Recap: IVS International Forum «AI for Business Leaders»
AI for Business Leaders: Workshop with Tata Matyesyan
On Tuesday, October 28th, IVS International Forum had the pleasure and honor of hosting one of the most creative sessions in its history: the AI for Business Leaders workshop. The topical theme and the chance to learn hands-on from an established expert attracted senior leaders from across the Canton of Schaffhausen.
Malgorzata Stelmach welcomed everyone on behalf of the IVS International Forum team, herself, Markus Angst and Oliver Rütsch, as well as the event sponsor Cloud Software Group Switzerland Citrix, where she serves as Managing Director. She introduced workshop leader Tata Maytesyan, former Nike marketeer, founder and CEO of Grow Global Tech and AI Society Switzerland. Tata works with organisations large and small in Switzerland and abroad and describes herself, with good reason, as an AI enthusiast. IVS IF also welcomed its guests of honor, IVS Presidents Bernhard Klauser and Martin Vögel. Malgorzata gave a brief overview of the mission and vision of IVS IF and encouraged those not yet involved to join IVS and help shape Schaffhausen’s future. She also introduced CSG Citrix, part of the Schaffhausen business community for more than 25 years.
IVS IF was very pleased to host the event at the Go Tec! Labor, one of the most impactful and forward-looking initiatives of IVS and the Canton of Schaffhausen. It is where young people in the region experience technologies such as coding, solar and 3D. We were honored that Managing Director Martin Sengel joined us to welcome the audience and present the work and achievements of Go Tec!.
Exploring the Future of Work
Then it was time to dive in. Tata invited the senior audience, including representatives of almost all major international players in the canton, to explore the future of work. She started with a clear explanation of what AI and LLMs actually are and what they are not. She also described the current market situation and strategies for dealing with change and resistance to new technologies.
The audience then chose Lindsay Keim’s idea of a Craft Beer Bar at Breite as the first practical case. Together with Tata and with the help of AI tools, participants created a business plan, a logo, a website and even outlined the opening event. All within minutes.
Hands-On Work with AI Tools
Encouraged by this start, the group continued to work on their own with well designed challenges. The workshop led through an impressive range of tools, from more common ones such as Gemini and ChatGPT to playful discoveries like Reve.art, Perplexity and others. The energy in the room stayed high.
Closing and Next Steps
To round off the event, participants enjoyed a networking apero sponsored by CSG Citrix, featuring GVS wines and snacks from Restaurant Grünerbaum. The feedback was excellent. Many participants felt both inspired and more confident in using these technologies. We look forward to seeing how AI will support the development of businesses in the Canton of Schaffhausen.
