The 1980s – Finding my passion
Born in 1976 and growing up in the small town of Baden near Vienna (Austria), I was lucky that it only took until 1986 to find my passion for programming and IT. The 1980s marked the beginning of my journey in the software industry. It was during this time that I discovered my passion for technology and all things related to computers. I spent countless hours tinkering with hardware and software, always eager to learn more about how these machines worked not thinking of artificial intelligence at all. I would take apart my first computer (Commodore 64) and try to put it back together again, sometimes successfully and other times not.
The 1990s – The World Wide Web
The 1990s brought about a new era in technology with the advent of the World Wide Web. This was a game changer for me as I discovered the endless possibilities of the internet and how it could be used to connect people and businesses. I knew that this was where I wanted to focus my career. I attended an IT college in Vienna and eventually, I landed my first job as an RPG Programmer trying to save the world from the Year 2000 disaster – we all know that did not happen…
The 2000s – First Jobs
After my first job experience as a programmer, working on various projects for clients. I quickly realized I had a talent for analyzing and solving complex problems. I then moved on to become an IT consultant for Volvo, where I helped the company implement and optimize its IT systems (= a fancy explanation for setting up PCs, servers, printers, and networking equipment).
In 2006 I began to specialize in Business Intelligence and Data Analytics. I had the opportunity to work as a BI Consultant at Cognos/IBM. This experience provided me with a deep understanding of the importance of data in business and the potential it holds.
2010 – 2022 – Gaining experience
The 2010s were a time of gaining experience for me. In my first sales role at Oracle, I sold Business Intelligence software to businesses in Austria and Southeast Europe. The experience included both successes and failures and taught me about scaling sales. It highlighted the need for sales and marketing teams to work together towards sustainable growth in building lasting customer relationships. Subsequently, I sold Big Data Analytics software at Datameer, Alteryx, Microsoft, and Cortical.io. I was able to help businesses understand the value of data analytics. I honed my skills in sales and marketing and gained a deep understanding of the B2B software industry. It was also the time when I recognized the power of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Robotic Process Automation (RPA).
At my last “gig” at Cortical.io I got exposed to an innovative Natural Language Understanding (NLU) technology. These technologies have the potential to significantly improve the efficiency of Large Language Models like OpenAI’s ChatGPT.
I was fortunate to have worked for exceptional companies. I met the brightest people in the industry and had the chance to work on many digital innovation projects. But it was time for me to build my own thing.
2023 – Starting my own business
Starting my own business allowed me to offer expertise in Data & Analytics, Sales, and Marketing. Combining my passion for technology and professional knowledge, I help businesses leverage Data and Artificial Intelligence. The journey is exciting, and I look forward to empowering more businesses to unlock their data potential.