< Speaker / Facilitator >

Connect in LinkedIn

Axel Hecklau is one of Germany's most renowned magicians. As a World Vice-Champion in Parlour Magic, he has shared the stage with Las Vegas stars Penn & Teller, performed at the legendary Magic Castle in Hollywood, and captivates audiences on international tours. Based in Berlin, he combines grand stage performance with an intimate connection with his audience, for example in his weekly show 'Salon der Wunder' at the Kulturbrauerei. His performances thrive on a moment he masters like no other: surprise, that split second between expectation and reality, when wonder begins.

Surprise: The Play with Expectation

17.09

CIC Berlin

< About >

A satisfactory product meets the customer's expectations. A great one breaks those expectations at just the right moment.

Axel Hecklau is the World Vice-Champion of Magic and appeared as a guest on the TV series Penn & Teller: Fool Us. He thrives on precisely that half-second between expectation and event, the moment we call 'surprise'. He talks about and demonstrates how surprise works, and why surprises are the key to products that people remember and stay loyal to.

In his talk he reveals the theoretical side of his art only; the show that follows brings his theory of surprise to life in a practical, astonishing, and very entertaining way.

< Key learnings >

  • Why surprise, not mere satisfaction, is what makes a product memorable and builds loyalty

  • How the half-second between expectation and reality creates emotional impact you can design for

  • What a World-Champion magician's craft teaches product leaders about breaking expectations on purpose

< Tickets >

Join the

Product

Week

Top Tickets

Online

Sept 17

Conf Summer Bird

Main stage talks, 2 Deep Dive rooms, roundtables & networking on: → How top companies are building agentic products → Adopting AI in the product operating model → Tackle new challenges in craft, strategy & alignment

50 Avaiable

1 Sept: €599

€399

Inc. VAT

Show perks

Sept 15/16 + 17

Bundle 2 Day

Conference Day (Sept 17) + 1 day between: → Craft & AI Day (Sept 16, 5x20seats parallel workshop tracks on: building AI products, judgment, strategy & personal AI OS) or → Leaders Day (Sept 15, AI strategy & building AI-native teams, for 60 people managers)

Get your Bundle

30 Left

from

€999

Inc. VAT

Show perks

Sept 15-17

Bundle 3 Day

The complete Productlab Conference 2026: ✓ Leaders Day (Sept 15) ✓ AI/Craft Day (Sept 16) ✓ Conference Day (Sept 17)

All three days

€1,499

Inc. VAT

Show perks

Accepted payment methods

Credit Card

Pay directly, get reimbursed.

Bank Transfer

Request invoice, forward to finance.

Top Tickets

Online

Sept 17

Conf Summer Bird

Main stage talks, 2 Deep Dive rooms, roundtables & networking on: → How top companies are building agentic products → Adopting AI in the product operating model → Tackle new challenges in craft, strategy & alignment

50 Avaiable

1 Sept: €599

€399

Inc. VAT

Show perks

Sept 15/16 + 17

Bundle 2 Day

Conference Day (Sept 17) + 1 day between: → Craft & AI Day (Sept 16, 5x20seats parallel workshop tracks on: building AI products, judgment, strategy & personal AI OS) or → Leaders Day (Sept 15, AI strategy & building AI-native teams, for 60 people managers)

Get your Bundle

30 Left

from

€999

Inc. VAT

Show perks

Sept 15-17

Bundle 3 Day

The complete Productlab Conference 2026: ✓ Leaders Day (Sept 15) ✓ AI/Craft Day (Sept 16) ✓ Conference Day (Sept 17)

All three days

€1,499

Inc. VAT

Show perks

Accepted payment methods

Credit Card

Pay directly, get reimbursed.

Bank Transfer

Request invoice, forward to finance.

Top Tickets

Online

Sept 17

Conf Summer Bird

Main stage talks, 2 Deep Dive rooms, roundtables & networking on: → How top companies are building agentic products → Adopting AI in the product operating model → Tackle new challenges in craft, strategy & alignment

50 Avaiable

1 Sept: €599

€399

Inc. VAT

Show perks

Sept 15/16 + 17

Bundle 2 Day

Conference Day (Sept 17) + 1 day between: → Craft & AI Day (Sept 16, 5x20seats parallel workshop tracks on: building AI products, judgment, strategy & personal AI OS) or → Leaders Day (Sept 15, AI strategy & building AI-native teams, for 60 people managers)

Get your Bundle

30 Left

from

€999

Inc. VAT

Show perks

Sept 15-17

Bundle 3 Day

The complete Productlab Conference 2026: ✓ Leaders Day (Sept 15) ✓ AI/Craft Day (Sept 16) ✓ Conference Day (Sept 17)

All three days

€1,499

Inc. VAT

Show perks

Accepted payment methods

Credit Card

Pay directly, get reimbursed.

Bank Transfer

Request invoice, forward to finance.

Top Tickets

Online

Sept 17

Conf Summer Bird

Main stage talks, 2 Deep Dive rooms, roundtables & networking on: → How top companies are building agentic products → Adopting AI in the product operating model → Tackle new challenges in craft, strategy & alignment

50 Avaiable

1 Sept: €599

€399

Inc. VAT

Show perks

Sept 15/16 + 17

Bundle 2 Day

Conference Day (Sept 17) + 1 day between: → Craft & AI Day (Sept 16, 5x20seats parallel workshop tracks on: building AI products, judgment, strategy & personal AI OS) or → Leaders Day (Sept 15, AI strategy & building AI-native teams, for 60 people managers)

Get your Bundle

30 Left

from

€999

Inc. VAT

Show perks

Sept 15-17

Bundle 3 Day

The complete Productlab Conference 2026: ✓ Leaders Day (Sept 15) ✓ AI/Craft Day (Sept 16) ✓ Conference Day (Sept 17)

All three days

€1,499

Inc. VAT

Show perks

Accepted payment methods

Credit Card

Pay directly, get reimbursed.

Bank Transfer

Request invoice, forward to finance.

<Conference>

Checkout

Agenda

Lineup

Week Overview

Conference Day

Leaders Day

LABs Day

Location/Book Hotel

FAQ

<Community>

Next event

Newsletter

EU Conferences

< Newsletter >

Join our newsletter to stay up
to date on features and releases.

© 2026 Productlab

AI summury

Imprint

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

404

Brand Asset

About us

<Conference>

Checkout

Agenda

Lineup

Week Overview

Conference Day

Leaders Day

LABs Day

Location/Book Hotel

FAQ

<Community>

Next event

Newsletter

EU Conferences

< Newsletter >

Join our newsletter to stay up
to date on features and releases.

Imprint

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

404

Brand Asset

About us

© 2026 Productlab

AI summury

<Conference>

Checkout

Agenda

Lineup

Week Overview

Conference Day

Leaders Day

LABs Day

Location/Hotel

FAQ

<Community>

Next event

Newsletter

EU Conferences

< Newsletter >

Join our newsletter to stay up
to date on features and releases.

© 2026 Productlab

AI summury

Imprint

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

404

Brand Asset

About us