AI Talent Strategy - Upskilling vs. Hiring

The Berlin CTO Roundtable is back, and this time we’re tackling a critical question: In the age of rapid AI evolution and shifting market dynamics, is it better to build talent from within or buy it from the outside?

Between the rapid evolution of AI-driven roles and the rising costs of recruitment, the "buy vs. build" talent strategy has never been more consequential. We’ll explore the ROI of internal academies, the cultural impact of shifting skill requirements, and how automation is fundamentally redefining "Senior" and "Junior" roles in 2026.

We’ll be diving deep into:

• The ROI of Internal Academies: When does upskilling actually pay off compared to headhunter fees?
• Cultural Impact: How do you maintain morale while shifting skill requirements?
• The AI Factor: How is automation changing the very definitions of "Senior" and "Junior" roles?

Agenda:

• 18:30 – Arrival & Drinks
• 19:30 – Panel Discussion
• 20:30 – Networking: Connect with fellow tech leaders to share experiences and actionable strategies on talent growth.

The Panel consists of:
Alesia Braga - CTO @ Cint
Paul Lunow - CTO @ Vention
Raphael Eisenberg - CEO @ Recruitment Circle

Join us for an evening of real talk and shared experience. Enjoy food and drinks courtesy of our host, cognee.

Location: cognee, Paul-Lincke-Ufer 39-40, Hof 4, 10999 Berlin

Alesia is serving as Cint’s Chief Product & Technology Officer (CPTO), Alesia has over 20 years of experience working in innovative software companies and has held leadership roles for over 14 years. Before joining Cint, Alesia was the CPTO at SmartRecruiters – a global HR technology company that provides the only enterprise-grade platform connecting people to jobs at scale – where she managed both Technology and Product teams. Prior to that, she worked for Quandoo as its Chief Technology Officer (CTO), a leading marketplace for restaurants and diners. She also brings a wealth of experience working at Google, leading Google Cloud’s global SRE practice and SugarCRM, where she led its engineering and technology services.

Paul’s career in technology spans over two decades, covering a broad spectrum of roles from founder and full-stack engineer to CTO. He launched his first literature platform while still in school, setting the tone for a path shaped by hands-on engineering and thoughtful leadership. In early 2025, he also published his first novel, reflecting his ability to bridge creativity with technology.

Raphael Eisenberg, founder of Recruitment Circle, has been working in tech recruiting for over 11 years. With a background in economics and business psychology, he places engineers who stay long term. His current focus: AI-fluent talent that measurably improves existing development teams - and what they will cost in the DACH market in 2026.