Speaker day - Regional Revitalization & Startups x Co-working
Part of Taiwan Digital Fest (TDF), Taiwan’s largest and most iconic digital nomad festival, bringing together global nomads, creators, entrepreneurs, and local communities across Taiwan. Learn more at fest.dna.org.tw.
1.Mental Performance for Leaders
Speaker:Agnes Johanna Schmidt
Organization & Title:Company name "build.inside", Peak Performance Coach for Founders"
Brief Professional Introduction
31 y old German Theologian (BC and MA) and meditation teacher (18+ years of experience) specializing in mental performance coaching for founders. I integrate monastic practices with modern psychology to strengthen self-leadership, clarity, and resilience - helping leaders build successful companies without burning out or losing inner stability.
Topic Description
I notive in the many conversations I have with founders, that many excel at execution, speed, and growth — but neglect the system that drives all of it: their own mental and emotional state. Over time, this leads to reduced clarity, reactive decisions, and hidden burnout.
This talk reframes mental performance as a leadership skill. You’ll see how your internal state directly shapes decision quality, team dynamics, and long-term company outcomes.
Drawing from monastic traditions—adapted into a practical, secular format—and supported by modern psychology, this session introduces precise tools to stabilize focus, regulate stress, and maintain inner clarity under pressure.
We’ll address common founder realities: constant uncertainty, high responsibility, and the pressure to perform without losing direction or energy. Instead of pushing harder, you’ll learn how to build a stable inner foundation that sustains both performance and well-being.
The aim is not only to succeed externally, but to lead with coherence—where clarity, resilience, and purpose reinforce execution.
For founders in fast-moving environments, this offers a grounded approach to strengthening self-leadership as a competitive advantage.
2.The ‘Multi-Identity’ Career｜How I Became a Cross-Border Freelancer
Speaker:RU-YUN CHIU 邱如韻 (Diana)
Organization & Title:Freelancer
Brief Professional Introduction
Diana is currently a freelancer with 15+ experiences (including working as a contractor, part-timer, cooperations in projects, etc) in diverse aspects, such as SEO, content generation, educational design, teaching, recruiting, sales, etc. She has cooperated with organizations from various locations, including the US, Hong Kong, South Korea, Singapore, and more.
Topic Description
In this talk, Diana will share the story of how she left her job and became a “multi-identity” freelancer with experiences across education, SEO, sales, recruiting, and others. Rather than presenting freelancing as a glamorous or simple path, she will offer an practical look at what it really takes to create this route.
Diana will share her thoughts in documenting income sources, finding diverse opportunities, and reflecting on the realities of freelancing: managing uncertainty, dealing with inconsistent income, and balancing freedom with work.
This session is suitable for people who are curious about freelancing, considering a nontraditional career path, or trying to create a more flexible working life. Through practical methods and personal experiences, Diana will share how to build a more diverse career while facing the realities and trade-offs that come with greater independence.
3.From Local Roots to Global Reach: How Emerging Regions Can Build Digital-First Economies
Speaker:Cynne Paul Hayon
Organizations and Affiliations
- Co-founder and Chief Marketing Officer, Hex Colony
- Founder and Managing Director, Egg Yellow Philippines
- Co-founder, Balangay Tech Tribe
- Co-founder and Chief Operations Officer, Carago Inc.
Brief Professional Introduction
Cynne Paul Hayon is a marketing consultant specializing in SEO, AI citation, and indexing. He is co-founder and CMO of Hex Colony, founder of Egg Yellow Philippines, and co-founder of Balangay Tech Tribe and Carago Inc., helping organizations build data-driven systems through human-centered, technology-driven strategies.
Topic Description
This talk explores how emerging regions can transform local strengths into globally competitive, digital-first economies. It examines how businesses and communities can leverage technology, data, and human-centered strategies to overcome geographic limitations and unlock new opportunities for growth.
Drawing from real-world experience in regional ecosystem building, the session highlights practical approaches to strengthening digital infrastructure, developing local talent, and creating sustainable innovation systems. It also discusses how search visibility, AI-driven discovery, and scalable marketing systems enable local enterprises to reach international markets.
Participants will gain insights into building resilient, future-ready economies by aligning government, private sector, and community efforts. The talk emphasizes that global competitiveness is no longer limited by location but driven by the ability to adapt, collaborate, and strategically use digital tools to amplify local potential.
4.Flag Portfolio: Taiwan's East Coast needs a spot in your Flag Portfolio.
Speaker:Philipp Marxen
Organization & Title:Director of Asiaglot, Language Walk, Spacecontext, and related initiatives
Brief Professional Introduction
Originally from Germany, I’ve spent about 15 years living and working abroad, building a career that spans Latin America, Europe, and Asia, primarily within the finance, tech and real estate sectors.
I’ve been deeply passionate about the digital nomad and flag portfolio lifestyle for over a decade. As an active practitioner of building out a Flag Portfolio, I currently hold residencies in three different countries outside of Germany, plus an Estonian e-residency. In the past, I’ve leveraged this international experience to consult on global banking solutions for agencies that support the digital nomad community.
Beyond consulting, I love building global communities. I’ve organized digital nomad events in Germany and Mongolia, and participated in countless others worldwide. Most recently, I’ve been organizing the Asiaglot festival right here in Taiwan - a vibrant gathering primarily for language enthusiasts, but one that naturally attracts a large community of digital nomads.
I’m thrilled to be at the Digital Nomad Fest in Taitung, and I'm especially looking forward to connecting with everyone and starting a conversation about building a Flag Portfolio in Taiwan!
Topic Description
While there is growing interest among foreigners relocating to Taiwan and Taiwanese citizens looking to diversify their assets and establish bases abroad, few approach this through the comprehensive lens of building a Flag Portfolio.
In this talk, I will demystify the Flag Portfolio concept and explain why intentionally building one makes sense in today’s world. Drawing on personal anecdotes from planting my very first flags several decades ago and staying the course, we will explore how to look beyond the traditional focuses of nationality, residency, and taxes. A true portfolio encompasses much more, integrating essential aspects like healthcare, education, and lifestyle design.
Specifically, we will examine how Taiwan fits into a global strategy, and why Taitung and the East Coast have a unique opportunity to shine within a well-rounded Flag Portfolio.
Finally, we will address the vital philosophy of giving back. How do we shift from a mindset of simply receiving to actively contributing to our host communities out of genuine free will? Join me to explore this constantly evolving field, share experiences, and learn from one another.