The Optimist – Conversations with the leaders and industries shaping Europe’s digital future
TECH by HANDELSBLATT MEDIA GROUP GmbH
Podcast
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
Can Data Make Cities More Human?
07.07.2026•19:59
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?
23.06.2026•39:49
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.
Europe’s Path to Technological Survivability
26.05.2026•33:30
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
12.05.2026•26:47
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?
14.04.2026•29:06
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.