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Artwork for The Optimist – Conversations with the leaders and industries shaping Europe’s digital future

The Optimist – Conversations with the leaders and industries shaping Europe’s digital future

TECH by HANDELSBLATT MEDIA GROUP GmbH
Automotive Industry
Innovation
Artificial Intelligence
Digital Sovereignty
E-Mobility
Germany
SAP
Electric Vehicles
Industrial Metaverse
Bureaucracy
Transformation
Entrepreneurship
BCG
Geopolitics
Robotaxis
Global Competitors
Technology Investment
Venture Capital
European Startups
Sustainability

Welcome to The Optimist! Enjoy real talk with the leaders shaping Europe’s future, exploring the innovations that drive progress across the continent. The Optimist is presented and produced by ‘TECH by Handelsblatt‘ and hosted by Dr. Dale Rickert, Managing Director at TECH by Handelsblatt. The Optimist builds a year-round community leading up to the Technology Experience Convention Heilbronn (TECH... more

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes15Foundeda year ago
Number of ListenersCategories
BusinessTechnology

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Artwork for The Optimist – Conversations with the leaders and industries shaping Europe’s digital future

Latest Episodes

Carla Husted from Mercator Foundation and Kai Zenner from European Parliament

Europe depends on foreign cloud providers, global platforms, and tech giants - but at what cost?

In this powerful episode of The Optimist, Dr. Dale Rickard is joined by Ca... more

Christian Kirschniak, Managing Director and Partner at BCG

AI is everywhere — in boardrooms, in strategy decks, and in daily workflows.

But are we truly integrating it or just experimenting?

In this episode of The Optimist, Dale Rickert speaks with... more

Claudia Alsdorf, Head of Business Development at Schwarz Digits

What if Europe’s biggest security risk isn’t digital — but physical?

In this episode of The Optimist, Dale speaks with Claudia Alsdorf, Head of Business Development at Schwarz Digits, a... more

Dale Rickert, Managing Director at TECH by Handelsblatt & Moritz Schönleber, Head of Event Production at Handelsblatt

Europe is standing at a turning point — technologically, politically, and economically.

So how do we shape the future instead of jus... more

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Recent Guests

Christian Kirschniak
Managing Director and Partner at BCG
Boston Consulting Group (BCG)
Episode: AI, Strategy & Leadership - Leading End-to-End Transformation
Claudia Alsdorf
Head of Business Development at Schwarz Digits
Schwarz Digits
Episode: Sovereignty Starts with Infrastructure
Alexander Lorbeer
Seasoned executive in the transformation space, previously in publishing
Ada
Episode: What is the secret of reinventing organizations, Alexander Lorbeer?
Matthias Biniok
Leads Client Engineering in Germany, Austria and Switzerland at IBM
IBM
Episode: Can Sovereign AI be Europe’s superpower, Matthias Biniok?
Robert Rosellen
Manages Germany operations at ServiceNow
ServiceNow
Episode: Is technology the savior of bureaucracy, Robert Rosellen?
Sabine Scheunert
CEO of Central Europe at Dassault Systèmes
Dassault Systèmes
Episode: What is the real impact of virtual worlds, Sabine Scheunert?
Marco Iannaccone
Head of Client Solutions Germany and member of the Executive Board of Hypofeinsbank and Unicredit Bank
Hypofeisnbank and Unicredit Bank
Episode: How can European startups reach the next level, Marco Iannaccone and Alexander Kudlich?
Alexander Kudlich
Founding general partner at 468 Capital and one of the most prolific German tech investors
468 Capital
Episode: How can European startups reach the next level, Marco Iannaccone and Alexander Kudlich?
Frank Göller
Partner of Automotive at Horvath and expert in the automotive transformation.
Horvath
Episode: How can Europe lead the car-tech revolution, Frank Göller?

Host

Felix Zeltner
Host of The Optimist. Noted for engaging conversations that connect technology and leadership insights.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#59
Germany/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#60
Austria/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#194
Belgium/Technology

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

AI, Strategy & Leadership - Leading End-to-End Transformation
Q: What uncomfortable AI question should leaders ask themselves?
Do I really need to use AI for a given task, or would it add unnecessary complexity; AI should augment human decisions, not overtake core processes.
AI, Strategy & Leadership - Leading End-to-End Transformation
Q: What is Europe's realistic competitive advantage in AI according to the guest?
Europe should leverage its industrial data space, legacy manufacturing networks, and industry-specific models rather than attempting to build another large language model; the focus is on practical, sector-specific AI capabilities.
AI, Strategy & Leadership - Leading End-to-End Transformation
Q: What should AI's role be on stage at the TECH conference in Heilbronn?
The role is to open attendees' eyes to what's possible, showcase a diverse program, including real-time translation, and help attendees translate insights into practical, strategic actions for their businesses.
What is the secret of reinventing organizations, Alexander Lorbeer?
Q: What do you believe leaders often misunderstand about transformation?
Many leaders fear uncertainty and ambiguity, which leads to indecision and stagnation in transformational efforts. They must acknowledge the emotional impact of transformation on their teams.
What is the secret of reinventing organizations, Alexander Lorbeer?
Q: What does transformation mean to you and why is it so challenging?
Transformation is a whole system change within an organization, involving simultaneous changes across various elements such as culture, tech, and structure. It is challenging due to the required capacity to adapt all these elements continuously.

Audience Metrics

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Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
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Professions
Age Range
Household Income
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Frequently Asked Questions About This Podcast

What is This Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Engaging with the leaders of Europe, this series explores the innovations and advancements that shape the continent's digital future. The discussions feature insights from various industries, covering topics that range from artificial intelligence and technology transformation to the impact of digital sovereignty. Unique to this series is its focus on the optimism surrounding Europe's technological ecosystem, emphasizing the potential for growth and adaptation in the face of global competition. Listeners can expect a mix of expert opinions, success stories, and the challenges faced in leveraging technology for progress, making it a valuable resource for those interested in European tech advancements and strategies.

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this podcast launched a year ago and published 15 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on this podcast?

Recent guests on this podcast include:

1. Christian Kirschniak
2. Claudia Alsdorf
3. Alexander Lorbeer
4. Matthias Biniok
5. Robert Rosellen
6. Sabine Scheunert
7. Marco Iannaccone
8. Alexander Kudlich

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