Simone Kehler is a woman who wears many hats : entrepreneur, speaker, publicist, co-founder and host of the podcast Female Empowerment. Raised in Paraguay with German-Canadian roots, and fluent in Spanish, German, English, she brings a global perspective in her work shaped by her studies abroad, and multicultural background.
Through her podcast, Simone explores the stories of women in politics and business. She also curates international exhibitions featuring Indigenous Paraguayan artists, and offers social media strategy advises for political and business figures. Her work is grounded in cultural sensitivity, and a commitment to building meaningful connections across borders.
A path with many turns
Simone Kehler’s journey began in the Chaco region of Paraguay, where her great-grandparents arrived from Canada in 1927. Her heritage, a blend of German, Canadian, and Paraguayan influences, became the quiet foundation of her identity. “It is a mixture of a lot of different cultures,” she shares.
“I never really thought I would make it as I did,” she admits. Studying abroad seemed at the beginning out of reach, mostly financially. “But life happens. It never really turns out the way you imagined, but you get there.” She had opportunities, and decided to take it, that eventually led her through this journey.
Throughout her international path, she has remained deeply connected to her roots. “I love Paraguay. I do have a sense of belonging,” she says. “But in terms of punctuality, that is more German. And the Canadian side comes through in being nice, to chat with people.”
Simone pursued studies in Paraguay, Germany, and Spain, accompanying her husband for his law master in Spain, but also seeking a broader academic experience. She studied Translation, Interpreting as well as Law. Each country left a mark: Germany taught her self-responsibility, while Spain helped her “really enjoy life and take off the pressure a bit more.”
Building cultural bridges
Earlier this year, Simone joined the official delegation of German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier on a week-long diplomatic tour through Uruguay, Paraguay, and Chile. The delegation included politicians, entrepreneurs, and cultural figures, all chosen to help strengthen ties between Germany and South America.
Simone was invited to share her own experiences, to exchange and connect among the diverse group. “Forming bridges, that is why we were invited,” she says, talking about all the members of the delegation invited on this trip. She participated in roundtable discussions with the President and other delegates, sharing her own experiences. For Simone, this opportunity was a reaffirming experience. She walked away with renewed appreciation for the value of time management, and a deeper sense of cultural sensitivity than ever before.
Amplifying women’s voices
Simone had long been interested in women’s careers, but the idea for her podcast took shape during a political event in Germany. While a student group debated gender parity, only the men shared their opinion. “Where are the women?” she asked herself. “We have to be more than just a percentage number. We have to show what we can do, right?”
With co-founder Isidora Suárez, she launched Female Empowerment a podcast to spotlight the stories of women in leadership. “To learn from their careers,” Simone explains, “and for our listeners to learn from their experiences.”
One standout guest on Simone’s podcast was Karolina Kristic, Chancellor and CFO of the Frankfurt School of Finance and Management. Her journey, from modest beginnings in Croatia to a leading role in one of Germany’s top institutions, deeply resonated with Simone. What struck her most was the belief in persistence.
“It is mostly in life about persistence: you do not give up,” Simone recalls. “I know you read these kinds of cliché-like quotes everywhere,” she adds, “but seeing it from somebody who lived it and who accomplished something in life, that kind of makes it more realistic to you.”
The podcast also became a space of growth and learning for Simone. “In general, never be afraid to approach people and invite them,” she says. “Because by nature, I am really shy. I do not like to approach, or it does not come easy to me to approach strangers. And since I mostly work with highly accomplished women, that can be intimidating.”
Still, this is a lesson she puts into practice with every episode, reaching out to entrepreneurs, diplomats, and political leaders with the confidence that the worst thing they can say is no.
Social media strategy advisor, and art curator
Simone Kehler’s entrepreneurial mindset shines through in her latest venture: social media consulting for politicians and companies. She offers tailored mentoring and in-depth training to help clients build strategic, authentic online presence. She offers both one-on-one mentoring, and in-depth courses designed to help clients truly understand the platforms they are using, their audiences, content formats and what strategies work best for their goals.
In parallel, Simone curates art exhibitions with a focus on Indigenous Paraguayan painters. “Their paintings are really raw, raw in the sense of they really give emotions from nature.” Seeing their work for the first time, she thought: ‘This deserves so much more visibility.’ That realisation became the beginning of her curatorial work across Europe.
What is next for Simone Kehler ?
Looking ahead, Simone is preparing a new Indigenous art exhibition in Germany (2026), expanding her podcast to new regions, and planning her first live women’s networking event. What is she proudest of? “Having the audacity to just go for the risks. I did not have the complete equipment at the beginning. But people gave me the benefit of the doubt.”
Her advice: “Never be afraid of starting something new,” Simone states. “As scary as it might look at first and just continue. Persistency is definitely the key.”
