Behind the Scenes with President von der Leyen’s Speechwriter – Crafting Impactful Political Speeches

In this episode, Sevim Aktas chats with Elias Kuehn von Burgsdorff, speechwriter for European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. 🌍✨

Elias shares his journey from history and economics to crafting speeches for Europe’s top leader—plus tips on storytelling, clarity, and impact.

Key Takeaways:

👉🏽 Mastering Speechwriting Skills – Elias highlights storytelling, logical argument structure, and simplifying complex topics for diverse audiences.

👉🏽 Daily Workflow & Processes – Insights into managing deadlines, research strategies, and collaborating with stakeholders for high-impact speeches.

👉🏽 AI in Speechwriting – Practical uses of AI for efficiency while preserving human creativity and oversight in major speeches.

Chapters

• 00:01:06 Career Journey to Presidential Speechwriter
• 00:03:58 Essential Skills for Speechwriting
• 00:11:41 Daily Routine and Speech Creation Process
• 00:21:31 AI Integration in Speechwriting
• 00:23:18 Tips for Aspiring Writers

Guest Links:

🔗 ****LinkedIn: ⁠Elias Kuehn von Burgsdorff⁠

🔗 Book recommendation from Elias: Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman

🔗 Newsletter tip: ⁠Adam Tooze's Chartbook⁠

Engagement Links:

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Disclaimer: The views expressed on this podcasts are personal and do not necessarily reflect the official position of the European Commission.

This podcast was edited by Puck Wagemaker.