Deniz Aytekin is one of the best and most popular referees in Germany. For years, he has been one of the absolute top referees and was voted DFB Referee of the Year in 2019 and 2022. Deniz Aytekin is known for always keeping an overview, even in passionate matches. While fans appreciate his authentic attitude, players respect him for his ability to empathetically communicate even difficult decisions. Aytekin (*1978) has been a DFB referee since 2004. He has been a referee in the 2nd Bundesliga since 2006, and made his debut in the 1st Bundesliga in 2008 at the Hertha BSC versus Energie Cottbus match. From 2011 to 2022, Deniz Aytekin was also a FIFA referee and in this capacity served as Additional Assistant Referee at the 2012 European Championship in Poland and Ukraine. In the 2016/2017 season, he refereed the DFB Cup final between Eintracht Frankfurt and Borussia Dortmund. Off the pitch, the graduate in business administration is co-founder and chairman of the supervisory board of anwalt.de services AG, the leading legal advice platform in Germany, as well as founder and managing director of the online marketplace fitnessmarkt.de. In 2003, Deniz Aytekin was awarded the Bavarian Order of Merit as one of the best referees nationally and internationally. In his laudatio, Minister President Söder described him as a "true role model of Bavarian football". As an entrepreneur and Bundesliga referee, Deniz Aytekin is a top decision-maker both in business and on the football pitch. Scientifically grounded and with many analogies from professional football, Deniz Aytekin conveys new perspectives on leadership, decision-making under pressure and error culture in his entertaining and inspiring keynotes. Professional, authentic and pleasantly unexcited - this is how Deniz Aytekin impresses as a sought-after speaker at management conferences, customer meetings and employee events.