Trello Experts

Project: Digital Sovereignty – Toll Collect

Workshop: Digital Sovereignty Recognize dependencies, reduce risks, remain capable of acting

Format

• One-day practical seminar

Target group

• Executive management
• IT managers
• Data protection officers
• Compliance functions

Content and objectives

• Systematic analysis of digital dependencies
• Assessment of legal and operational risks
• Development of a concrete plan to increase digital sovereignty
• Mapping of the entire IT infrastructure by participants
• Identification of critical dependencies on non-European providers
• Creation of a prioritized risk matrix based on:
• GDPR
• NIS2
• EU AI Act
• Joint development of options for action – from a hybrid model to complete migration to European solutions
• Development of an individual sovereignty roadmap with:
• Responsibilities
• Milestones
• Budget framework

Agenda

• Preliminary self-assessment (current infrastructure)
• Digital sovereignty? Nothing but an illusion
• Digital sovereignty 2026 – Germany’s dangerous dependency in focus
• Digital sovereignty & open source
• What is digital sovereignty?
• Three questions raised by digital sovereignty
• Reflection: Digital sovereignty in your own life
• Why is digital sovereignty existential now?
• Practical examples of digital sovereignty
• Schleswig-Holstein initiative
• Benefits of digital sovereignty for your company
• Assessing strategy options (cost-benefit matrix)
• Sovereign provider? 10 questions
• What does digital sovereignty specifically mean for your company?
• How do you shape digital sovereignty?
• Digital sovereignty and psychological safety
• Psychological safety: The key to high-performing teams
• Why psychological safety in your company?
• Benefits of psychological safety
• Invitation to group work: PsySafety Check (PS-C)
• The “Braintrust” experiment
• Creating a risk matrix
• Creating a roadmap & project plan
• European alternatives to US Big Tech
• 10-point plans:
• NIS2
• EU AI Act
• GDPR
• ISO 27001

• Expansion of the competence portfolio to include AI-driven marketing & chatbot integration
• Design and development of several intelligent chatbots (Steno, UChat, ManyChat, GHL) for MeditationSoul.org and Physio Point for automated promotion of workshops, retreats, and online courses
• Experience with social media automation tools and AI content tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Gamma, HeyGen)
• Creation of automations with n8n for marketing and CRM processes (lead nurturing, event promotion, funnel flows)
• Combining creative brand communication and AI-supported automation to increase efficiency and personalization in digital marketing campaigns

• Introduction of service management
• Optimization of processes
• Introduction of an agile way of working
• Introduction and configuration of Atlassian Jira Service Management
• Prioritization of features
• Coordination with stakeholders and the business department
• Management of the backlog and creation of user stories
• Budget management
• Coordination of a Scrum team
• Use of Atlassian Jira and Confluence
• Use of Microsoft Teams
• Working according to Scrum and Kanban

• Wrote the book chapter “Entwicklung eines digitalen Geschäftsmodells” for the Springer Gabler collection “Praxishandbuch Digitales Management”.

• Documented complex financial reporting processes in deep-dive sessions with subject matter experts
• Analyzed and mapped the 3-tier data flow SAP – Essbase – HQ (984 account entries, triple chart of accounts)
• Identified the biggest time drains (40 % of close time)
• Evaluated technologies (AWS, Microsoft Fabric, Custom/Hybrid) with cost-benefit analysis
• Created a validation rule catalog with 351 rules as the basis for pre-submission automation
• Business case: estimated savings potential of 480–960 T€/year for the EAR region
• Hands-on implementation with Microsoft Fabric, RAG, AI agents/Tool Calling and n8n; productive use of Microsoft Copilot and Copilot Studio
• AI-supported project management workflows (minutes, tasks, knowledge synchronization)
• Stakeholder management at senior management level (EAR Accounting, IEA IT, TFSC Japan), workshops and training on AI tools

Technologies: Microsoft Fabric, Copilot Studio, Claude AI, Python, Power BI, SAP, Essbase/SmartView, Excel (VBA), Notion, SharePoint

• Supported monthly and annual closing activities
• Checked incoming invoices for formal and factual accuracy
• Posted incoming invoices
• Contact person for internal departments on accounting matters
• Created and maintained vendor master data
• Processed open items
• Took on additional accounting-related special tasks
• Managed the functional mailbox
• Performed payment runs

Training and knowledge transfer – Accounts Payable:

In addition to the tasks above, I was responsible for training and transferring knowledge to 8 employees of an external service provider in India who took over the accounts payable activities:

• Conducted structured training and practical guidance throughout the accounts payable process
• Trained employees in checking and posting incoming invoices, including formal and factual checks
• Taught vendor master data maintenance, open-item processing and payment runs
• Trained employees in using the functional mailbox and communicating effectively with internal departments
• Explained accounting procedures, controls and company-specific accounts payable requirements
• Conducted “Training on the Job” using practical posting cases and real business transactions
• Supported the team in independently carrying out accounts payable processes and resolving accounting questions
• Checked the quality and accuracy of work results and provided continuous feedback and coaching
• Supported the transfer of accounts payable processes to the external service provider and ensured structured knowledge transfer and an orderly handover
• Supported a smooth transition by documenting processes, clarifying responsibilities and ensuring consistent application of accounting requirements

Software: JDE, ELO, SAP Concur

• Fundamentals of electronics measurement, electropneumatic circuits & protective measures according to DIN-VDE
• Installation, wiring and commissioning of PLC-controlled Systems

• Led sales excellence and post-merger integration project for klarsolar GmbH into E.ON Germany
• Defined strategic integration and transformation: stakeholder alignment, B2B (up to 100 kWp) and B2C (up to 30 kWp) scaling, brand and sales strategy harmonization, synergy realization
• Developed and implemented holistic sales strategy 2025/26 with vision 2030
• Reorganized sales organization: lead generation, presales, inside sales, field sales, sales ops, after sales
• Introduced CRM-based lead qualification, performance monitoring, business rules and low performer management
• Established sales governance, performance reviews, continuous improvement processes, incentive and compensation logic
• Owned sales IT roadmap (ERP, CRM, BI, planning tools) and deployed KPIs, dashboards, control systems
• Professionalized sales recruiting, onboarding, knowledge management and training academy
• Acted as trusted advisor to C-level and shareholders, provided growth potential analyses and board recommendations
• Achieved all project goals on budget and timeline, seamless integration with measurable synergies in 6 months, increased market penetration and sales efficiency

• Industry: Insurance, Trade, IT
• Customers & Projects: Consulting and selling insurance and similar services
• Main tasks: Insurance consulting (health insurance, retirement planning, wealth building); commercial services, inside and field sales; sales data analysis and forecasting; customer consulting and support; opening a new sales headquarters for private and business customers; business development & innovation management; business use case development; process optimization; stakeholder management; team leadership and training; preparation and delivery of trainings;
• Technologies used: Microsoft Office 365, Microsoft Teams, Jira, Draw.IO, Camunda 8, Java (8, 17,21,25), Git, Spring Boot, Spring Batch, Spring Data REST, Spring Web, Spring Security, J-Unit, Playwright, Lombock, Vaadin, H2, PostgreSQL (16, 17 18), pgAdmin, Docker, LLMs, JasperSoft Studio, JasperReports

• Set up backend assistants, prompt engineering, customer communication, growth strategy

• Successful implementation of AI shopping assistants e.g. Thalgo.de

Negotiation and conclusion of works council agreements on Workday and other topics I Advice on and implementation of employment law projects in the HR context I Transfer of comple- x employment and works constitution law issues into practical solutions I Workday

• ITSM consulting, analysis, and optimization of IT capacity using BMC TSCO / BMC Helix
• Developed the concept for “Governance Guidelines for Operational Capacity Management”

As a Council Member at GLG (Gerson Lehrman Group), the world’s leading expert network, I provide organizations, investment firms, and consulting companies with expert discussions on demand – wherever specialized knowledge in information security, IT governance, and regulatory compliance is needed.

My assessments are based on many years of practical experience in highly regulated industries: from building and implementing information security management systems (ISMS according to ISO 27001), IT risk and vulnerability management, and business continuity (ISO 22301) to the practical implementation of European regulations such as DORA, NIS2, BAIT, and the Cyber Resilience Act (CRA).

The cooperation is project- and discussion-based. I provide decision-makers with a practical perspective gained from real-world experience on cyber risks, security governance, and operational resilience – exactly when it is needed.

• Project management in the area of “Campaign, Offer and Performance Management Classic” for PAYBACK partners from the retail, FMCG and financial services sectors
• Campaign planning, development and implementation of offer-specific concepts and measures for the channels newsletter, digital advertising (web and app), stand-alone mailings and the print mailing “PAYBACK Punkteübersicht”
• Coordination with PAYBACK program partners (including American Express, Netto, EDEKA, Marktkauf & Trinkgut), PAYBACK departments and agencies
• Documentation of tasks and processes as well as onboarding of future job holders