Munich, Bavaria, Germany
Hi, I'm Tristan — Interim Head of AI, AI strategist, keynote speaker, author, and CEO & Founder of the AI Strategy Institute. I help organizations make AI work — as an interim AI leader inside companies, on stage as a speaker, and through funded AI training for their teams. For smaller companies, our programs are up to 100% funded through Germany's Qualifizierungschancengesetz (QCG). 📩 I'm also active in shaping how AI is adopted in Germany and beyond: I serve on the Standing Committee (Ständiger Ausschuss) of the KI-Bundesverband (German AI Association), was elected to the General Assembly (Vollversammlung) of the IHK Munich, and advise organizations including the United Nations as an AI expert. Earlier, I built up one of Europe's largest AI startup incubators. I'm also a Faculty Member for AI at BCG and teach AI at the intersection of management and strategy at several universities. I write about AI strategy and AI-first organizations. "AI Native" (Hanser) and "10 harte Wahrheiten über Künstliche Intelligenz" (with Klaus Madzia, Plassen).
We help companies become AI-fit — from strategy to upskilling their teams to real implementation in day-to-day work. Our core program: certified AI Transformation Manager training. Three modules from strategy to AI fluency to Responsible AI & Governance (EU AI Act, data protection) — part-time, online, with real projects from participants' own work. For smaller companies, up to 100% funded through Germany's Qualifizierungschancengesetz (QCG). Alongside: AI strategy workshops for leadership teams, tool-based training for whole teams, and AI transformation consulting.
I help organizations make AI actually work — hands-on, not just on paper. Most of my work is as an interim Head of AI: I step into companies and take ownership of their AI — setting the strategy, building the roadmap, and driving it through from the first use case to something that actually runs in day-to-day operations. Alongside that, I speak at conferences and events on AI, GenAI, and AI for innovation (fast-paced, practical, no buzzword bingo), and I advise startups, SMEs, and public and private organizations on their AI strategy. I also run workshops and teach university courses for both technical and non-technical audiences, and I support AI startups as an advisor, venture builder, jury member, and investor. Over the years I've worked with GovTech Campus, Bitkom, Munich Tech Days, the Austrian Parliament, the City of Munich, the Bavarian AI Agency, Bosch, Ver.di, Allianz, and many others.
The UNDP AI Sprint is a flagship initiative advancing responsible and inclusive AI adoption for sustainable development. Within this framework, the Country AI Enablement Pillar provides targeted support to governments and UNDP Country Offices to strengthen national AI ecosystems focusing on strategy design, capacity development, literacy, trust and safety, and human-centered AI governance. Across the RBEC region, countries are at varying stages of digital transformation and AI maturity. Building responsible, inclusive, and development-oriented AI systems requires not only robust national strategies but also enhanced public sector capacity, improved AI literacy, and strengthened public engagement.
Author of a forthcoming management book on AI-first organizations, AI strategy, and organizational transformation. • Examines how companies can translate AI capabilities into sustainable business value • Covers use-case development, governance models, operating structures, and cultural transformation • Draws on applied experience across enterprises, startups, academia, and public-sector institutions German edition scheduled for publication in April 2026. English edition (AI Native: Strategies for a New Kind of Organisation) scheduled for mid-2026.
Faculty member and trainer for upskilling in the area of AI/GenAI