Karsten Garn

Data & AI Builder | Scaling business-driven capabilities | Driving ownership

Wuppertal, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

About

AI ambition is easy. Operationalizing it is not. Sustainable Data & AI capability is not built through tools alone. It is built through structure, ownership and business alignment. In my current role, I am building and shaping a Data & AI function with a clear objective: turn strategic intent into measurable business impact. My focus includes: • Defining and prioritizing business-critical use cases • Establishing clear ownership and decision structures • Designing scalable governance and operating models • Embedding AI into core processes — ensuring experimentation is aligned with business priorities I work at the intersection of business leadership, technology and organizational design. The ambition is clear: Move Data & AI from initiative mode to operational reality. Because impact does not come from experimentation alone — it comes from direction, accountability and execution.

Experience

  • Manager Data & AI at BDO DIGITAL GmbH
    May 2022 - Present · 4 yrs 2 mos

    Building and leading a growing Data & AI capability (currently 3 FTE plus external experts and working students) with focus on scalable, business-driven impact. • Establishing and leading a dedicated Data & AI team, defining roles, responsibilities and collaboration model across internal and external contributors • Designing a structured use-case intake and prioritization approach aligned with business strategy • Implementing governance and “Know Your Data” principles as foundation for reliable AI processes • Creating transparency on data ownership, data quality and data flows across business domains • Driving selected AI use cases from concept to operational deployment • Integrating change and enablement into the Data & AI operating model to secure leadership buy-in and cross-functional adoption • Acting as bridge between business stakeholders and IT to ensure feasibility, accountability and sustainable adoption Focus: Turning experimentation into scalable capability — built on trusted data, clear ownership and organizational adoption.

  • Organizational Change & Transformation Advisor at Karsten Garn
    2006 - Present · 20 yrs 6 mos

    Advising organizations and leaders on structural transformation and sustainable capability building. • Designing transformation roadmaps and stakeholder alignment strategies • Supporting leadership teams in structural change and governance redesign • Embedding new operating models into daily business execution • Focusing on measurable adoption rather than communication-driven change Approach: Change is not communication. It is structural alignment between strategy, accountability and behavior.

  • Sales Specialist at Vodafone
    Jan 2006 - Jun 2006 · 6 mos

  • Education Consultant & Project Manager at Self-employed
    Mar 2003 - Dec 2005 · 2 yrs 10 mos

  • Technical Manager Education Center at Hewlett Packard Enterprise
    Sep 2000 - Feb 2003 · 2 yrs 6 mos