized the importance of experiences: "Customers no longer just come to buy, they want to be part of a community." From in-store climbing walls to local running clubs, retailers that create social and emotional connections are more successful. "Engaging customers for life is much harder than a simple sale," said Comerford.

The session highlighted that personalization, community-building and strong collaboration between brands and retailers are key to long-term success. An approach that, according to the participants, not only generates sales but also anchors brands culturally. "In the end, customers don't just buy products - they buy values and belonging," concluded Herney.

"Sustainability is the norm, it must be the norm. In the textile trends we see that all products have a sustainable feature - but clear communication is still key. This clarity is crucial." Louisa Smith explained today at the presentation of the ISPO Textrends for Fall/Winter 26-27 and Spring/Summer 2027 at ISPO Munich 2024. The megatrends Clarity, Unlock and Primal were in the spotlight: Clarity focuses on maximum transparency and the circular economy, Unlock brings the benefits of digitalization to production processes, and Primal puts emotional connections and human values at the heart of design.

In Hall A3, visitors were able to experience ground-breaking innovations - from bio-based materials to digital product passports that reveal the recycling options and origin of textiles. "It's not just about creating great products, but making them truly sustainable through collaboration and creative approaches," emphasized Smith.

The discussion "Somewhere Between Personal and Collective Commitment - Is Sport Living Up to Its Social Responsibility?" focused on the central role of sport in promoting social responsibility and sustainable change.

Ben Ellermann, captain of the German national rugby team, emphasized the importance of combining sport and social responsibility: "Athletes are more than just athletes. At the end of the day, we are human beings." Especially in Germany, where rugby is less popular, he emphasized how crucial networks and commitment are to maximize the sporting and social impact.

Another highlight was the Waldkicker project, presented by founder Lars Hermes. With 50 youth teams collecting points not only on the pitch, but also in sustainability activities such as tree planting and litter collection, the program impressively demonstrates how soccer can be used as a platform for positive change. "The kids are the best policemen who get their parents to join in," explained Hermes, emphasizing the enthusiasm of the children who get to play in a Bundesliga stadium.

"We are in the midst of a biodiversity crisis - it is just as critical as the climate crisis," explained Dan Yates, Executive Director of the European Outdoor Conservation Association (EOCA), during the session "The Future of Business and Nature" at ISPO Munich 2024. The discussion impressively demonstrated how companies can take responsibility and at the same time take advantage of opportunities for sustainable innovation.

Christian Simon Böhm, founder of the NGO Patron: Plastic Free Peaks, inspired with his message: "All you need is a bag, gloves and maybe a pair of pliers to make a difference." His initiative illustrates how simple actions can have a big impact.

"There is no business on a dead planet," emphasized Alistair Maltby, an expert in nature finance. He called on companies to integrate biodiversity into their business strategies - not only out of moral obligation, but also as a competitive advantage. The outdoor industry has the potential not only to utilize nature, but to actively contribute to its protection.

The session "Sustainability and Innovation in Europe - How to Keep Up with the Legal Challenges and Seize the Opportunities for Your Business" made it clear that sustainability is essential. "The last two or three years have been like a firework display of new regulations," explained Dr. Annette Mutschler-Siebert from K&L Gates. The Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) in particular underlines how important it is to take responsibility in the supply chain.

"Gathering and collecting facts is the most important thing to do, because anyone can make claims," added Gabriela da Costa. Data is crucial in order to avoid penalties for "greenwashing".

Mutschler-Siebert also emphasized the opportunities of collaboration: "There is a huge opportunity for companies to work with their competitors to achieve goals that would not be possible on their own." However, such partnerships must be legally secure.

"There is a lot of movement in the field of circular materials, but much more to come," said Leonard Niemer, founder of Studio Niemer, opening the session "Circular Materials & Sports - From Challenges to Breakthroughs" on the Green Stage at ISPO Munich 2024. The discussion covered groundbreaking projects such as bio-based materials and innovative approaches to reducing fossil-based raw materials in the textile and sports industry.

Nicole Espey from the Textile Research Institute at RWTH Aachen University explained: "Our focus is on developing new bio-based materials to replace petroleum-based fabrics such as polyester." She presented research results on alternative raw materials such as algae and fungi, which could offer sustainable alternatives for the textile industry.

The start-up Stems uses waste products from banana plantations to produce innovative fibers. Resilo, on the other hand, uses birch bark to develop sustainable rubber materials for the shoe and automotive industries. Both companies demonstrated how waste can be transformed into valuable resources, but emphasized the challenges associated with scaling and financing such innovations.

therapie MÜNCHEN, the trade fair and congress for therapy and medical rehabilitation, offered a wide range of insights for physiotherapists, occupational therapists, sports therapists and medical professionals. Two sessions exemplified the relevance of the health megatrend and how movement and technology can revolutionize therapy and well-being.

In the presentation "Fit Kids - Growing up healthy in the age of digital transformation and artificial intelligence", Christoph Anrich emphasized the central role of exercise for children and young people: "Many children are on their cell phones more than they sleep - and this has consequences for their brain, their fitness and ultimately their school performance." Anrich explained how regular exercise not only promotes physical health, but also supports cognitive skills and learning processes. "Exercise has a significant impact on children's school performance, and this can also be proven physiologically," he emphasized.

Another exciting session was presented by Mattias Hallor with "Robotics meets strength training", in which the company Sparkfield Core showed how robot technology is revolutionizing strength training. "Through individually adapted movements and loads, we can make training results more efficient and safer," explained Hallor. With software-based, isokinetic training methods, the technology enables personalized workouts that are precisely tailored to the user's biomechanics.