Ricardo Cabete is an Emotional Intelligence and authentic leadership specialist who has worked with leaders in 23+ countries, including Amazon, Shell, SAP, and Novartis. As a former rock singer, he blends energy and empathy to show why emotions fuel meaningful change.

Artificial Intelligence vs. Emotional Intelligence: The Ultimate Battle

On stage, Ricardo represents Emotional Intelligence — and “Sara,” an AI avatar, embodies Artificial Intelligence. What begins as a clash between human heart and machine logic quickly becomes a deeper question: Will the future be a fight… or a partnership?
This immersive keynote blends technology, humor, and emotion to challenge how we think about leadership in an AI-driven world. Expect energy, empathy, and a fresh perspective on what truly remains human.

Dr. Sonja Strohmer is the Managing Director and Community Lead of the corporate network Work Smart Circle, a speaker, trainer, university lecturer in AI, organization and leadership, and one of Austria’s Top 30 HR Influencers.

Transforming the World of Work: How AI Reshapes Organizations on 7 Levels

In this interactive workshop, Sonja Strohmer works with participants on how AI reshapes organizations beyond technology. Together, participants explore:

• how AI reshapes organizations on seven levels
• the five success factors of a successful AI transformation
• why power skills are becoming essential in the AI era
• how organizational development becomes a key lever for AI integration
• practical approaches to a human-centered AI transformation

The session is highly interactive and built around collaboration, reflection, and concrete takeaways for leadership and L&D practice.

Patrick Ratheiser is an AI entrepreneur & strategy expert, co-founder of the Austrian AI scale-up Leftshift One and Head of AI at EY Austria (Director). As a Board Member of AI Austria, he actively shapes the practical and responsible adoption of AI in organizations.

Workshop: AI Strategy & Transformation: From AI Strategy Roadmap to a Learning Organization & Workshop: AI Use Case Ideation & Validation: From Ideas to Real Business Impact

Patrick Ratheiser, together with his EY colleague Daniel Wielander, will accompany Leadership Horizon with two hands-on workshops focused on AI strategy, transformation, and real business impact.

• AI Strategy & Transformation: From AI Strategy Roadmap to a Learning Organization. In this workshop, you will experience: How organizations move from AI orientation to a clear, actionable AI strategy. Patrick Ratheiser shows how AI strategy, AI literacy, and organizational learning come together to enable sustainable transformation – grounded in real-world project experience.
• Use Case Ideation & Validation: From Ideas to Real Business Impact: In this workshop, you will experience: How to systematically identify, assess, and prioritize AI use cases that actually create value. The focus is on realistic impact, risk awareness, and turning AI ideas into measurable business outcomes.

Magdalena May works at the intersection of psychology, AI, and society. She focuses on how AI impacts human behavior at work — cognitively, emotionally, and motivationally. She supports leaders and L&D professionals in understanding the psychological and cultural consequences of AI.

Keynote: The Psychology of AI at Work – Implications for Leadership and Learning

In this keynote, Magdalena May provides a research-based perspective on how AI reshapes motivation, collaboration, learning, and the experience of work itself. She explores why efficiency gains often come with hidden psychological trade-offs — and what leaders and L&D professionals need to consider when deciding where AI supports growth and where consciously designed, human-centered or even AI-free spaces are essential.

Claude MacDonald is recognized as an expert in the field of sales culture transformation. Over the past 25 years, Claude has trained and coached more than 25,000 managers, professionals, and employees from prominent organizations in Canada, the United States, and Europe.

Keynote: The Leadership Skill No AI Can Replace: Practice

Small moments can make or break a customer conversation — yet most teams rarely practice. Claude MacDonald shows why increasing the practice-to-play ratio is one of the most powerful leadership habits in the AI era. Rooted in 25+ years of experience transforming sales cultures, he reveals how consistent preparation builds confidence, clarity, and stronger customer interactions. You’ll also experience how AI-driven simulations developed with MDI make practice easier, more accessible, and more impactful.
A practical, energizing session for leaders who want their teams to learn faster, adapt faster, and perform with greater consistency.

With over 20 years of experience at EY, Susanne Zach drives data-driven and GenAI transformations with a strong focus on business impact, governance, and human oversight. She also serves on the board of DIO – Data Intelligence Offensive & is a WOMENinICT ambassador.

Panelist: When AI Shapes Work – Leadership & Learning Decisions That Matter

Susanne Zach joins the 2026 panel, contributing an enterprise-level perspective on AI, data-driven leadership, governance, and the human responsibility in AI-enabled organizations. Because as AI becomes part of everyday work, its effects go far beyond efficiency gains. Research shows AI can personalize learning and boost productivity — but it can also affect employee motivation, skill development, and well-being if not carefully integrated. Leaders and L&D professionals must understand where AI supports growth, where it undermines human capability, and how organisational behaviour, learning culture and motivation change in this new landscape.

Gunther Fürstberger is the CEO of MDI and a global leadership expert with more than 20 years of experience supporting organizations through transformation. He has worked with leaders across Europe, the U.S., and Asia, focusing on sustainable leadership and the future of work.

Keynote: Leading in Times of Convergence

Five breakthrough technologies are transforming organizations at a pace most leadership models aren’t built for. As CEO of MDI and Leadership Expert for global companies, Gunther Fürstberger opens the day by trying to respond to this complexity with a human-centered leadership approach. Leaders should strive for orientation, stay ethical, and become more effective when AI, robotics, biotech, quantum tech and green tech reshape how we work. Practical, forward-looking, and grounded in real client experience.

Johanna is an organisational development and AI solutions consultant who helps teams and organisations strengthen culture, leadership, and collaboration. As the founder of her own practice, she works at the intersection of people, digitalisation, and AI and guides organisations.

AI Labs for Leadership Development

At Leadership Horizon, Johanna Glechner joins Rafael Ungvari to host two AI Labs designed to bring artificial intelligence directly into leadership development. These interactive sessions allow participants to explore how AI supports learning transfer, strengthens decision-making, and accelerates skill development in a practical, hands-on way. Through short demos, real business cases, and guided try-outs, participants gain a clear and realistic view of how AI can be integrated into modern leadership and people development. The labs create space to experiment, reflect, and apply—so leaders leave with actionable ideas they can use immediately in their own teams and organisations.

Daniel Wielander leads AI-enabled Automation within the AI & Data team at EY Austria. With a background in Innovation Management, he supports organizations in strategically aligning the use of automation and AI technologies.

Workshop AI Strategy & Transformation: From AI Strategy Roadmap to a Learning Organization & Workshop AI Use Case Ideation & Validation: From Ideas to Real Business Impact

Together with Patrick Ratheiser, Daniel Wielander will deliver two workshops as part of the Leadership Horizon program:

• AI Strategy & Transformation: From AI Strategy Roadmap to a Learning Organization. In this workshop, you will experience: How organizations move from AI orientation to a clear, actionable AI strategy. Patrick Ratheiser shows how AI strategy, AI literacy, and organizational learning come together to enable sustainable transformation – grounded in real-world project experience.
• AI Use Case Ideation & Validation: From Ideas to Real Business Impact. In this workshop, you will experience: How to systematically identify, assess, and prioritize AI use cases that actually create value. The focus is on realistic impact, risk awareness, and turning AI ideas into measurable business outcomes.

At MDI, Iris designs leadership learning journeys for international organisations, supportin leaders in navigating complexity & change through immersive learning methods such as VR. Before joining MDI, Iris was part of the Innovation Hub Raiffeisen.

VR Skill Labs: Inclusion & Complexity

At Leadership Horizon 2026, Iris will guide two immersive VR Skill Labs where participants practise real leadership challenges in a safe, experiential environment. One lab focuses on inclusive leadership in action; the other on navigating complexity and speed. Her hands-on workshops enable participants to step into realistic scenarios, practise key leadership behaviours, and explore challenges they would normally only discuss.

Rafael is an AI Product & Solution Lead with a strong focus on translating artificial intelligence into usable, scalable solutions for organisations. He works closely with teams to design AI-driven products and learning tools that support leadership, decision-making, and performance in real business contexts.

AI Labs for Leadership Development

At Leadership Horizon, Rafael Ungvari joins Johanna Glechner to host two AI Labs that bring artificial intelligence directly into leadership development practice. Drawing on his experience in AI product design and solution architecture, Rafael provides concrete use cases, live demonstrations, and practical frameworks that show how AI can enhance learning transfer, improve decisions, and support skill development.
Together, the labs combine technical insight with human-centered learning design, creating a space where leaders can experiment, reflect, and leave with clear, actionable ideas for applying AI in their own teams and organisations.

Peter is a leadership expert, trainer, coach, and mindset speaker who helps leaders and teams grow. With a background in psychology, he supports organizations in navigating change, strengthening collaboration, and creating environments where people can truly thrive.

Your Host on the Mainstage

At Leadership Horizon 2026, Peter guides participants through the entire program with a mix of expertise, energy, and humor. His positive spirit and natural ability to connect people bring lightness to complex topics, create smooth transitions between sessions, and ensure that the mainstage feels inspiring, welcoming, and alive throughout the day.

Behind the scenes, things are moving fast. We’re currently deep in conversations with more international speakers, forward-thinking companies, and strong partners who all share one question: what does leadership really need next?

Stay tuned !

Topics we’ve been exploring range from human–AI collaboration and decision-making under pressure to culture, trust, and what remains distinctly human in leadership as technology accelerates. We’re also shaping a new panel format that brings these themes into dialogue: diverse backgrounds, different angles, and honest conversations that go beyond polished keynotes.

We’ll start sharing more. Step by step. Speaker by speaker.