01
People and AI: where are we heading?
What does AI take on, what stays with people – and what does that mean for our work?
AI writes, researches, plans and prepares decisions. Andrea Kaden puts into perspective where we stand today and where we are heading – with scenarios that encourage and others that are uncomfortable. She shows what stays with people: judging, deciding, taking responsibility. And she makes the diagnosis: we need a different mindset, an engineer’s – solving challenges yourself, spotting bottlenecks and waste, at every level of the organisation.
- Who it’s for: Leaders and teams in medium-sized businesses who want orientation instead of hype or fear. Works well as an opening keynote at conferences with a large, mixed audience.
- What people take away: A realistic picture of the years ahead, a clear sense of what can be handed to AI and what can’t, and a direction for your own work.
02
AI for leaders
Set the framework, lead by example, empower.
What do leaders do differently from Monday when AI joins the team? They set the framework: what may the AI do, who checks, who is accountable? They model working with AI themselves. And they help an engineer’s mindset grow in their team: solving challenges yourself, spotting bottlenecks and waste. And that starts with them. To do that, they need to know which skills are called for now – such as judging results critically and giving clear instructions. Andrea Kaden shows how this works in everyday leadership.
- Who it’s for: Managing directors, leaders and team leads in medium-sized businesses – in the leadership circle, at a retreat or at a management conference.
- What people take away: Concrete next steps for your own everyday leadership and a picture of the skills your team needs now.
03
Self-management in the age of AI
AI can give us time – or take it away. What matters is who is in charge.
AI gives us time: drafts in seconds, research in minutes. But it also takes time away – with ever new possibilities, endless polishing and the feeling of having to get even more done. After all, more output isn’t automatically better work. Andrea Kaden shows how people find the balance: with clear priorities, a visible system of work and AI as a sparring partner rather than one more thing driving them on. That way the time AI gives us is kept – for what really matters.
- Who it’s for: Leaders and teams with a heavy workload. Works well as a talk at staff days and team events, or to kick off a training.
- What people take away: A feel for when AI gives time and when it takes it away, simple ways to prioritise and a first step for everyday work.
04
Vibe coding: chatting with AI was yesterday
Today teams build their own tools – without any programming skills.
Many processes work somehow, but not well. With vibe coding you describe to an AI what you need, and it writes the code for small applications that fit exactly. Andrea Kaden works this way herself: she has built her own programs for conference management, her clients’ conferences and her travel – and, together with Ralf Westphal, the website you are reading right now. For leaders this means: solutions emerge right at the workplace, often faster than any centrally planned project.
- Who it’s for: Leaders and teams in medium-sized businesses who don’t want to wait for the big software solution. Works well as a talk at digitalisation and innovation days, or to kick off a workshop.
- What people take away: An eye for bottlenecks in your own processes and ideas for a first tool of your own.
05
Be real! The courage to show yourself
How authenticity creates clarity, respect and relationships between equals.
At work and in everyday life we often play a role: we adapt, meet expectations, avoid conflict. That takes energy. Being authentic saves energy, gives us time and improves our chances of getting what we really want – not by saying everything unfiltered, but with clear values and respect. A talk that deliberately goes beyond AI and still fits with it: anyone who wants to talk honestly about change needs exactly this clarity.
- Who it’s for: People and leaders who would rather be real than appear perfect. Made for the big stage: as a keynote at congresses, conferences and professional development days.
- What people take away: The courage to name needs and limits clearly, and ideas for relationships between equals.
There are dedicated versions for assistant and office teams, for example ‘Vibe coding for assistants & office workers’.
