Researchers

Two very different, complementary topics for our June evening. One on the small, everyday habits that make teams actually collaborate. The other on how a platform and a cultural movement transformed IT in the public sector. Here's what's planned for the evening: 17:30 - 18:00 - Arrival and first drinks 18:00 - 18:45 - Micro Habits for better Teamwork by Dr. Denniz Dönmez 18:45 - 19:30 - From DevOps to Digital Sovereignty: How a Movement Became a Platform by Syrian Hadad 19:30 - 20:30 - Networking, Open Space & More drinks\* **Micro Habits for better Teamwork** Great teamwork is like solving a puzzle, and not like playing poker, it's not about playing against each other, but rather achieving real collaboration. Micro Habits are psychological hacks that create big results in teams. Micro Habits for Better Teamwork span seven behavioral domains, such as taking responsibility, creating psychological safety, and testing our assumptions. Each provides concrete, small, actionable behaviors that lead to major improvements in collaboration. This talk presents practical, everyday tools based on real-world experience that can be applied immediately to make teamwork easier and more effective, without lengthy coaching programs or complex team-development processes. With Micro Habits, teams unlock their full potential step by step. **Dr. Denniz Dönmez** Scientific agilist and co-creator of Micro Habits for better Teamwork. 15 years experience leading teams and consulting market leaders with a background and PhD in agile methods. **From DevOps to Digital Sovereignty: How a Movement Became a Platform** IT in the public sector is anything but simple: long-established landscapes, strict regulatory requirements, complex processes, and often more than 500 business applications that must be operated reliably. For a long time, this meant ordering individual servers, databases, DNS entries, firewall rules, and storage, then assembling everything manually. Every application was unique. Pets instead of cattle. This talk tells the story of how the DevOps idea took hold in exactly this environment — first as a cultural movement, and later as a concrete operating and architectural model. Step by step, individual infrastructure evolved into a platform, manual work into automation, and isolated solutions into standardization. The result: the Aargau Cloud Platform and a dedicated platform engineering team. In an environment shaped by legacy systems, federal structures, and long lifecycle expectations, platform thinking becomes the foundation for digital sovereignty: maintaining control, reducing dependencies, and still staying innovative — without simply handing everything over to others. **Syrian Hadad** Syrian Hadad is a CTO and long-standing technology and platform leader in the public sector. Among other achievements, he built the Aargau Cloud Platform and helped establish DevOps, cloud, and architecture topics strategically within the organization. Together with the IT organization of the Canton of Aargau, he won the 2023 Digital Economy Award (Digital Excellence) for the consistent transformation toward platforms, cloud-native technologies, and modern governance. Many thanks to our **sponsors**: * Catering Sponsor: **DevOpsDays Zürich** https://www.devopsdays.ch/ * Location Sponsor: **Digicomp** https://www.digicomp.ch/ \* contact us min. 3 days prior to the event if you prefer a vegan option.

A 1:1 Reiki journey where you receive focused healing, intuitive guidance, and space to reconnect with your inner flow. Discover more about me and my work on: https://thebecomingfield.com/

**If you cannot see your strategy, how do you know it is clear?** Even in creative teams, strategy is discussed, refined, and documented, yet often stays abstract. Ideas live in conversations, slides, and documents, but teams walk away with different understandings. What sounds aligned in theory often falls apart in practice. We process images much faster than text, yet most organizations still rely on bullet points to communicate strategy. The challenge is no longer developing better strategies. It is making them visible so people can actually align around them. In this interactive keynote, **Michelle Geerlings**, Country Director of Switzerland at Flatland, introduces visual thinking as a practical way to cut through complexity and build shared understanding. With a background in Strategic Design from TU Delft and experience across Sweden, Japan, and Kenya, she works at the intersection of design, facilitation, and strategy. Through co-creation and visual facilitation, she helps teams turn abstract ideas into clear, shared visuals. Join us on **June 3** as she shares practical examples of how sketches and simple frameworks help teams align faster and turn ideas into action. **💡 What will you learn?** * Why visual thinking is a skill anyone can learn, and how it changes the way you think * How co-creation builds ownership and engagement across teams * What really matters in visual thinking: structure, hierarchy, metaphor, and systems thinking over aesthetics * Why working visually leads to faster alignment than traditional documents *More about Flatland* [www.flatland.nl](http://www.flatland.nl) *Connect with Michelle* [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellegeerlings/) —— **📍 Where?** [Kulturhaus Helferei](https://maps.app.goo.gl/AJuPTcLTmihXxHyn9), near the Grossmünster in Niederdorf. \> Kirchgasse 13\, 8001 Zürich (Tram-Station Helmhaus) **📅 When?** Wednesday, June 3, 7:00 PM / 19:00 Uhr **⏰ What’s the schedule?** 6:45 PM → Doors open 7:00 PM → Keynote + Q&A 7:45 PM → Networking 🔗 **Discord** Get event reminders and connect with other members on Discord: ➡️ [discord.gg/PAyRBDhKkk](https://discord.gg/PAyRBDhKkk) —— **Who’s Visual Fields?** Visual Fields is a network of designers and creatives built for people to connect, support, and share with fellow experts. We have upcoming events in Zürich, Basel, and Luzern. [Check out upcoming events](https://www.visualfields.ch/) —— **Event policies** We have zero tolerance for discrimination or harassment. Be mindful not to make assumptions about gender, sexual orientation, or identity. Always ask for consent - for physical contact and work critique - and treat everyone and the space with respect. [All policies](https://www.joyed.com/experiences/ep) **Fine print (the friendly kind)** By joining, you agree that photos or videos taken at the event may be used by Visual Fields for promotional and communication purposes. See you there! 😇

***We are re-starting with physical meetings and group meditation.*** Arrive 10 minutes early for a short introduction before we start with the meditation session.

Let's get together for the next TechTalkThursday to learn new things and share experiences! 17:45 Door opening 18:00 **Intro** – Thomas Hug, CEO & Founder of Nine 18:05 **The Shift From "Hack In" to "Log In": How Overprivileged Non-Human Identities Became the Modern Attack Path** – Jan Brons (Co-Founder & Cyber Security Expert at Kleeo GmbH) 18:30 **How To Navigate Complex Systems Using a Non-Software Toolkit** – Florian Sommerfeldt (Quality Expert at House of Test Switzerland) 19:00 **Zero to SELECT: Providing Databases in 10 Seconds** – Daniel Wilhelm (Senior Engineer Managed Services at Nine) 19:30 Snacks & Drinks Have we aroused your interest? Then please register! We look forward to meeting you! You can also watch this event's livestream on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HgsaBKivvXk

🌿 Urban Flow Yoga at Küsnacht Horn Your midweek reset by Lake Zurich. Experience a holistic outdoor yoga session combining breathwork, dynamic Vinyasa Flow, precise alignment with Iyengar, and relaxing meditation — surrounded by nature and away from the noise of everyday life. This class blends elements of Ashtanga, Vinyasa, and Iyengar Yoga and is suitable for both beginners and experienced practitioners. Focus areas include stress relief, core strength, balance, and meaningful connection with others. ✨ Includes: - Pranayama & meditation - Therapeutic yoga guidance & gentle adjustments - Aromatherapy & TCM-inspired insights - Tea ceremony & community time afterward Bring your Yoga Matt, a bottle of Water. 📍 4 minutes from Küsnacht train station 🗓 Wednesdays | 6:30–7:30 PM 💰 CHF 35 Perfect for anyone seeking movement, calm, and community in nature.

As it is sometimes difficult in Switzerland to practice high german, in 2010 we decided to organize a conversation group that is free to everyone who wants to practice german and socialize. WhatsApp group for easier contact: https://chat.whatsapp.com/KmMkpiQxs291vTPv2RBNm4

PyData London 2026 brings together data scientists, engineers, and researchers from around the world for three days of insightful talks, tutorials, and community connection. Hosted in one of Europe’s leading tech hubs, the event highlights the latest developments in Python, machine learning, and data science. Attendees can expect a mix of cutting-edge research, real-world applications, and opportunities to network with industry leaders. Whether you're a beginner or an expert, PyData London offers something for every level of the data science community. **THIS IS NOT A TICKET- TICKETS MUST BE PURCHASED ON CONFERENCE WEBSITE.** https://pydata.org/london2026

Have you ever experienced how our inner world can feel as mysterious and unreachable as that magical place, **[Basilica Cistern in Istanbul](https://bodylearning.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=76466e6553022bb3bf437eb0e&id=9a4c98d3a6&e=a2ac40a555)**? Our emotions are a bit like this place: complex, deep, and mysterious. Discover how to move easier in this kind of place by joining the workshop on the **Sunday 7th of June,** from 14h30 to 16h30. At my practice. During this two hours, we will explore the complexity of emotions by focusing **how to befriend fear.** Please, contact me to book your slot, places are limited. **Max 5 participants. Cost: fr. 100.-**

‼️ **IMPORTANT:** Meetup RSVPs don't count. Registration is on Luma only — **grab your spot here:** [https://luma.com/99z48ev4](https://luma.com/99z48ev4) What does it actually take to build with AI right now? 🎯 Three practitioners. A panel. Drinks after. We're back on the 4th of June at the Zalando Office in Prime Tower for an evening of high-signal talks from people who are shipping with AI — not theorizing. **On stage:** * **Ania Szostek** — Product Lead, Zalando - *Building AI-First, Not AI-Added: Lessons from Zalando Assistant* * **Cinzia Bonetta** — Founder & CEO, MaiQ *Vibe Coding Makes You Faster. But How Do You Ensure Quality?* * **Oliver Förg** — Product Owner AI Solutions Digital Commerce, Migros - *Building Chatbots in Minutes: How Migros Made GenAI Fast, Secure and Enterprise‑Ready* **Then: a panel.** The three speakers, three moderators and your questions. The conversations that usually happen in the hallway — but on stage. **Afterwards: apéro.** Drinks, snacks, and the people you actually came to meet. *** **Who shows up at GenAI 360:** product people, business strategists, decision-makers, engineers, founders, researchers, and the AI-curious from across Zurich. If you want to know what's working before it shows up on LinkedIn, this is the place to be. 😉 📍 **Location:** Zalando Office, Zurich **📆 Date:** Thursday, 4th of June 2026 🕕 **Time:** 18:00–21:00 🎟️ **Capacity is limited** — Meetup RSVPs won't get you in - register on Luma to **get your spot:** [https://luma.com/99z48ev4](https://luma.com/99z48ev4)

**Registration:** Register on the Elevate Tech website to attend: https://www.elevate-tech.ch/event-details-registration/women-in-ai-from-ideation-to-driving-responsible-impact-hosted-by-six **Time and Location:** 04\. Juni 2026\, 17:30 – 21:00 SIX Convention Point, Pfingstweidstrasse 110, 8005 Zürich, Switzerland **About the event:** Join us for an inspiring evening of innovation and empowerment! The event is themed around how to turn AI ideas into real, sustainable, and governed value. It aims to guide the audience through the lifecycle of an AI solution, from the moment an idea emerges to ensuring it remains valuable, reliable, and well-governed in production. Discover how **AI is transforming industries**, as leading women in the field share their expertise and insights. Listen to engaging talks on scaling machine learning and AI-powered data access in an event that will showcase the **women driving change** in the world of AI and data science. In addition to the main event, we will host **speed-mentoring sessions** featuring senior leaders from SIX and UBS, as well as the event speakers. If you'd like to participate in these sessions, please get a mentoring session ticket as well as your event ticket. This event is a collaboration between Elevate Tech and SIX. **Agenda:** * 16:00 – 17:00 Mentoring Sessions with SIX and UBS Senior Leaders * 17:30 Opening (Julinda Gllavata) * 17:35 Welcome to SIX & Introduction to Elevate Tech * 17:40 **Jenny Chang,** Head Innovation Hub, SIX Financial Information. *From Idea to Value: Building the Right AI Solution* * 18:00 **Julinda Gllavata,** UBS: *AI in Production: Monitoring and Sustaining Value* * 18:20 **Dr. Rehana Harasgama**, Attorney-at-Law, Partner at Kellerhals Carrard. *The Architecture of Trust: Governance Frameworks for Responsible AI.* * 18:40 Q&A for everyone * 19:00 Networking Apéro Don’t miss the chance to connect and network! Registration for this event is free, with an optional donation to Elevate Tech. Register on the Elevate Tech website to attend: https://www.elevate-tech.ch/event-details-registration/women-in-ai-from-ideation-to-driving-responsible-impact-hosted-by-six Follow us on LinkedIn to receive event information early! https://www.linkedin.com/company/elevate-tech-ch

A 1:1 Reiki journey where you receive focused healing, intuitive guidance, and space to reconnect with your inner flow. Discover more about me and my work on: https://thebecomingfield.com/

**A creative walk & talk for designers and creatives** Join us for a half-day walk and talk along the scenic Uetliberg ridge, designed to connect outside the usual networking format. No presentations. No panels. Just great people, ideas, and a shared path. We start at Triemli Station and hike up through the forest to Uto Staffel (about 1.5 hours), guided by [Mario Stipetic](https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariostipetic/). From there, we continue into a relaxed 1 to 1.5 hour ridge walk along the Planetenweg with views over Zürich, the lake, and the Alps. Conversations unfold naturally along the way. We move in small groups, rotate, and share thoughts on current projects, creative challenges, and topics like AI in design, or whatever emerges in the moment. We end at Gut Mädikon Hofcafé, a hidden farm café, where we spend about one hour enjoying coffee, homemade cake, and relaxed conversation. This is networking without the pressure. Just movement, fresh air, and meaningful exchange. See you there! 😇 **WhatsApp Group (Coordination)** We’ll send the WhatsApp invite after you RSVP. You can also join via Discord below. —— **The Easy Route** Prefer to skip the steep climb? Take the S10 train from Zürich HB to Uetliberg (about 20 minutes), then walk down to Uto Staffel and meet us there around 11:00 AM. Timing will be coordinated via the group on the day. **Getting Back** We walk back along the ridge to Uetliberg, either retracing the Planetenweg or taking the path near the Uetliberg tower. From there, walk down to Triemli station and catch the train home. **Physical Fitness** The initial climb takes about 1.5 hours and is steep, requiring a reasonable level of fitness. If you are unsure, take the easy route. The views are the same, and the Hofcafé cake tastes just as good. **RSVP** If your plans change and you can no longer attend, please update your RSVP so we can adjust the reservation at the Hofcafé. —— **📅 Date** Sunday, June 7, 2026 **📍 Meeting Point (Start)** 10:00 AM at Triemli Station, Zürich **⏰ Duration** \~6 to 7 hours total (including lunch break) **🥾 Difficulty** Moderate (steep initial climb) **⛰️ Elevation gain** \~320 m (485 m > 805 m) **🎒 What to bring** * Hiking shoes or sturdy trail shoes (no sneakers, no sandals) * Water bottle (at least 0.5L) * Weather-appropriate layers (cooler in the forest, windy on the ridge) * Optional snack * Sun protection (hat or cap, sunscreen) **🚶 Return** \~13:30 from Hofcafé —— **🔗 Discord** Get event reminders and connect with other members on Discord: ➡️ [discord.gg/PAyRBDhKkk](http://discord.gg/PAyRBDhKkk) —— **Who’s Visual Fields?** Visual Fields is a network of designers and creatives built for people to connect, support, and share with fellow experts. We have upcoming events in Zürich, Basel, and Luzern. [Check out upcoming events](http://visualfields.ch/) —— **Event policies** We have zero tolerance for discrimination or harassment. Be mindful not to make assumptions about gender, sexual orientation, or identity. Always ask for consent - for physical contact and work critique - and treat everyone and the space with respect. [All policies](https://experienc.es/policies) **Fine print (the friendly kind)** You join at your own risk. The trail includes steep, uneven, and potentially muddy sections. Please wear appropriate footwear and assess your ability. In case of heavy rain or unsafe conditions, the event will be postponed to June 7. By joining, you agree that photos or videos taken at the event may be used by Visual Fields for promotional and communication purposes.

Coders Monthly is a regular gathering of programmers in Zurich interested in honing their craft. It takes place in Zuerich at Cafe Bar Pluesch (https://cafe-pluesch.ch) on the first Thursday of every month. For the members list, some pics and more, see the Coders Only (https://codersonly.org/events/coders-monthly) site. Hope to see you there! PS: Please join our Discord https://discord.gg/jWUZsKQvrz for any last minute announcements.

Topic to be announced. **THANK YOU** *Franklin University* for hosting our meetup! To learn more about *Franklin University*, please visit their website: https://www.franklin.edu/ **DIRECTIONS** Franklin University Fisher Hall 300 E. Main St, Columbus, OH 43215 Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/jxjBA2hUmS5qrvhq8 Parking is FREE! Please park in Lot C in front of Fisher Hall. See attached map. NOTE: Map the address only. When mapping with Google Maps it may use the Fisher Hall at OSU, which is NOT correct. **Want to sponsor the pizza and/or bar tab?** Please contact me if you would like to sponsor this meetup's pizza and/or bar tab: angelo@mandato.com

Jimmy V's Grill & Pub in Grandview Heights. You are responsible for your own meal/drinks. We usually don't have any agenda other than eat, drink and talk. :) If the weather is nice we will be on the back patio, otherwise we are in the cigar room. This group has been meeting every Tuesday evening for over a decade. Many attendees do not RSVP on meetup. Please don't let the small number here discourage you. Anyone/everyone is welcome to come. We'd love to have you join us. COTA bus #5 comes to W. 5th and Wyandotte Rd. And it's a minute walk to the restaurant.

QA or the Highway is a one-day, affordable, regional, professional conference featuring real-world experience and thought leadership in the QA and testing industry. This is a ticketed event please register here: https://www.qaorthehwy.com/ Featured Keynote Speakers: **Matthew-Hope Eland** **(Wizard at Leading EDJE)** \- An AI Specialist and Wizard at Leading EDJE who is known to teach software engineering\, AI\, and data science concepts in the most ridiculous ways possible\. Matt has used machine learning to settle debates over whether Die Hard is a Christmas movie\, reinforcement learning to drive the behavior of digital squirrels\, data analytics to suggest improvements to his favorite TV show\, and AI agents to play board games and create an AI agent with the personality of a dog\. Matt is the author of "Data Science in \.NET with Polyglot Notebooks" and "Refactoring with C\#" as well as several LinkedIn Learning courses\. Matt helps organize the Central Ohio \.NET Developer Group\, runs several blogs and a YouTube channel\, has a Master’s of Science in Data Analytics\, and is a current Microsoft MVP in AI and \.NET\. **Tatyana Arbouzova** **(CEO at Innovate QA)** \- Tatyana Arbouzova is an engineering and business leader with a strong background in Quality Engineering across multiple industries\, including Big Tech\, Healthcare\, and Entertainment\. She has held leadership roles at world\-class companies such as Microsoft\, VMware\, Disney\, and The Pokémon Company International\, where she focused on building quality\-driven cultures and scaling teams to deliver high\-impact products\. With decades of experience\, Tatyana has helped organizations transform their quality practices so teams can deliver software efficiently\, confidently\, and with measurable business outcomes\. Today\, Tatyana advises software companies on adopting AI to optimize quality practices and improve how software is delivered at scale\. She is also a passionate community builder and the founder of Innovate QA\, a thriving Seattle\-based community and conference for quality professionals\.

Rev. Steven Clevenger is an ordained spiritualist minister with over 40 years experience as a Spiritual Healer, Clairvoyant and Spiritual Teacher, educated and trained at the White Lily Chapel. Rev. Siobhan Wolf Shaffer is an ordained spiritualist minister and certified medium and healer with over 20 years experience. She began her development in 1988 in Pennsylvania and continued when she moved to Ohio in 1998 where she studied at Rays of Lights Church with Rev. Steven Clevenger. Our full worship services consist of an inspirational lecture, healing meditation, and messages from the spirit world that serve to demonstrate evidence of eternal life. Please visit our Official Church Website (http://raysoflightchurch.com) for more information.

**The Behavior Gap: Where Products Win or Lose** Teams today have more data than ever, and yet many still struggle to understand why customers adopt, engage with, or abandon their products. Teams sprint, ship faster, and chase more signals… all while metrics stall and confidence drops. The missing piece isn’t more data. It’s often the behavioral insight between the metrics, explaining why the numbers move in the first place. Dashboards can tell you what customers did, but understanding why they did it (and how to influence what they do next) requires a deeper blend of insights. This session is about closing that gap. Drawing from real-world experience designing and scaling products as [ZoCo Design](https://zocodesign.com/)’s CEO, [Lacey](https://www.linkedin.com/in/laceypicazo/) will share how to cut through the noise and identify the insights that actually change behavior—moving people, and moving metrics. You’ll learn: * Why understanding customer behavior is a quant and qual challenge * How to spot the signals that actually predict behavior change * Where AI accelerates insight, and where it creates distraction * How to get meaningfully closer to customers, without adding more tools This talk reframes how to evaluate performance and identify what levers actually improve it, helping your team to make smarter bets with greater confidence. Every meaningful outcome is driven by behavior change. And when you know how to design for behavior, you stop guessing, and start building things that work. **About Our Speaker** [Lacey Picazo](https://www.linkedin.com/in/laceypicazo/) is the Founder and CEO of ZoCo, a healthcare product studio that turns complex, high-stakes ideas into products that drive real-world adoption. She partners with healthcare organizations to uncover critical care delivery insights, focus product strategy through behavior design, and build solutions that patients and providers actually use. 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)

This is an in-person meeting. At this meeting you will get answers to depression and anxiety. Find out the source of them and how to get rid of them. Did you know that unwanted emotions like anxiety, depression, unhappiness, loneliness, hopelessness, anger, fear, or feelings of irritation don’t just fall on you for no reason. They are not random occurrences that simply happen to people's minds. They are definitely not due to a chemical imbalance in your brain from some nebulous chemical reaction "by chance". Your negative emotions are the symptoms of the painful experiences that you have which are not healed, and which are still affecting you. The effects of these painful experiences are exacerbated by the pressures or difficulties of the other problems in your life. Come to our Meetup, where we can introduce you to some of the knowledge, tools and techniques of the breakthroughs in the field of the mind that we can apply to this ever important area of life. Be sure to click on the red "Attend" button below to come to this local event. We look forward to seeing you there. This group is created by the Hubbard Dianetics Foundation of Central Ohio and Church of Scientology of Central Ohio.

## 🤝 Host Information A co-hosted event by ProductTank Columbus & Women in Product Columbus 💡 About the Workshop AI adoption is stalling across organizations — not because of a lack of motivation or tools, but because it's fundamentally a behavior design challenge. This hands-on workshop applies proven Behavior Design models and methods to help you move from a vague organizational wish to boost AI adoption to 3-5 concrete, testable interventions you can act on starting tomorrow. Whether you're a product manager, on a product team, or just someone trying to get AI to actually stick at work, you'll leave with a clear picture of what's worth focusing on, what to ignore, and how to drive real, sustained adoption — no guesswork required. 🛠️ What to Bring Laptop: Fully charged and ready to go. AI Assistant: Have your favorite AI assistant pulled up. (Dom will be using Claude, but feel free to use whichever assistant you prefer!) 🍕 Logistics & Perks Food & Drink: Pizza and drinks provided! Parking: Plenty of free spaces available on-site. ###