

The Optimist – Conversations with the leaders and industries shaping Europe’s digital future
TECH by HANDELSBLATT MEDIA GROUP GmbH
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
- 20 episodes
- Updated July 7
Episodes20
July 7 · 19 min
June 23 · 39 minIf anything's possible with AI, then what do we value?
June 9 · 37 minBeyond AI: The Human Factor in a Changing World
May 26 · 33 minEurope’s Path to Technological Survivability
May 12 · 26 minFrom AI Pilots to Real Systems — Why Frameworks Matter

March 31 · 36 minEurope’s AI Moment: From Industry Strength to Global Leadership
March 17 · 40 minDigital Sovereignty: Can Europe Take Back Control?
March 3 · 35 minAI, Strategy & Leadership - Leading End-to-End Transformation
February 17 · 33 minSovereignty Starts with Infrastructure
February 3 · 20 minOptimism in challenging times - Setting the Stage for TECH 2026
Jun 30, 2025 · 31 minWhat is the secret of reinventing organizations, Alexander Lorbeer?
Jun 16, 2025 · 35 minCan Sovereign AI be Europe’s superpower, Matthias Biniok?
Jun 3, 2025 · 33 minHow is Germany’s Mittelstand winning in tech, Jan Brorhilker?
May 19, 2025 · 32 minIs technology the savior of bureaucracy, Robert Rosellen?
May 12, 2025 · 26 minWhat is the real impact of virtual worlds, Sabine Scheunert?

Apr 22, 2025 · 39 minHow can Europe lead the car-tech revolution, Frank Göller?
Apr 7, 2025 · 50 minWhat does it mean to be a tech leader, Thomas Saueressig?
Mar 25, 2025 · 51 minAre AI agents our new colleagues, Kathrin Schwan & Tobias Regenfuß?