Dr. Léa Steinacker

I am a social scientist, keynote speaker, and award-winning entrepreneur. My work has focused on how technology interacts with people, practices, and the planet. In February 2024, my book "Alles überall auf einmal: Wie Künstliche Intelligenz unsere Welt verändert und was wir gewinnen können", co-written with Prof. Dr. Miriam Meckel, will be published by Rowohlt Verlag. 

For about a decade, I have researched the widespread impact of emerging technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), with publications on a range of topics like automated facial recognition, synthetic voice generation, quantum computing, as well as my original framework of Code Capital. With my expertise in emerging technologies and their wide-ranging effects, I am a member of the AI Advisory Board of Ringier AG, one of Switzerland's leading media companies, and a lecturer at the University of St. Gallen, teaching courses like "Social and Economic Impacts of Artificial Intelligence". 

In 2018, I co-founded and am the Chief Innovation Officer of ada Learning, a learning and development community that equips leaders from diverse organizations for the future through content, live experiences, and practical innovation projects. Since its inception, ada has connected and worked with thousands of employees from DAX organzations, SMEs, governments and NGOs.

Previously, I served as the Chief Innovation Officer of WirtschaftsWoche, Germany's leading business magazine, where I also covered the future of work and socio-technological change. Prior to joining Handelsblatt Media Group, I worked with social justice NGOs in Bosnia-Hercegovina, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. I was selected as a Forbes 30 Under 30 leader, one of Medium Magazine’s Top 30 Under 30 journalists, a BCG Thought Leader, and an Atlantik Brücke Young Leader. In 2011, I was awarded the Henry Richardson Labouisse Prize for independent research. 
 
I hold degrees from Princeton University (A.B.), the Harvard Kennedy School of Government (MPP), and the University of St. Gallen (PhD).