Artificial intelligence is changing the world of work at high speed. However, the success of the transformation depends not only on technological possibilities, but above all on how leaders co-create the change.
How can organizations build AI competencies when time, resources, and know-how are limited? How can leaders provide guidance when they are still learning themselves? And how can AI be successfully introduced without jeopardizing trust, motivation, and psychological safety?
Leaders from various industries addressed these questions in the compact seminar «AI – Leadership Impact & Transformation» from June 22-25, 2026, at the University of St.Gallen. Four intensive seminar days at the SQUARE (HSG) provided space to classify current developments around artificial intelligence, discuss concrete application areas, and reflect on the role of leadership in an increasingly AI-driven working world.
The focus was not only on technological developments, but especially on the cultural, ethical, and organizational prerequisites for a successful AI transformation. Participants explored how companies can use AI responsibly, integrate employees into the change, and simultaneously strengthen innovation and competitiveness.
A big thank you goes to our speakers from research and practice, who enriched the seminar with their expertise and diverse perspectives.
From the University of St.Gallen, Prof. Dr. Heike Bruch, Prof. Dr. Jan Marco Leimeister, and Dr. Sophie Klüser shared current research findings. These were supplemented by contributions from Prof. Dr. Dirk Kleine and Prof. Dr. Michael Klenk. Valuable insights from corporate practice were provided by Frauke von Polier and Vera Snell (Viessmann Generations Group), Markus Bucheli (Helvetia Baloise Group), Norbert Janzen (FUNKE Mediengruppe), and Constantin Michel (WorkMotion).
The joint examination of the opportunities, challenges, and limits of artificial intelligence has once again shown: We – as society, as leaders, and as individuals – remain decisive for success and ultimately responsible.
On Wednesday afternoon, the seminar seamlessly transitioned into the St.Gallen Leadership Day with Night centered around the theme «HEARTBEAT» .
The event not only imparted knowledge about current developments in AI but also provided strong impulses for the future-oriented design of organizations, leadership, and human-AI collaboration. With this format, the University of St.Gallen reaffirms its role as a pioneer for responsible digital transformation.
Would you like to participate in 2027?
