The year that made me an Entrepreneur, Tech For Good and Sustainability Leader and Community Champion

Riess Tech Year in Review: 2023‘s most pivotal moments

I and other leaders had a lot to act on in 2023: the pandemic, social upheaval, climate change, the Russian invasion of Ukraine, rampant inflation, the Hamas-led attack on Israel. And yet I feel optimistic because somehow the world keeps spinning, providing us with opportunities to make an impact with technology. To support sustainable growth, we needed to transform for the digital era and change our approach to talent and inclusivity. To close this year and look ahead to 2024 and beyond, explore how my four pivotal moments and their lessons are fuelling impact every day, in every corner of Europe.

1. Entrepreneur and executive technologist with outstanding contributions to technology and business in Europe

I became an owner of my technology business, Riess Consulting, the leading German digital strategy consultancy, inspiring others to start their own technology-related venture through my vision and talent

As Senior Strategy Leader and Board Advisor in Technology, Keynote Speaker, Author and Top Women Leader in Tech, I accompany you as an Entrepreneur and Managing Director on your way through the digital transformation.

Board Advisor

As sparring partner for you as C-level Management, I align your business activities for the future in a sustainable and value-enhancing way through digital transformation.

Senior Strategy Advisor and CTO

As Strategist, I achieve long-term financial impact for you as Business Owner through the successful realignment and digitization of business models.

Interim CTO and CDO

You as Managing Director benefit from my leadership style, which is characterized by applying my technical expertise in cybersecurity and ESG in an understandable way and in difficult situations.

Digital Innovator, ESG and Diversity & Inclusion Expert

My transformative and inclusive style is focused on effective, entrepreneurial and prudent governance with value creation for all stakeholders.

Keynote Speaker

My style is characterized by explaining technical knowledge in an understandable and entertaining way. My visually stunning keynotes are interactive and engage your audience.

Executive Coach and Mentor

I am a Coach who helps you as Leader to manage change and complexity, to break new ground and to achieve the goals of your organizations.

Author

I bring you the future as it happens. From the latest in technology and digital transformation to the big stories in strategy and leadership, I’ve got you covered.

If you are keen to hear more about our Riess Consulting technology business,👉make a request for a first conversation.

I have significantly and uniquely impacted the greater European and global business community in an information technology sense over the course of the year

Keynote ‘The Impact of Technology and Innovation’ at Zuger Innovationstag

I have taken the stage at Zuger Innovationstag to deliver my keynote ‘The Impact of Technology and Innovation’, highlighting how human and artificial intelligence interplay and intelligent technologies will transform the working world.

Keynote ‘Make an impact with technology’ at RSBG SE Global Conference

In my keynote ‘Make an impact with technology’ at RSBG SE Global Conference, I gave insights on five strategic technology trends and three best practices for digital transformation as strategic levers, which CXOs need to create tech for sustainable growth. First, make an impact by investing in current technologies — whether you need to optimize, scale, or pioneer. Second, drive Digital Transformation. You know that technology is nothing without your leadership.

I have contributed significantly to the effectiveness of business through technology

Otto Group’s Initiative ZukunftsWerte member

I joined Otto Group for their Initiative ZukunftsWerte event to jointly strengthen the future viability of Germany and Europe as a business location for AI development and adoption. I gave my very own five cents on an opportunity-oriented and at the same time responsible approach to and design of AI.

German Digital Advisory Board Members Conference

I joined my fellow German Digital Advisory Board Members for our Deutsche Digitale Beiräte event. The Deutsche Digitale Beiräte conference was a great opportunity to come together as one across all Digital Advisory Board Members, to wrap-up the year, connect, celebrate and have fun.

Five-time Top Women Leader Award Finalist

I was five times shortlisted as Top Women Leader in Tech Award Finalist.

Women in Tech Awards Global TOP 50 Finalist

I was shortlisted as Global TOP 50 Finalist in the category WomenTech Community Award for the Women in Tech Global Awards powered by the WomenTech Network from a pool of over 2,100 participants.

We proudly announce the esteemed award winner, Victoria Riess, for her outstanding contributions to the tech community, dedication to creating positive change, fostering inclusivity and actively participating in community-building initiatives.

Inspiring Leader Women that Build Awards Finalist

I was shortlisted as Inspiring Leader Finalist for the Women that Build Awards powered by Globant for generating a positive impact in the STEAM field as leader and founder as well as in promoting diversity and inclusion in the business environment as role model and source of inspiration for other colleagues.

Business & Innovation Study UK Alumni Awards Global Finalist

I was recognised as one of the 28 Global Finalists with the prestigious Study UK Alumni Awards by the British Council in the category Business and Innovation from a pool of over 1,200 global applicants.

Two-time Top Women Leader Award Nominee

I was two times nominated for the Top Women Leader in Tech Awards by my sponsors and mentors in the category.

Cybersecurity Woman of the Year Nominee

Cybersecurity Woman of the Year Nominee for demonstrating significant success in major cybersecurity initiatives as one of the women leading the cybersecurity industry.

I demonstrated innovation and key successes achieved in the past year with an eye on digital leadership in the future, reaching more than 30,000 followers and 5,000 subscribers

• Knacken Quantencomputer Kryptowährungen? in Computerwoche
• ChatGPT und künstliche Intelligenz in Linde Aufsichtsrat aktuell
• Interview for The “5 Premium Speakers Questions” in Premium Speakers
• ‘Quantum supremacy’ — Is quantum computing about to break cryptocurrency? in Security-Insider
• Digital Transformation — An opportunity for telecommunication companies to maintain their global competitiveness in Level Up Coding gitconnected

2. Tech For Good Leader and IT Team Leader for Culture and Inclusion

I founded my second venture and am driving forward my venture that uses tech for good — as part of a European-wide diversity and inclusion impact

Riess Tech Female Talent Recruitment Platform is the leading German management and recruitment consultancy for women developers. I am one of the most relevant voices around women developers and technology. For my contributions on the topics of Women in Tech, Diversity & Inclusion and New Work, I have already been awarded five times as Top Women Leader in Tech and am also on the road as keynote speaker throughout Europe (25+ speaking engagements with 52,000+ attendees).

The success of my company is also based on this tech expertise. Founded in 2023, I built Riess Tech without outside capital; the company has been operating profitably since day one. I build and lead C-level management and recruitment consultancy programs for women developers with global teams and renowned clients (such as Adidas, Celonis and BT Group) and helps more than 13+ CEOs on their way to reimagine recruiting.

If you are keen to hear more about our Riess Tech Female Talent Recruitment Platform,👉make a request for a first conversation.

I demonstrated how my outstanding IT team leadership for culture, recruitment, inclusion, and diversity practices contribute to my client teams’ success

Keynote ‘Revolutionize work through technology’ at Deutsche Bahn conference

I have taken the stage at Woche der Neuen Arbeit conference from Deutsche Bahn to deliver my keynote ‘Revolutionize work through technology’, highlighting why technology is an important enabler for new ways of working.

I have built and led high-performing IT teams that have made a significant contribution to my organisations’ success

• Leadership Reflections — On my work in the CEO Office of a leading process mining company in Venture in JavaScript in Plain English

Top Women Leader in Tech Award Finalist

Impact of Diversity Finalist 2023

I was shortlisted as finalist in the category Audience Award for the Impact of Diversity Award powered by Deutsche Bahn and Impact of Diversity & Frauen-Karriere-Index to celebrate my achievements as a female personality who inspires and motivates others and is a true role model.

Drive Careers FTAfelicitas Award Finalist 2023

I was shortlisted as Drive Careers Finalist for the FTAfelicitas Award powered by Femtec.Alumnae e.V. to award my achievements in promoting women — especially in STEM professions — and supporting them in their individual career plans.

3. Sustainability Leader through technology

I have successfully planned and executed sustainability initiatives using technology

Panel ‘How boards win with a holistic ESG strategy and Digital Responsibility’ at Handelsblatt Wintercamp

I gave answers on how boards win with an ESG strategy at the Handelsblatt Winter Camp by delivering my panel ‘How boards win with a holistic ESG strategy and Digital Responsibility’, highlighting how boards address ESG factors to outpace competitors, improve profitability and unlock new sources of value creation.

I demonstrated leadership in leveraging technology and innovation to drive sustainable initiatives within my organisations that have produced a range of benefits for the organisations and communities

• Designing for social change to create shared value innovation in UX Collective
• IoT analytics and smart energy in Geek Culture

4. Community Tech Champion

I showcased outstanding initiatives that encouraged and developed Europe’s digital capabilities, engaging youth as the workforce of the future and providing lifelong learning

Course Design Thinking and Innovation at the University of Passau

I delivered my Course Design Thinking and Innovation at the University of Passau. The Chair of Strategic Management, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship offers my new course Design Thinking and Innovation for students. The Design Thinking and Innovation course will enable you to deploy the ideas and concepts around digital work on a live project to build out, and present, their digital business ideas.

Lecturer in Digital Transformation at the University of Passau

I was appointed as lecturer for teaching assignments in Digital Transformation at my alma mater, the University of Passau. I have taken the stage at the University of Passau to deliver my lecture ‘‘Quantum supremacy’ — Is quantum computing about to break cryptocurrency?’, highlighting what ‘quantum supremacy’ means for cryptocurrency and crypto mining.

I showcased outstanding initiatives that addressed digital equity and diversity issues, including women in tech and regional and community initiatives

Panel ‘Female Power in and out of the University of Passau’ at the University of Passau

I have taken the stage at the Top event: Science meets practice of the University of Passau to deliver my panel ‘Female Power — Diversity & inclusion, women in leadership and female leadership’, highlighting what I have taken with me for my career from my alma mater.

Top Women Leader Award Nominee

Inspire As Rolemodel FTAfelicitas Award Nominee 2024

Inspire As Rolemodel FTAfelicitas Award Nominee for inspiring women and men to change existing patterns and young talents for a future-oriented education and career in STEM subjects.

I took action, ensuring the digital capabilities of all Europeans are constantly growing and improving

• Kick start your tech career — Interview with Victoria Riess in Women in Big Data
• CreatOrSpace — Match, swipe, collaborate! in Bootcamp in UX Collective

Keynote speaker channel on Youtube

I showcased my thought leadership in digital transformation on my new keynote speaker channel on Youtube. As thought leader, I show the value of digital capabilities to a wider audience, with over 25 keynotes and more than 52,000 attendees.

• Keynote ‘‘Quantum supremacy’ — Is quantum computing about to break cryptocurrency: The Entire Keynote’
• Playlist ‘‘Quantum supremacy’ — Is quantum computing about to break cryptocurrency?’
• Keynote ‘Is quantum computing about to break cryptocurrency: The Entire Keynote’
• Playlist ‘Is quantum computing about to break cryptocurrency’

Year in Sport 2023

Again a consistent Year In Sport with 5,938 km distance, 231 active days, 216 h duration, 41,800 m elevation 💪🙌😤

And those are my four most pivotal moments of 2023. Leadership and resilience are more crucial than ever. Together we are creating tech for sustainable growth to make an impact and perhaps help keep our world spinning on its axis. 👉Explore some of my most popular keynotes on impact through technology, and check out our offer for even more of the latest products and services for 2024!