Business Leaders

Liebe Rhetorikfreunde, Habt ihr Lust, die Kunst des Redens zu erlernen? Du kannst als Gast einfach reinschnuppern oder als Clubmitglied das volle Programme nutzen. Mithilfe eines ausgezeichneten praxisorientierten Programms kannst du einen von 11 verschiedenen Lernpfaden auswählen und in 5 aufeinander aufbauenden Stufen lernen: * frei und ohne Blackout zu reden * unterhaltsam und überzeugend zu präsentieren * souverän zu moderieren * Deine Körpersprache wirkungsvoll einzusetzen * spontan zu einem vorher unbekannten Thema zu pitchen Haben wir dich neugierig gemacht? Ganz gleich, ob du einfach mal „reinschnuppern“ oder dein Können gleich mit einer kurzen Stegreifrede unter Beweis stellen möchtest – wir freuen uns auf dich. Willkommen sind * Redebegeisterte * Redescheue * Kreative, denen die Werkzeuge zur Kommunikation fehlen * Angestellte/Selbstständige, die besser vor Publikum oder vorm Chef reden wollen Du kannst bei uns alle aktuellen Herausforderungen trainieren: * Präsenztreffen vor Publikum * Onlinetreffen * Präsentieren * Pitchen Wir freuen uns auf rege Teilnahme und Anmeldung. *** Der Eintritt ist kostenfrei. Wir beginnen pünktlich um 19:00 Uhr. Einlass ab 18:45 Uhr.

**PLEASE RSVP HERE:** https://luma.com/x1h3sb59 \*\* ​Registrations: 5:30 PM - 6:15 PM (food & drinks are taken care of) **The event will also include a networking break between the talks.** ​This event is kindly hosted at the offices of our partner, **Netlight Consulting.** ​ **​Will Martin** ​*AI Evangelist at Dremio & Author of the upcoming* AI for Dummies (and actually) ​AI is everywhere — but what does it actually mean in practice? ​Will will give a practical, hype-free walkthrough of modern AI and how it fits into today’s data stack and lakehouse architectures. ​🚀 Topics include: * ​What Agentic AI is — and how it differs from LLMs * ​How LLMs work under the hood * ​Fine-tuning vs RAG vs prompt engineering * ​Connecting AI to your data, APIs, and lakehouse with MCP * ​Real-world benefits, risks, and implementation considerations ​A clear introduction to how AI really works — and how to use it effectively. *** ## ​Olena Kutsenko ​*Staff Developer Advocate, Confluent* ​Olena will explore what it really takes to move data from Kafka into Apache Iceberg tables reliably and at scale. ​🔍 Topics include: * ​Schema evolution & data normalization * ​Exactly-once guarantees & late-arriving events * ​Partitioning & table maintenance * ​Trade-offs between Kafka Connect, Flink pipelines, and custom ingestion approaches ​Using Confluent Tableflow as a practical example, this session focuses on building robust streaming-to-lakehouse architectures — regardless of tooling. *** ## ​Bjarne Schröder ​*Software Engineer, STACKIT* ​We're excited to welcome Bjarne from STACKIT, where he works on Data & AI product offerings. ​Having transitioned from Data Engineering to Software Engineering, Bjarne brings experience from both perspectives of the data ecosystem—first as a user of cloud-native data services and now as someone who helps build and deliver them. ​Passionate about connecting with people and exploring technology, Bjarne enjoys diving into all kinds of nerdy topics in his free time and cycling around his hometown of Cologne, Germany. *** ## ​Andrew Madson ​*Head of Developer Relations, Fivetran* ​Andrew has spent more than a decade leading analytics and ML teams across organizations including J.P. Morgan Chase, MassMutual, and Arizona State University before moving into DevRel and developer community leadership. ​He is: * ​Founding Head of DevRel at Fivetran * ​Co-author of *Apache Polaris: The Definitive Guide* * ​Speaker, educator, and creator with a 250K+ global audience * ​A leading voice in Apache Iceberg, lakehouses, and AI-ready data platforms ​Expect practical insights on modern data infrastructure, developer ecosystems, and building AI-ready architectures. *** ## ​Alex Merced ​*Head of DevRel at Dremio & O’Reilly Author* ​Alex will walk through key ideas from his latest work on Agentic Analytics and building data platforms that actually work for AI. ​🔍 What to expect: * ​Why data silos break AI agents * ​The role of the lakehouse, federation & semantic layers * ​Apache Iceberg, open catalogs & modern architectures * ​Why AI agents need context — not just data * ​A roadmap toward autonomous, AI-driven analytics ​A sharp, architecture-focused session connecting modern data platforms with the future of AI.

**Hi everyone!** We’ll now be meeting twice a week at Denizen House (Köpenicker Str. 40, 10179 Berlin), on **Mondays and Wednesdays**! * **Mondays:** levels A1 to B2 * **Wednesdays:** levels B1 to C1 We work with dedicated materials tailored to each level, so everyone will have a place to practice and improve. **Event schedule** * **18:00 – 18:30** Arrival and registration * **18:30 – 19:50** Sprachcafé * **19:50 – 20:00** End and clean up Please be aware that the moderated event starts at **18:30**. Before this time, we are busy setting up the space. Registrations usually take place around **18:15 / 18:20**. Participants are kindly asked **not to arrive too far in advance** at the house. If someone arrives much earlier, Denizen may ask them to pay either for a drink (consumption) or for a **day pass**, as the space is a co-working environment during the day. **Please remember, our event is only happening from 18:00 to 20:00** **How the Sprachcafé works** We use different materials to help participants gain confidence in German. Together with whiteboards and our volunteers, the Sprachcafé is based on **interactive conversations** in small groups. **Participation fee** The Sprachcafé has a **participation fee of 5 €**, which helps cover organizational costs and **includes one soft drink for free**. Tickets can be purchased directly on the day of the event, card and cash payments are accepted. As the Sprachcafé has become very popular, we now need to **limit the number of participants**. Please understand this measure; it ensures that everyone has a comfortable space to practice. We kindly ask you to be **rücksichtsvoll** and only RSVP “Yes” if you are certain you can attend. If your plans change at the last minute, please update your RSVP so someone on the waiting list can take your spot. Getting your ticket early can help secure your place. **Please note** Our event will begin **promptly** at the scheduled start time. If you arrive late, we cannot guarantee your participation, even if you have a ticket or have RSVP’d. We encourage all guests to arrive on time to ensure a smooth and enjoyable experience for everyone. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation. **About Denizen** Denizen is a new-style co-working space focused on being an integral part of local communities. Located on the ground floor of the historic Eiswerk on Köpenicker Straße in Kreuzberg, Denizen House is a communal place providing work, refreshment, and recreational facilities throughout the day. Think of it as a living room for the neighborhood. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to let me know. If you’d like to contribute to this night, send me a message! Ich freue mich schon! Grüße, **Nacho**

English, see below. **Update: Wir treffen uns im Juni ausnahmsweise bereits am Montag, den 8.6. (von 18 Uhr bis ca. 21 Uhr).** Neben unserem gewohnten Stammtisch habt ihr dieses Mal die Gelegenheit, Bitcoiner aus Korea kennenzulernen. Vor Ort sind der Gründer von Saturday Block (koreanische, Bitcoin-only Bildungsplattform), die Entwickler der Corn Lightning Wallet sowie die Entwickler der Coconut Wallet (watch‑only) + Coconut Vault (offline Signer) — außerdem Leiter des Bitcoin Center Seoul. ____ Willkommen beim Bitcoin Meet-up im Café Holzmarktperle (Holzmarktstraße 25). Die Berliner Community kann einfach nicht genug davon bekommen über Bitcoin zu reden. :) Deshalb bieten wir dieses Meet-up als weitere Option neben dem etablierten “Berliner Bitcoin-Stammtisch @ Friedel Richter” an. Jeder ist willkommen - Bitcoin-Anfänger, Enthusiasten, etc. Wir freuen uns auf den gemeinsamen Austausch mit anderen Plebs in lockerer Runde und gemütlicher Atmosphäre und beantworten auch gerne eure Fragen. Natürlich könnt ihr im Café mit Bitcoin ₿ / Lightning ⚡bezahlen. Dies ist der richtige Ort für Menschen, die glauben, dass Bitcoin die Welt verändern kann und Teil der nächsten großen Revolution in der Finanzwelt sein wird. *** **Update: In June we will meet a bit earlier than usual. The meeting will take place on June 8th, from 6 to approx. 9pm.** In addition to our ususal meetup you'll have the opportunity to meet Korean Bitcoiners. Joining us are the founder of Saturday Block (a Korea-based, Bitcoin-only culture platform for education and meetups), the developers behind the Corn Lightning Wallet, the Coconut wallet (watch-only) and Coconut Vault (offline signer), also running the Bitcoin Center Seoul. ____ Welcome to the Bitcoin meet-up at Café Holzmarktperle (Holzmarktstraße 25, Berlin). Since we can’t get enough of talking Bitcoin we are offering this meet-up as a another option in addition to the established Berliner Bitcoin-Stammtisch @ Friedel Richter. Everyone is welcome - Bitcoin beginners, enthusiasts, … you name it. We are always happy to meet with other plebs, teach, talk and help! Payment in Bitcoin ₿ / Lightning ⚡accepted! This is the place to be for people who believe that Bitcoin will rock the world and will be part of the next big revolution in the financial world.

**Spirituelle Gespräche** *„Anerkennung geschieht durch Dankbarkeit, welche unsere Herzen für das ECK geöffnet hält. Wenn Dankbarkeit verloren geht, ist das Resultat spirituelle Armut. . . . Dankbarkeit öffnet Quellen der Kreativität, weil ein dankbarer Mensch entspannt ist.“* Harald Klemp, *Das Lebendige Wort, Buch 1, S.185*

Life is short, so let's Make new FRIENDS & Enjoy the Life. the event is dedicated to everybody living or visiting berlin, with a special focus on people with an International attitude. We have the aim of connecting people with similar interest here in Berlin! Everybody, who likes to meet new poeple on monday afternoon is welcome to join! #The bar only accepts cash or debit cards. No credit cards.

So hast du andere Leute in Berlin wahrscheinlich noch nie kennengelernt! Bis zu 10 Singles, die sich zuvor nicht kennen, treffen sich in einer Bar und lernen sich bei einem eigens für diese Veranstaltungsreihe entwickelten Spiel näher kennen. Das Spiel kombiniert eine gelungene Mischung aus Fragen, Aktionsaufgaben und lustiger Unterhaltung, die alleine oder als Team gemeistert werden. Durch verschiedene Aufgaben und Fragen kommen die Spieler in direkte Interaktion miteinander und lernen sich im Spielverlauf näher kennen. Im Vergleich zur klassischen Single Party lernst du bei Socialmatch wirklich nur Singles in deiner Altersgruppe kennen und kommst von ganz alleine ins Gespräch mit den anderen Teilnehmern. Ein Spielmoderator vor Ort informiert über den Ablauf und leitet durch den Abend. Sicher dir jetzt deinen Platz beim nächsten Event unter [[www.socialmatch.de](http://www.socialmatch.de/)] und lerne neue Leute in deiner Stadt kennen. Dieses Event ist für die Altersgruppe 30 - 45 Jahre. P.S. Socialmatch erhielt 2015 bereits einen Award für das Konzept, teste es selbst ;-) **Achtung: Nur mit Buchung über die Website ist eine Teilnahme möglich!**

Wir freuen uns Euch einen speziellen Abend mit Dinner & DJ bieten zu können. Dinner Kosten sind erschwinglich und das Essen ist extravagant und griechisch modern. Ein kleiner Sommerurlaub in Berlin mit DJ Vibes und Tanzmöglichkeit, wenn Ihr möchtet. Dinner ist nicht inkludiert und muss extra gebucht werden. Getränke sind auf Selbstzahler Basis ausser dem Willkommenstrunk für unsere Mitglieder. Cosmopolitan Business Club | Berlin Haftungsausschluss: https://www.cosmopolitanbusinessclub.com/en/disclaimer AGB: https://www.cosmopolitanbusinessclub.com/terms-and-conditions Datenschutz: https://www.cosmopolitanbusinessclub.com/en/privacy-policy SMS Nutzungsbedingungen: https://www.cosmopolitanbusinessclub.com/sms-nutzungsbedingungen

!!! Please note that this meetup will be held entirely in German only !!! Weil es bei den letzten Malen so schön war, treffen wir uns diesmal wieder im **CI Space auf der Bugenhagenstraße 9, 10551 Berlin** (https://maps.app.goo.gl/dXaYKm8fkhBsxk42A). Vielen Dank an Iztok Petek, den Inhaber vom CI Space (www.facebook.com/cispaceberlin), der das wieder kostenlos für uns möglich macht - bitte dankt es ihm nach Möglichkeit mit dem Kauf von 1, 2 Getränken vor Ort. **Bitte seid spätestens 5min vor 9 Uhr da, da wir pünktlich starten werden.** Die ersten sind i. d. R. bereits ab 8:30 Uhr da, um vorab schonmal ein bisschen durchzustarten mit dem Netzwerken. Denkt daran **genügend Visitenkarten,** bitte mindestens eine, mitzubringen für die moderierte Netzwerkrunde - nur wenn man euch kontaktieren kann, kann man euch im Nachgang auch empfehlen! ;) **Veranstaltungsort:** CI Space (Berlin-Moabit) Bugenhagenstraße 9 10551 Berlin Nächste **U-Bahn-Station**: U9 Turmstraße oder U9 Birkenstraße (jeweils ca. 5 Gehminuten). **Start:** pünktlich 9 Uhr (ab 08:30 Uhr sind die ersten meist schon da) Zum nun bereits 10. Mal verschlägt es uns nach Moabit! Unser Moderator [Der Gottwald (siehe hier)](www.der-gottwald.de) lädt erneut ein und führt euch durch den Morgen. Wie immer bieten wir eine moderierte Netzwerkrunde für euch an, um neue Kontakte zu knüpfen und das eigene Business voran zu treiben, außerdem ist Zeit für etliche weitere Gespräche! Ein ca. **10-minütiger Impulsvortrag** mit ganz viel Mehrwert für euch ist auch wieder eingeplant, diesmal kommt der von [Marcus Teschke](https://www.marcus-teschke.de/): Marcus unterstützt als selbständiger Berater, Trainer und Coach mit viel Erfahrung Führungskräfte, Teams und Organisationen. Er war zuvor 35 Jahre lang Fach- und Führungskraft bei Großbanken und ist ausgebildeter, zertifizierter Master Business Coach. Sein besonderer Ansatz ist die Kombination aus solider Coaching Kompetenz, kaufmännischer Expertise und sportlichen Wettkampferfahrungen als Ausdauersportler und Ultramarathonläufer. **Manche zukünftigen Slots für den Impulsvortrag sind noch frei:** falls ihr also bei einem zukünftigen Treffen selbst vortragen (oder gar mal ein Treffen moderieren) möchtet, meldet euch gern bei uns! Die leckeren Getränke, Snacks oder was auch immer euch zum Kauf animiert hat, bezahlt bitte selbst. \-\-\- **(Fast) alle** Gründer\*innen, StartUps, Freiberufler, Unternehmer und Unternehmensvertreter sind willkommen beim Business Netzwerken Meetup. Die Teilnahme ist generell kostenlos und **nicht** an eine Mitgliedschaft gebunden. **Bitte beachten:** Unternehmer mit Multi-Level Marketing-Geschäftsmodellen schließen wir von unseren Veranstaltungen komplett aus, da wir hier die Erfahrung machen mussten, dass es dabei oft nur ums Verkaufen geht, und meistens kein echtes Interesse am Netzwerken und am Gegenüber existiert. **Weiterhin** stehen wir deshalb auch allen Arten des Provisionsgeschäfts (Finanzoptimierer, Immobilienmakler, Versicherungsvertreter, etc.) extrem kritisch gegenüber und gestatten diesen keine Teilnahme an unseren Events. Solltet ihr der Meinung sein, ihr fallt nicht in diese Kategorie, obwohl ihr in einer der genannten Branchen arbeitet, so sprecht uns bitte im Vorfeld an. Wir freuen uns darauf, auch **dich** persönlich kennenzulernen und dir bei der Entwicklung deines Geschäfts weiterzuhelfen!

**Registration only via Eventbrite:** [👉](https://www.meetup.com/de-DE/berlin-digital-business-network-sibb/events/313709910/?eventOrigin=group_events_list) [https://www.eventbrite.de/e/1987130518874](https://www.eventbrite.de/e/1987130518874) 👈 ***Important: Location is to be announced.*** ### In this session, Darleen Warda shares her story: from entering Berlin Startup Stipendium and gaining her first clients, to scaling Cleverlohn to hundreds of customers — and ultimately exiting to a strategic investor, just three years after joining the program. A must-go for everyone interested in founding a startup and searching for the right positioning, especially for Berlin Startup Stipend Participants. **What you will learn** * Why well-positioned productized services beat large SaaS Solutions * How to grow from 0 to 100 customers * Why a quick exit can be the right choice for your startup and how to do it Speaker **Cleverlohn** offers **Payroll services** and **HR software**— all from a single source. ***Moderated by: Etta Dannemann in her role as head coach.*** **Who is this event for** * **Berlin Startup Stipend participants** and aspiring participants * **Founders** interested in building **productized services** * **Founders** that strive towards an **exit of their company** * **Founders** that struggle to **grow their client base** The BSS is the ideal environment to grow your startup. It can lead to success stories like the one that Darleen will share with us.

Welcome to Sunday Tech Coffee. This is a **networking** event for those in the tech industry in Berlin. We are usually inside and to the right. Ask the barista/bartender if you can't find us.

What happens when PMs stop watching engineers code — and start shipping themselves? You’ve probably heard the stories. Maybe you’ve already tried it in your own company. AI is changing how product teams build, collaborate, and ship — fast. Join us for an evening with product leaders sharing real-world experience building and shipping customer-facing features with AI, not just internal demos and experiments. We’ll talk about PMs opening PRs, non-devs contributing directly to production, and what actually changes when the whole team gets closer to the codebase. This event is designed for Product Managers and Product Leaders who want to understand how product roles, collaboration, and development processes are evolving in the AI era. **Agenda** 18:15 – Doors open for snacks, drinks, and networking 19:00 – Welcome from ProductTank Berlin 19:10 – Opening the PR is just the beginning, Dmitry Gorshkov 19:40 – What happened when we let non-devs into the codebase, Elena Berendeeva 20:10 – Networking 21:30 – Event ends Please note: - Please bring your IDs as you’ll need it when entering the venue. - The event is RSVP only: to enter, you must RSVP here on Meetup. - We'd like to capture the event with photographs for promotional purposes, such as sharing on LinkedIn after the event. If you have any concerns or preferences regarding this, please feel free to let us know beforehand. **Opening the PR is just the beginning** Dmitry will show how to go deep into the codebase as a PM and make it worth the effort. Crafting code is time consuming, so should PMs code instead of doing PM work? Absolutely. But you must come prepared. About the speaker [Dmitry Gorshkov](https://www.linkedin.com/in/dmitrygorshkov?utm_source=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=member_android) is a lead product manager at Finom, a Dutch fintech superapp for small businesses. Dmitry has shipped successful products at N26, Taxfix and Cut the Rope, among others - and has more than a decade of product management experience. **What happened when we let non-devs into the codebase** A year ago, we let PMs, designers, and QA contribute directly to our existing codebase using AI. What followed wasn’t just faster shipping – it was a quiet shift in how our team made decisions, handled ownership, and thought about their roles. This is that story. About the speaker [Elena Berendeeva](https://www.linkedin.com/in/berendeeva-elena?utm_source=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=member_android) is a PM at JetBrains who spent the last few years building 0-to-1 products – through pivots, sunsets, and a lot of uncertainty. Her most recent product is Matter, an AI prototyping tool that her team – designers, QA, and engineers – used to ship directly to production. She explores AI-native workflows and the evolving role of PMs in agentic product development.

Die zunehmende Vernetzung globaler Lieferketten bringt enorme Chancen, aber auch wachsende Risiken mit sich. Beim Event "From Risk to Resilience: Securing Quality and Compliance in Supply Chains" beleuchten wir aktuelle Herausforderungen, Best Practices und Strategien, um Lieferketten sicherer und resilienter zu machen. Freuen Sie sich auf einen entspannten Abend mit Expert:innen und ausreichend Gelegenheit, Ihr eigenes Netzwerk zu erweitern. ⏰ Wann? 9\. Juni 2026 📍 Wo? adesso, Prinzenstraße 34, 10969 Berlin 📅 Agenda 17:00 Uhr – Einlass 17:30 Uhr – Grußwort von Gregor Böhme, Digitalexperte, adesso 17:35 Uhr – Keynote „Lieferkettensicherheit im Spannungsfeld von NIS-2“, Daniel Schätzle, HÄRTING Rechtsanwälte 18:05 Uhr – Paneldiskussion „Zwischen Qualität und Nachhaltigkeit: Wachsende Herausforderungen in Lieferantenbeziehungen“ mit Carsten Rieck, Kiwa 18:30 Uhr – Impuls „Ecosystem of Trust: Neue Ansätze für mehr Sicherheit in Lieferketten“, Sebastian Britz, CEO Kevla 18:40 Uhr – Networking, Food & Drinks Bitte nutzen Sie die Anmeldung auf unserer Website unter: 🔗 https://eu1.hubs.ly/H0tF37j0

**Flight Levels® Flight Club #12** For this **Flight Club** we will jump back to an Open Space format, but with a **Deep Dive introduction topic to get us started**. The **Deep Dive** topic this time will be **Flight Level 3** systems. What they are, how they operate and with some examples. We will begin with this Deep Dive then open up the space for more general topics, related to Flight Levels, Kanban or anything else. The evening will look something like this... 18:00 — Arrival and socialising 18:15 — Start and introductions 18:30 — Deep Dive Intro topic (FL3 Systems) 19:00 — Open Space topics 20:45 — Wrap up 21:00 — Finish Snacks and refreshments will also be available, probably :-) Newcomers and repeat visitors are all welcome. Looking forward to seeing you.

Monthly working lunch for Columbus business owners. One specific topic, one to three actions you can run this week. You can be the best at what you do and still be invisible. If local buyers cannot find you, the phone does not ring. Marketing Monday Lunch + Learn is a monthly working lunch for Columbus business owners focused on building relationships, local networking, and local marketing. Every kind of local business welcome. No pitch round, no pressure, no upsell. **This month** Most local businesses pick one or two places to be visible and call it good. The result is inconsistent calls and a feeling that marketing is not working. We will walk through the three places every local business needs to show up, plus the fourth place most owners ignore that quietly produces the warmest leads. **What to expect** Doors open at noon. Order lunch and drinks at the cafe counter or bring your own. You get real conversation with other local owners and a focused marketing lesson. You leave knowing people and with one to three actions to run that week. The room is reserved through 1:30 PM. **Who this is for** Any local business owner who wants clearer marketing direction and real local relationships. Service businesses, retail, home services, professional services, online owners building local presence, anyone serious about being part of the Columbus business community. **Not the right fit if** You are here to pitch the room or recruit for an MLM. **Details** * Second Monday of every month * 12:00 to 1:30 PM * Good Cafe Easton, 4400 Easton Commons, Ste 150, Columbus, OH 43219 * Order lunch and drinks at the counter when you arrive * Free to attend, RSVP required, space is limited **About the host** Rita Suzanne is a local marketing strategist and the founder of Local Marketing Method. She runs Visibility is Profitability, the membership where local business owners build the system that keeps their phone ringing. Learn more at learnlocalmarketing.com. Register here: [https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1989964540509?aff=oddtdtcreator](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1989964540509?aff=oddtdtcreator)

Bring your business cards and network in person with other business professionals! Gold Star Referral Clubs is one of the most established professional networking organizations in the country, with multiple groups in central Ohio. Join us!

Please reserve your spot by registering on the below link : **Reserve** https://www.eventbrite.com/e/join-biggest-community-investors-founders-columbus-online-tickets-1988563717610?aff=meetup **QUESTIONS ?** Pls Reach out to; Ridhi - +971504724873 ( WhatsApp Only)

At Evolve Synergy Sessions, you'll be part of a supportive mastermind where we share challenges, brainstorm solutions, and inspire one another to take bold steps in our businesses. Grow your network, gain fresh perspectives, and build meaningful relationships with like-minded women who are committed to success. Whether you’re looking to move the needle in your business or simply need a space to connect and recharge, this is the perfect place to fuel your entrepreneurial journey. [Add Event to Calendar](https://evolvecolumbus.eventcalendarapp.com/) \*\* Please note, we will be arriving around 8:15a for open networking! Get there early and get connected! Contact Alexis Morley at [alexis.morley@edwardjones.com](mailto:alexis.morley@edwardjones.com) or Terri Lawson at [terri.lawson@e-merge.com](mailto:terri.lawson@e-merge.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)

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\.