We are pleased to host this special keynote, which takes place as part of the regular meetings of the women physicians in the Department I of Internal Medicine.
CRC 1530 Gender Equity Spotlight -
From Competence to Confidence: Making Your Expertise Visible
Speaker: Muriel Mertens,
Psychologist specializing in Positive Psychology
Date & Time: Wednesday, 8 July 2026, 1:00 pm (60 min.)
Location: CIO (building 70), seminar room 1
Chair: Anne Sophie Robertz,
Department I of Internal Medicine
Contents in brief:
In many professional environments, highly qualified women tend to underestimate their own abilities, hesitate to apply for new opportunities, or present themselves more cautiously than their expertise would warrant.
This interactive keynote combines evidence-based psychological insights with practical, everyday strategies to strengthen self-confidence, increase professional presence, and communicate with greater clarity and impact.
Participants will gain a deeper understanding of the psychological patterns that can undermine confidence and learn concrete tools to navigate challenging situations with greater composure, visibility, and self-assurance.
Participants will:
• understand common psychological patterns behind self-doubt and hesitation
• strengthen trust in their own competence and capabilities
• learn practical strategies for confident communication and professional presence
• develop greater flexibility and confidence in challenging situations
The session draws on research in self-efficacy, confidence, performance psychology, and communication, while offering practical techniques that can be applied immediately in everyday professional life.
This keynote is open to everybody.
Hybrid meeting:
If you are unable to attend in person, you are welcome to join via Zoom: https://uni-koeln.zoom.us/j/96326919182?pwd=Cd8MN66akRBo6NyDA56zGsEI3PfL0s.1
Although our event is not part of the University of Cologne's Diversity Week programme, we highly encourage you to attend the Diversity Week events, which address many of the themes relevant to our keynote, including diversity, inclusion, social inequality, gender and queer studies, mental health, and equal opportunities (to name just a few): Diversity-Woche "Du machst den Unterschied!"
We look forward to seeing you there!
