IT Execs

**What this is** A calm afterwork salon for long-view investors. Quick macro, three names worth real homework, and a frameworks roundtable to sharpen your thesis. Bring one Ticker that is worth highlighting. **Where** Motel One Zurich, bar area. Head to the bar and ask for Financial Network Zurich. **When** Mondays, 19:00 to 22:00 19:00 welcome and connections 19:30 macro group analysis 20:00 three tickers in focus (tech and fundamental analysis in group) 21:00 open networking until 22:00 **How we roll** Signal over noise. Evidence over anecdotes. Respect for risk. **Bring** Notebook or laptop helpful. Curiosity required. **Food and drinks** Order food and drinks with the waitresses whenever you like. **LINKS** Community Owner’s Direct (All Infos & Questions): Alessandro +41 76 279 32 84 WhatsApp Group: https://chat.whatsapp.com/DCSSmdHj7xr6F39ZAAWubX Financial Network Zurich: https://www.meetup.com/entrepreneurs-focus-and-network-workshop/ Founder’s Links (Alessandro): https://linktr.ee/alessandronfthyme

**Join Anne every Monday evening to move, breathe & pause.** This class is for the curious yogis who wish to take their practice to the next level. A place to experiment & dive deeper into all aspects of Yoga - playing with more advanced asanas, breathings techniques, meditation & more. The perfect place to start the week for regular yogis or teachers! Class in English // Intermediate level * Mats & props provided or bring your own * CHF 39.- drop-in rate // Abo packages & Trial offers available at the studio * **Registration is mandatory** via [theSoulspace website](https://www.thesoulspace.ch/classes) or [Eversport app](https://www.eversports.ch/s/the-soulspace-wiedikon)

### Daily Evening Meditation ##### For all peace lovers and others, for beginners and advanced meditators. We love silence. We meditate with our eyes open—or closed, if you prefer. Come and enjoy the powerful vibrations of peace. We are happy to offer guided meditation upon request. **Welcome—join the wave of peace!** [www.brahmakumaris.ch](www.brahmakumaris.ch)

This midday class is designed to move the body and calm the mind. Let’s explore the connection between breath and mindful movement, as we flow together through diverse poses. Each sequence is designed to provide options, so if you are new to yoga, this class would be a great start for you. * The class is in English // Open to levels * Mats & props provided or bring your own Please sign up & purchase a pass via [Yoga Nest Eversports](https://www.eversports.ch/org/widget/6bb2f0f6-b0ff-4d15-84be-5f9229b128f2?venueId=b336fe38-08c9-45ab-a1d8-3255d21ed886)

I'm really excited to announce our next Meet Up event. It will take place at Core studio in Rennweg Rennweg 12, 8001 Zurich. Designed to strengthen, release and stretch muscle tensions, conditioning your body by increasing your range of motion and flexibility as well as overcoming back pain; improving your posture and circulation so you can exercise more efficiently, whilst keeping your body injury free. The class is structured as a workout & stretch combination. Open to all levels. You will need to bring a smile, some water and wear comfortable exercise cloths. The class will be 60 minutes which should be more than enough to get those muscles warmed up and you posturised ready for the next session. There's a small cost to cover the venue and facilities - CHF 40.- For more details about the training provider please see: https://www.balletbodysculpture.com/ballet-body-sculpture-classes-in-zurich

A women-only space to move freely, shake off the week, and feel good in your body — no choreography, no judgment, no pressure. Dance It Out hosts fun high energy dance sessions for women in Zürich. Think less fitness class, more permission to just move — to fun music! No experience needed. No right way to do it. Just show up, let go, and dance it out.

A decade. Hundreds of conversations, ideas, and inspirations. And we're celebrating with a meetup that truly delivers. Three exceptional speakers, topics that matter, and plenty of room for what has made this meetup special for 10 years: real people, real conversations, real networking. **The Evening at a Glance** 17:30 Doors open, first drinks, familiar faces and new ones 18:00 Welcome and a brief look back at 10 years of DevOps Meetup Zurich 18:15–18:45 **Claws in the Dark: Bringing DevSecOps to Legacy Hardware with Robotics and Playwright** by Alexander Friesen 18:45–19:15 **Beyond Agile: Structuring Organizations for Real Autonomy** by Lea Düker 19:15–19:25 Short break 19:25–19:55 **From Bottlenecks to Flow: OKRs, Value Stream Management, and Governance Done Right** by Vasileios Konofaos 19:55–20:15 Panel discussion with all three speakers 20:15 Networking, Open Space, snacks, drinks, and anniversary cake 🎂 **Claws in the Dark: Bringing DevSecOps to Legacy Hardware with Robotics and Playwright** What do you do when your software’s "deployment target" is a piece of security hardware embedded in a concrete wall for 20 years? In the world of access control, we don't have the luxury of "move fast and break things"—if the integration fails, the door stays locked. For decades, hardware development at Primion relied on manual bit-shifting, incomplete specifications, and the "read, write, and pray" method. When the pandemic decentralized our R&D department—scattering 60 developers across Europe—the traditional model of physical bench testing collapsed. We couldn't send a lab to everyone’s home, so we brought the developers to the lab through robotics. In this session, we deep-dive into how we bridged the physical-digital divide by building a fully automated hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testing farm. We will explore: * The Architecture: How we orchestrate GitLab CI, Azure ephemeral environments, and Playwright to drive physical interactions. * The Hardware Hack: How a 200 CHF robotic claw replaced manual testing, allowing developers to "touch" hardware from anywhere in the world. * The Shift-Left Strategy: Moving from "praying for compatibility" to robust integration testing that catches bit-level errors before they ever hit the factory floor. * Scaling on a Budget: How a single working student scaled our setup to 20+ (and rising) automated test cells. Join us to see how "claws moving in the dark" turned hardware debugging from a nightmare into a breeze, and learn how to apply DevSecOps principles to the most stubborn, physical environments. **Alexander Friesen** Aexander is a **Lead IT Architect** with over a decade of experience in software architecture and technical leadership. He specializes in building and scaling modern ecosystems for major enterprises like **Swisscard** and **Siemens**. DevOps & Platform Engineering Highlights * **Platform Leadership:** Directed technical strategy for Siemens’ IoT flagship "BuildingX" and managed multi-million dollar budgets for large-scale SAFe trains. * **Automation & Compliance:** Expert in **DevSecOps**, achieving ISO27000 compliance through automated CI/CD pipelines and security scanning. * **Efficiency Gains:** Improved software team productivity by **30%** through the implementation of AI Ops and Internal Developer Platforms. * **Cloud Native Stack:** Certified **AWS Architect** with deep expertise in Kubernetes, Terraform, Serverless, and **Data Mesh** architectures. * **Global Teams:** Proven track record of leading cross-functional engineering teams across Switzerland, Germany, the USA, and India. **Beyond Agile: Structuring Organizations for Real Autonomy** Many organizations invest in agile methods, DevOps, and new technologies, and yet the desired impact on collaboration, accountability, and decision-making often fails to materialize. A key lever for change lies in how organizations are structured. This talk provides an introduction to Holacracy as a model for radical self-organization and places it within the broader landscape of organizational development. It explains what defines Holacracy, the principles behind it, and the problems it aims to address. The focus, however, is not solely on the organizational model. The talk also presents concrete tools and practices of self-organization, such as clear role definitions, structured decision-making processes, and transparent governance, that can be applied regardless of the organizational structure in place. **Lea Düker** * Since 2024: IT Project Manager and Scrum Master at digital agency Unic AG * 2021–2024: Project Manager and Deputy Head of IT at the Building Department of the City of Zurich * 2018–2021: Consultant for Process Management at Join GmbH * 2016–2018: Master's degree in Business Management with a specialization in Process Management **From Bottlenecks to Flow: OKRs, Value Stream Management, and Governance Done Right** In our session, we'll be delving into the advanced flow engineering practices we've implemented at KPMG CH for our Cloud Platform. These methods have truly transformed how we deliver outcomes—faster, safer, and with an even greater level of satisfaction. During the session, we'll take a closer look at how we leverage OKRs to align teams and drive strategic goals, and how Value Stream Management helps us optimize workflow and eliminate bottlenecks. Our robust Governance model will also be discussed, highlighting how we maintain compliance without sacrificing agility. Beyond sharing the technical details, we'll reflect on the lessons learned and valuable insights we've gained throughout our journey. Our goal is to provide actionable takeaways that will benefit the DevOps community and inspire organizations seeking to enhance their delivery pipelines and nurture a culture of continuous improvement. **Vasileios Konofaos** Head of Business Services CH Group Digital Vasileios Konofaos is a seasoned technology leader with more than 20 years of experience driving large‑scale software engineering, cloud infrastructure, and digital transformation initiatives. As Director of Business Services CH Group Digital at KPMG Switzerland, he leads high‑impact programs that advance innovation, operational excellence, and AI‑enabled capabilities across the organization. His career spans senior roles in global financial institutions and consulting firms, where he has successfully delivered complex projects in software development, automation, DevOps, and machine learning. Certified in Azure, ITIL, PMP, PRINCE2, and Scrum, Vasileios is recognized for his strategic mindset, strong leadership, and ability to empower teams to achieve exceptional results. He brings deep expertise in systems analysis, project delivery, and process improvement, consistently enabling organizations to scale technology solutions with quality and precision. Many thanks to our **sponsors**: * Catering and Location Sponsor: **KPMG** https://kpmg.com/

**Workshop about anger according to Alexander Lowen** **Bioenergetic (somatic) exercises** Anger is a complex emotion for many of us. We may feel like it’s getting out of control or be afraid to show it. Anger is associated with aggression, screaming, and hurting others. Those who get mad are treated as unpredictable and unfriendly. The truth is that we need a healthy expression of anger! When we let off some steam, we release tension, reduce stress, and win precious energy back. The therapist and psychiatrist Alexander Lowen invented bioenergetic analysis and its exercises. They give us the tools to understand and work with our anger. WORKSHOP ABOUT ANGER: WHAT TO EXPECT? **Understand** You will examine your attitude towards anger. We will discuss the different shades of this emotion. Often something else hides underneath, like sadness or shame. You'll understand why a healthy expression of anger is OK and beneficial for you and others. **Exercise** In a small group and safe space, we'll learn the basic somatic exercises for working with anger. To access this strong emotion safely, you need to be grounded and aware of your body. Through expressive practices, you'll connect with your own anger. **Regulate** One of the main goals of bioenergetic exercises is to regulate emotions and improve well-being. Thanks to regular practice in expressing anger, you'll be able to manage stress, improve sleep quality, boost confidence, and even boost your libido! This embodied work can help you become more assertive at work and in your relationships. **Who this workshop is for?** * Participants of all genders welcome. * You can treat this workshop as a self-development tool or as an addition to talk psychotherapy. * You are ready to express your emotions in a small group of people in a safe, confidential setting (all exercises are voluntary). * You can tolerate shouting, stomping, and expressive movements. * If you have a mental health condition, check with your health provider first. You need to feel stable enough to confront more intense emotions. The same applies to people who have experienced violence and abuse. **Contraindications:** * Pregnancy * Epilepsy * History of psychotic states or taking antipsychotic medication * Strong anger management issues or aggressive outbursts (more suitable for individual therapy). * If you have a serious health condition, consult your doctor first (for example, very high blood pressure or other conditions that can be triggered by intense emotions). Location: Cozy studio near Triemli station. The event is open to participants aged 18 and over, regardless of gender. The room has accessibility restrictions, as you need to take a few steps down to enter. *Note: The list price of 62 CHF doesn't include system processing fee. At checkout, you will be charged approximately. 65 CHF. This is the only way for me to take on the charges on this website.* *The number of sold tickets may not reflect the actual number, as this event is cross-promoted. First-come, first-served.*

The **Digitec Galaxus Product Development Meet-Up** is back — this time diving into **recommender systems** with two talks bridging data science and engineering practice. **Talk 1: Insights from Building and Operating a Recommender System for Migros Supermarkets** *Max Nolte – Data Scientist & Team Lead at Supermarkt IT, Migros-Genossenschafts-Bund* When you think of a Migros supermarket, you don't usually think about recommender systems. Over the past four years, my team and I have built and operated the engine behind personalized Cumulus coupons and a few other digital touchpoints. I'll share how it works, why we invest in it at a brick‑and‑mortar retailer, and what we've learned, covering data, models, measurement, and the practical realities of running it day to day. **Talk 2: Recommendations at Digitec Galaxus — From Data Science to Engineering Practice** *Michael Weiss, Senior Software Engineer & Robert Rosenbach, Senior Data Scientist – Digitec Galaxus* How do you go from a promising model to a recommender system that is fast, scalable, and maintainable in production? We will walk through the Digitec Galaxus recommendation stack end to end: the engineering architecture that keeps recommendations snappy and reliable, and the data-science side of model training — what to optimize for, which input signals matter, and the trade-offs involved in both. The two presentations will take roughly a combined hour, leaving plenty of time for discussions, questions, and exchange afterwards over drinks and snacks. Whether you come from a software engineering, data science, product, or any other background — we'd love to have you join us!

It all sounded straight forward. Then the project started... Join us for an informal evening with fellow Agile practitioners, Scrum Masters, project managers, coaches, and anyone working with change, delivery, or transformation. We’ll meet at a local pizzeria, have some good food, and talk about the things that usually come up once the theory meets reality — challenges, lessons learned, different approaches, and questions we’re still figuring out. Nothing formal, just a chance to exchange ideas, meet people from the community, and have interesting conversations. Because some of the best discussions don’t happen in meeting rooms. They happen in the second floor private room of a pizzeria. 🍕 **The venue:** Da Raffaele brings a slice of Naples to the heart of Zürich's Altstadt. Think 48-hour dough, a 500°C wood-fired oven, and an amazing pizza. Two minutes from Central, close to HB — easy for everyone coming from across the city or the S-Bahn.

Złość to dla wielu z nas trudna emocja. Albo czujemy, że nie potrafimy nad nią zapanować albo boimy się jej. Złość kojarzy się nam z agresją, krzykiem i krzywdzeniem innych ludzi. Ci, którzy się złoszczą uchodzą za nieobliczalnych i nieprzyjaznych. A przecież zdrowo wyrażana złość jest potrzebna! Uwalniamy w ten sposób nagromadzone napięcia, zmniejszamy poziom stresu, a zwiększamy poziom energii życiowej. Metoda Lowena daje nam skuteczne narzędzia do oswajania złości. WARSZTATY O ZŁOŚCI: CZEGO SIĘ SPODZIEWAĆ? **Zrozumiesz** Sprawdzisz, jaką masz dziś relację ze złością. Porozmawiamy o tym, jakie są odcienie złości, jak często złość przykrywa nam smutek i odwrotnie. Zrozumiesz, dlaczego dopuszczanie zdrowej złości jest ważne i potrzebne. **Poćwiczysz** W kameralnej grupie i bezpiecznej przestrzeni nauczymy się podstaw pracy z emocjami w ciele. Aby bezpiecznie wyrażać złość musimy mocno stać na ziemi i zwiększać świadomość ciała. Poprzez praktyki ekspresyjne będziemy pozwalać sobie na wyrażanie złości. **Wyregulujesz** Jednym z celów ćwiczeń bioenergetycznych jest regulacja emocji i poprawa samopoczucia. Dzięki regularnej pracy ze złością możesz zmniejszyć poziom stresu, poprawić jakość snu a nawet wzmocnić pewność siebie i odzyskać ochotę na seks! Warsztaty są otwarte dla wszystkich bez względu na płeć. Możesz potraktować je jako warsztaty rozwojowe lub dodatek do psychoterapii opartej na rozmowie (o ile czujesz się stabilnie). **Przeciwskazania** Warsztaty o złości nie są odpowiednie dla osób, które są bardzo wrażliwe na hałas i krzyk (niektóre osoby głosem wyrażają swoje emocje). Inne przeciwskazania to m.in. ciąża i epilepsja, stany psychotyczne. Jeśli masz silne napady złości połączone z agresywnymi impulsami, lepsza będzie terapia indywidualna. Jeśli masz jakieś poważniejsze dolegliwości, skontaktuj się ze mną aby się upewnić, że te zajęcia będą dla Ciebie OK. Bilety: są bezzwrotne. Jeśli się rozchorujesz i przedstawisz zaświadczenie lekarskie, mogę przepisać Cię na kolejne warsztaty w kolejnych miesiącach. Uwaga: Podana cena 62 CHF nie jest ceną ostateczną, w kasie powinno wyjść ok. 65 CHF. To jedyny sposób, żebym mogła wziąć na siebie koszty obsługi płatności na tym portalu. Liczba zajętych miejsc może nie odzwierciedlać realnej liczby zapisów, gdyż warsztaty są ogłaszane na wielu portalach. Kto pierwszy ten lepszy. W przypadku przekroczenia liczby miejsc otrzymasz zwrot pieniędzy lub zaproponuję dodatkowy termin. Miejsce: przytulne studio niedaleko Triemli. Sala ma ograniczenia dostępu (schodki).

The Fellowship of the Star Schema: Transforming OLTP Data for Power BI One does not simply build reports on OLTP data. Join us on an epic journey from the depths of raw, normalized tables to the shining halls of a well-modeled star schema fit for Power BI greatness. We will demystify the differences between OLTP and OLAP, walk through star schema vs snowflake (and why Power BI has a clear favorite), and show you the compression differences between normalized and columnar storage that will make you never look at an OLTP model the same way again. We will cover the different types of dimensions, when to use them, and how to handle Slowly Changing Dimensions without losing your mind. You will leave knowing exactly how to identify a bad model, how to convert OLTP data into a clean star schema, and how to forge relationships that rule them all. Whether you are a data wizard, a curious hobbit, or somewhere in between, your models will never be the same.

How to Be a Better Communicator Communication is everything in life You are only as successful as your ability to communicate. \- What if you could confidently talk to anyone? \- What if you had the ability to calmly control every conversation? \- What if you could close that sale\, ask for that date\, make new friends\, repair problematic relationships\, get that raise\, or effortlessly express any idea with confidence? You can! The secret to success relies on your ability or inability to effectively communicate. Attend a free seminar and gain a better ability to communicate. Hosted by the Church of Scientology of Central Ohio 1266 Dublin Road, Columbus, OH 43215 For more information, contact Rhiannon, the Event Host at 614-221-5024

**The Data-Driven Brand: Using Analytics to Shape Perception** Can you use analytics to improve tacos? This being CBUSDAW, we think the answer is probably “yes”, but we’re not sure how to implement or test this theory. For our April meetup we’ve got Sara Kear, CMO of Condado Tacos, to investigate this delicious question. Sara will explore how she blends quantitative data and qualitative customer feedback to shape brand positioning and drive business decisions. We all know that marketing and analytics go way beyond attribution. Sara will show how Condado uses customer insights to inform product and pricing strategy. She’ll also highlight how Condado leverages customer feedback at scale to influence operational priorities, positioning marketing as the voice of the customer across the organization. In the last 12 years Condado has gone from one location in Columbus to 52 locations across 10 states, so we’re guessing there’s more to that growth than really good guac (though the guac probably helps). Ultimately, this talk focuses on the intersection of art and science—using data to inform creativity and build a brand that resonates with customers in a measurable way. **About Our Speaker** Sara Kear is Chief Marketing Officer at Condado Tacos, where she oversees brand, restaurant design, menu and pricing strategy, off-premise including catering, and customer data strategy. Since joining in 2021, she has helped grow the brand from 19 to 52 locations while building a data-driven marketing organization focused on loyalty and customer insights. Condado has since been named to the Inc. 5000, recognized as Breakout Retailer by Chain Store Age, and consistently ranked among FastCasual’s Top 100 Movers & Shakers. Thanks to our 2026 sponsors: [Clarivoy](https://www.clarivoy.com), [What Box Consulting Group](https://www.whatboxconsultinggroup.com), [Conductrics](https://www.conductrics.com), and [Piwik PRO](https://piwik.pro) More info at [cbusdaw.com](https://cbusdaw.com)

The global Azure community is coming together again, and Columbus is officially on the map. View the session lineup and speakers at [Global Azure Columbus 2026](https://coazure.github.io/cbus-global-azure-2026/) On **Saturday, April 18, 2026**, the Azure Columbus Meetup, DevOps Meetup, and Code and Coffee Meetup are hosting our local edition of Global Azure 2026. This is a free, community-driven event packed with learning, networking, and all things Microsoft Azure. Whether you’re building modern cloud-native apps, experimenting with AI agents, deploying containers, automating infrastructure, or just beginning your Azure journey, this event is for you! **What to Expect** * Engaging technical sessions * Real-world Azure architecture & cloud-native patterns * AI, agents, automation, and modern DevOps * Food and drinks (because learning burns calories) * Time to connect with fellow engineers, architects, and cloud enthusiasts **Who Should Attend?** * Software engineers (any language, any stack) * Cloud architects * DevOps engineers * Data professionals * AI explorers * Platform builders * Anyone who loves solving hard problems with great tools If you build, deploy, automate, scale, monitor, or optimize in Azure, you’ll feel right at home. **Why Global Azure?** Global Azure is a worldwide community event where Azure user groups host learning sessions on the same day across the globe. It’s grassroots. It’s technical. It’s practical. And it’s powered by people who genuinely love sharing what they’ve learned. And yes, it’s free to attend!

Pay attention! We’re delaying a week for those of you who may be on Spring break and/or celebrating the holiday. Ok, no pancakes, but waffles-a-plenty. Join the local UX and Digital Design community for a casual monthly breakfast. Look for us upstairs!

**Important time note:** Please plan on arriving between 5:30 and 6:00 as the elevators lock after 6 and you'll need to message us and we'll need to come get you. The building address is 4450 Bridge Park The entrance is 6620 Mooney St, Suite 400 You will need to scan your ID at the door to get a visitor badge. **Abstract** GitHub Copilot is powerful, but what if you could scale from a solo AI assistant to an entire team of specialized agents working in parallel? This session introduces Squad: an open-source framework for multi-agent orchestration that lets you define teams of AI agents with specific roles, responsibilities, and expertise. We'll progress from Copilot basics to the Copilot CLI, explore how Agents add autonomy, and see how Instructions and Skills let you customize agent behavior. Then, the climax: a live demo where a Squad team of 3 agents (Lead, Developer, Tester) stands up and builds a working application in real-time, showcasing true multi-agent collaboration. Whether you're new to AI or exploring how to scale your use of Copilot, this session will show you what's possible when agents work as a team. **YouTube Link** TBD

Central Ohio Radio Enthusiasts—CORE—is an informal community for anyone enthusiastic or curious about radio—whether you're new to radio and want to learn or you've been tinkering for years and want to share. Ham radio operators, GMRS users, Meshtastic fans, software-defined radio nerds, makers, and technical and non-technical folks are all welcome. No experience required or expected. This month we have **WiFi HaLow: Introduction and Practical Use** with **Alex Barbur**. Details are are [core.radio](https://core.radio).