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Rating
5from
This podcast has
22 episodes
Language
EnglishExplicit
No
Date created
2025/02/11
Latest episode
2026/07/07
Average duration
33 min.
Release period
30 days
Description
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). With TECH, Handelsblatt Media Group, Handelsblatt and Schwarz Digits are creating a strategic platform to strengthen the European tech ecosystem. TECH‘s mission is to establish a „cluster of optimism“, connecting Europe’s most influential leaders across technology, industry, politics, and academia. More at tech-europe.org
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Podcast episodes
Check latest episodes from The Optimist – Conversations with the leaders and industries shaping Europe’s digital future podcast
Can Data Make Cities More Human?
2026/07/07
Cities generate more data than ever before. But can that data help us create better places to live?
In this episode of The Optimist, Dale Rickert speaks with Carlo Ratti, Director of the MIT Senseable City Lab and CEO of Carlo Ratti Associati, about how data, AI, and human intelligence are transforming the future of urban life.
If anything's possible with AI, then what do we value?
2026/06/23
In this episode of The Optimist, Dale Rickert speaks with Jochen Ditsche, Global Head of Digital Team at Roland Berger, about how AI is reshaping expertise, work, and human value in an age of infinite information.
From automation and digital distraction to consulting, leadership, and education, Jochen argues that the future won’t belong to those with the most information, but to those who can apply judgment, create meaning, and build genuine human connections. As AI makes knowledge increasingly accessible, skills like focus, context, critical thinking, and relationship-building become more important than ever.
Beyond AI: The Human Factor in a Changing World
2026/06/09
In this episode of The Optimist, Dale Rickard speaks with Jan Brorhilker, Managing Partner Assurance at EY Germany, about how AI is reshaping leadership, careers, and the role of human skills in the workplace.
Europe’s Path to Technological Survivability
2026/05/26
In this episode of The Optimist, Dale Rickert speaks with Holger Schell, Head of Technology & Foundation, Schwarz Digits, about the infrastructure layer behind Europe’s digital future.
They explore why sovereignty is no longer just a political concept, but a technical and operational necessity. From cloud infrastructure and security to resilient architectures and trusted systems.
From AI Pilots to Real Systems — Why Frameworks Matter
2026/05/12
AI is everywhere — but most of it never scales.
In this episode of The Optimist, Dale Rickert speaks with Matthias Emler, Partner at Horváth, about why so many AI initiatives get stuck in pilots and what it really takes to turn them into scalable systems.
From AI Hype to AI Workflows: Where do companies really create business value?
2026/04/14
In this episode of The Optimist, Dale Rickert speaks with Oliver Steil, CEO of TeamViewer, about what it really takes to move from AI experimentation to operational impact.
They explore why the biggest challenge isn’t capability, but integration — how AI fits into real processes, systems, and day-to-day work. From fragmented pilots to complex enterprise environments, the conversation reveals why workflows are the true battleground of AI.
Europe’s AI Moment: From Industry Strength to Global Leadership
2026/03/31
In this episode of The Optimist, Dale Rickard speaks with Thomas Saueressig, Chief Customer Officer and Member of the Executive Board at SAP SE, about what it really takes to turn AI into measurable business value.
From productivity gains across entire value chains to the importance of business context, data, and trust — this conversation goes beyond hype and dives into execution.
Digital Sovereignty: Can Europe Take Back Control?
2026/03/17
In this powerful episode of The Optimist, Dr. Dale Rickard is joined by Carla Husted (Mercator Foundation) and Kai Zenner (European Parliament) to tackle one of the most urgent questions of our time:
Can Europe become digitally sovereign — and what happens if it doesn’t?
AI, Strategy & Leadership - Leading End-to-End Transformation
2026/03/03
In this episode of The Optimist, Dale Rickert speaks with Christian Kirschniak, Managing Director and Partner at BCG, about what it takes to move from pilots to real, AI-led transformation. They explore why governance matters more than tools, how legacy systems slow progress, and why leadership - not technology - ultimately determines success.
Sovereignty Starts with Infrastructure
2026/02/17
In this episode of The Optimist, Dale speaks with Claudia Alsdorf, Head of Business Development at Schwarz Digits, about why sovereignty starts far earlier than cloud strategy — and why infrastructure, data ownership, and trust are becoming decisive competitive advantages.
Optimism in challenging times - Setting the Stage for TECH 2026
2026/02/03
Europe is at a turning point and we're exploring how to shape the future instead of merely reacting to it. Press play and join the movement.
What is the secret of reinventing organizations, Alexander Lorbeer?
2025/06/30
Most “transformation” efforts flop – ada’s CEO Alexander Lorbeer explains why, what to do instead, and how AI might lead teams, but can’t replace your gut (yet).
Can Sovereign AI be Europe’s superpower, Matthias Biniok?
2025/06/16
What if Europe’s edge in AI isn’t speed or scale – but trust, values, and smart rules? IBM’s Matthias Biniok makes the case for “Sovereign AI” as the new chance for the continent to win the tech race.
How is Germany’s Mittelstand winning in tech, Jan Brorhilker?
2025/06/03
Can the Mittelstand go global, go green, and go AI? EY’s Jan Brorhilker busts myths about Germany’s quiet powerhouses.
Is technology the savior of bureaucracy, Robert Rosellen?
2025/05/19
Don’t print this email: ServiceNow’s Robert Rosellen on why Europe’s biggest digital opportunity lies in the public sector.
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