René Bohnsack speaking at a conference

Transforming BusinessThrough AI & Innovation

Professor, entrepreneur, and strategic advisor helping global leaders navigate the AI revolution and build sustainable, innovation-driven organizations.

Top 2% Global Scientist
100+ Speaking Events
2 Company Exits

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Weekly insights on AI strategy, innovation, and the future of business

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Trusted by 5,000+ global leaders

Bridging Academia & Innovation

As a Professor of Strategy and Innovation at Católica Lisbon School of Business & Economics, I've dedicated my career to understanding how organizations can harness the power of AI and sustainability to drive meaningful transformation.

My journey spans from founding five startups (with two successful exits) to advising Fortune 500 companies on their digital transformation strategies. This unique blend of academic rigor and entrepreneurial experience allows me to bridge the gap between cutting-edge research and practical business application.

Today, I work with leaders worldwide to navigate the AI revolution, helping them build sustainable, innovation-driven organizations that thrive in our rapidly changing world.

20+
Years of Experience
5
Companies Founded
100+
Speaking Engagements
Top 2%
Global Scientist
René Bohnsack
Currently

Leading AI transformation initiatives with global enterprises

How I Can Help You

Leveraging two decades of experience at the intersection of academia and industry to drive meaningful transformation in your organization.

Keynote Speaking

Inspiring talks on AI, innovation, and digital transformation at global conferences and corporate events.

  • TEDx and international conferences
  • Corporate leadership summits
  • Industry-specific insights
  • Interactive workshops

Executive Education

Tailored programs for C-suite executives and senior leaders on AI strategy and innovation management.

  • Custom curriculum development
  • AI readiness assessments
  • Strategic planning workshops
  • Leadership coaching

Advisory Services

Strategic guidance for organizations navigating digital transformation and AI implementation.

  • Board advisory roles
  • AI strategy development
  • Innovation roadmapping
  • Change management

Research Collaboration

Partnering with organizations to conduct cutting-edge research in AI and sustainability.

  • Academic partnerships
  • Industry research projects
  • White paper development
  • Thought leadership
TEDx
Stanford University
Católica University
Galp
Unicorn Factory
MIT Sloan
Ooredoo
Omantel
EG Bank
ELM
Emeritys
TEDx
Stanford University
Católica University
Galp
Unicorn Factory
MIT Sloan
Ooredoo
Omantel
EG Bank
ELM
Emeritys

What Leaders Say

Trusted by Fortune 500 executives and industry leaders worldwide

"Rene's sessions brought real clarity to our cohort. The tools and frameworks he shared were not just insightful but actionable – and the feedback from participants exceptionally appreciative. A great experience for any organization aiming to equip entrepreneurs with practical, future-ready capabilities."
"Absolutely fascinating. This was one of the most thought-provoking sessions I've attended. It gave me practical tools I can use immediately to support AI-driven businesses. Truly impressive."
Simon Hombersley
"Prof. René Bohnsack's masterclass provided exceptional clarity and insights on AI, demonstrating its potential for business, innovation and new, engaging ways of working. His masterclass, attended by more than 200 employees, was highly impactful and valuable for our entire company."
"We invited Prof. René Bohnsack to speak to our board members on ethics and governance in the age of AI. His session was both insightful and thought-provoking, engaging our members and sparking meaningful discussions that left a lasting impression."
"In our last strategy event René Bohnsack facilitated an engaging and thought-provoking training session on AI that provided us with actionable insights and strategies to leverage AI in driving innovation and business growth. The session was both inspiring and highly relevant to our mission of putting AI at the core of our digital transformation journey."
Tiago Gonçalves
"With Play to Win Capstone, DryDocks World identified many AI use cases poised to improve productivity across our operations. The AI Trends in Business workshop revealed innovations we'd never considered. The AI Balanced Scorecard workshop showed us how to use clear KPIs to implement AI in our organization successfully. Importantly, René's energizing facilitation kept us all rowing in the same direction."
"With the Play to Win Capstone project, Dubai Airports rapidly transformed a diverse set of AI initiatives into a structured and actionable roadmap in just six weeks. The AI Trends in Business workshop gave us a clear view of how organisations are using AI to drive productivity, while the AI Balanced Scorecard workshop helped us define a holistic framework to track implementation across the enterprise. René's upbeat energy and facilitation style made the entire experience highly engaging for everyone involved."
"The programme reminded us that successful AI starts with a coherent aspiration, not disconnected projects. René encouraged us to think big while staying grounded in our operational realities, ensuring strategy and action stayed tightly linked."
"Having a clear framework transformed broad ideas into focused priorities and united our teams around a shared direction starting to implement AI. René's facilitation was engaging and down-to-earth, making advanced concepts feel immediately applicable to our market."
"The structured framework of the CAIO course gave us new clarity on AI's role in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. René translated a fast-moving, technical field into actionable insights, bridging vision and execution in a domain where the stakes are uniquely high."

My Journey

From entrepreneur to academic leader, each milestone has shaped my unique perspective on innovation and transformation.

2005Europe

Entrepreneurial Journey Begins

Founded first startup, beginning a journey of bridging academic research with practical business application.

2010Netherlands

PhD Completion

Completed doctoral research on innovation ecosystems and sustainable business models.

2015TEDx Events

First TEDx Talk

Delivered first of many TEDx talks on the future of innovation and sustainability in business.

2018Europe

Second Startup Exit

Successfully exited second venture, demonstrating the practical application of innovation frameworks.

2020Lisbon, Portugal

Professor at Católica Lisbon

Appointed Professor of Strategy and Innovation, focusing on digital transformation and sustainable business models.

2023Stanford University

Top 2% Global Scientist

Recognized among the world's most impactful scientists by Stanford University's global rankings.

2025Global

AI Advisory Leader

Leading AI transformation initiatives with Fortune 500 companies and government organizations across the Middle East and Europe.

Events & Talks

Insights on AI, innovation, and leadership worldwide.

Recent Talks

  1. Oct 2025Conference about book: Artificial Intelligence for Ecology, Health, and Education

    Conference about book: Artificial Intelligence for Ecology, Health, and Education

  2. Oct 2025Entrepreneurial Ecosystems

    AI is the Strategy: How Agentic AI Is Reshaping Business Models

  3. Jul 2025The 85th Annual Meeting of the Academy of Management

    Twin Innovation: Unpacking the Interplay of Green and Digital Innovation

  4. Jul 2025The Lisbon MBA Masterclass

    AI for Business

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