Resilience Circles: Empowerment, exchange, and coaching for mayors and equal opportunity officers

Resilience Circles for Mayors

Your role demands that you act as a crisis manager. Managing crises requires resilience, a strong network, and time to reflect and shape your approach. We define resilience as the ability to reflect on challenges and crises and use personal and social resources to leverage them for your own development, with the goal of emerging stronger.

From September to December 2025 we are offering three digital Resilience Circles. Upon request, we can also support you in building your network. This series of events is offered and implemented by EAF Berlin in collaboration with Birte Kruse-Gobrecht, freelance coach and Associated Expert at EAF Berlin.

The format is practical, and what you learn is directly applicable. All content is tailored to your situation as a full-time mayor. Participation is limited to 18 mayors per Resilience Circle; however, we will form two consistent small groups of 9 mayors each to ensure a trusted environment for exchange.

Offer for Mayors

The online Resilience Circles for mayors will take place on the following 3 dates, each from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. covering these topics:

• April 5, 2026: Mastering conflicts with confidence – A toolbox for mayors
• May 21, 2026: The administration – pulling in the same direction?
• June 9, 2026: Madam Mayor, could you just...? Successful time management & self-care

Registration

Please register by March 2, 2026, via the following link.

Registration is for all three sessions and is binding. Once you have registered, you will receive an invoice from us. The cost for participating in the entire resilience circle is 550 euros.

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Resilience Circle for Equal Opportunity Officers

For equal opportunity officers, challenges are part of the daily routine. As experts in gender and diversity, they bring important momentum to administrations and municipalities, yet they are often held back as soon as it comes to equality and the advancement of women. It is therefore all the more important to respond to these demands flexibly and persuasively, and to master challenging situations with composure.

We define resilience as the ability to reflect on challenges and crises and to use personal and social resources to leverage them for your own development, with the goal of emerging stronger.

We have developed an online program for you that provides a space to exchange ideas with colleagues, learn about tools and strategies, and emerge stronger even from draining situations.

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Professional Development Offer

The online resilience circles for equal opportunity officers will take place on the following 3 dates, each from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. covering these topics:

• September 17, 2025: Equality is Essential! – Mastering Conflicts with Confidence
• October 08, 2025: Self and Time Management – A Toolbox for Equal Opportunity Officers
• November 06, 2025: Stay Healthy – Self-Care for Equal Opportunity Officers

Registration

Registration is via the following link.

Registration is for all three sessions and is binding. Once you have registered, we will send you an invoice. The cost for participating in the entire series of resilience circles is 650 euros.

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Our event series offers you:

• An exchange with fellow officeholders from across Germany.
• Inspiration.
• Targeted insights for your work.
• Personal empowerment for your duties in office.

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What participants say

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“The resilience circle showed me that I am not alone with these challenges. I was able to exchange ideas with my colleagues on a regular basis, which I personally really appreciate.

The workshops were very well prepared by the EAF team, and the topics were perfectly tailored to the challenges of daily life as a mayor. I am considering participating in a resilience circle again—perhaps not right away, but a repeat session certainly wouldn't hurt.”

Henrike Strauch

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“The challenging tasks I face as a mayor require a great deal of energy, strength, and resilience. Despite my extensive experience, the resilience circle provided me with additional tools that I can apply in my daily work. I would therefore recommend that all mayors take advantage of this diverse program.”

Christine Klein (SPD – Hesse)

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The resilience circle helped me view my work from a new perspective and return to my daily routine feeling strengthened. With a successful combination of practical insights, personal reflection, and peer exchange, every session was a real gain. It was particularly impressive how quickly a trusting connection was established with the team and other mayors – and all of this entirely digitally. These encounters led not only to new perspectives but also to lasting connections. A big thank you to Birte Kruse-Gobrecht, the EAF team, and all my colleagues for this inspiring experience!

Maren Busch (Independent – Baden-Württemberg)

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For me as a mayor, the resilience circles were a valuable opportunity to pause and consciously take time for myself – something that often falls short in everyday life. The exchange with other colleagues who know the unique challenges of this profession from their own experience was particularly enriching. I can therefore highly recommend participating. The opportunity for reflection and intensive exchange was very rewarding for me.

Ramona Schuhmann (Independent)

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Our Speakers

Manuela Möller

Manuela Möller As Director of EAF Berlin, she has spent many years supporting women on their path into and within local politics. As a health scientist, coach, and systemic organizational consultant, she focuses on communication, resilience, and conflict management to support women in demanding leadership roles.

+49 (30) 3087760-62

moellereaf-berlinde

Birte Kruse-Gobrecht

Birte Kruse-Gobrecht is a lawyer who works as a mediator, systemic organizational consultant, and coach. As a former full-time mayor, she possesses extensive practical expertise, which she applies to her consulting work with municipalities, organizations, and leaders.

+49 (4532) 2847099

info@bkg-kompetenz.de