bumblekite

lecturers

engineering keynote lectures

Sileye Ba, senior machine learning scientist, L'Oreal ↓

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Your position and organisation

Senior Machine Learning Scientist, L'Oreal Research & Innovation Center

Please share links to content that features yourself and/or your work you would like to share with our participants: e.g. a news article, a lecture you gave, a scientific paper you authored. Our suggestion would be 3.

• Sileye Ba, Google Scholar
• Ba S, Alameda-Pineda X, Xompero A, and Horaud, R. An on-line variational Bayesian model for multi-person tracking from cluttered scenes. CVIU. 2016.
• A lecture by Sileye Ba (2016/02/19)

Life is filled with victories and valuable lessons learned, especially when you try something new. Can you tell us please about a time you failed, how you overcame it and what you learned from it?

I was candidate at a professorship position at Telecom Bretagne. Despite being ranked first at the constest, the position was filled. I was sad about the failure. Then I joined a startup, work with marvelous people, learned a lot, then joined INRIA, mand many other companies. Retrospectively i am happy not to have been selected. Otherwise, every that happened after would not have happened.

Is there an achievement that you are particularly proud of?

I am very proud of my PhD Thesis, and all the paper I have written. i am always proud to see that they are useful to people doing their research

What or who inspires you? Whose work do you admire? Why? Give us 1-2 examples.

-Differential geometry and the the way mathematics is used to uncover hidden truth about our universe -Timnit Gebru, Co founder of the Black in AI initiative, I am admirative of her courage and convictions, and the way she is leaving them

One of the most dreaded introductory questions: What is a fun/quirky/geeky fact about you? :)

I am a machine learning geek I confess. I want to test any new idea/technic out there.

What are the hobbies you enjoy doing in your spare time?

I spent time with family, I do a lot of sport, biking, basket, football. I like drawing portraits, I like sci-fi movies.

What is one of the most interesting questions you have received up to now and why?

In a licence class, one of our professors ask to every student one by one what they were doing in the class/why they were following the class. It was an important question as it forced me to think about what I was doing in this class, and why i was there. Even now I always asked my self when I am doing something, why I am doing it.

What is one of the best pieces of advice you have received and how did you use it/how did it serve you?

My PhD advisor told me that watching boring presentation was part of the job. i got from that, that I should not expect every part of my research life to be fun.

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Leo Celi, principal research scientist, MIT; staff physician, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center; associate professor of medicine, Harvard Medical School, opening keynote (L+T+LC)↓

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Your position and organisation

Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Harvard Medical School

Please share links to content that features yourself and/or your work you would like to share with our participants: e.g. a news article, a lecture you gave, a scientific paper you authored. Our suggestion would be 3.

• Data Bias is the Waterloo of Health AI | Leo Anthony Celi | TEDxBoston

• Joining the battle against health care bias

• Addressing bias in AI-fueled knowledge systems

Life is filled with victories and valuable lessons learned, especially when you try something new. Can you tell us please about a time you failed, how you overcame it and what you learned from it?

I never end up in my first choice for school, job, program, etc. I used to think that my life is what I make of it. But now I realize that is something that can come from a position of privilege. We need to acknowledge that we are where we are because of the lottery tickets that we have won in life.

Is there an achievement that you are particularly proud of?

I can't take credit for any achievement as my work is only made possible by a large group of people.

What or who inspires you? Whose work do you admire? Why? Give us 1-2 examples.

Everyone has something to inspire others. The preoccupation with "inspirations" should be replaced by constantly looking for ways to inspire others. Personally, I am not inspired by deeds, as they are typically a reflection of privilege. Grit inspires me when I see it.

One of the most dreaded introductory questions: What is a fun/quirky/geeky fact about you? :)

I love burpees.

What are the hobbies you enjoy doing in your spare time?

Kickboxing, burpees, movies

What is one of the most interesting questions you have received up to now and why?

"What is one of the most interesting questions you have received up to now?"

What is one of the best pieces of advice you have received and how did you use it/how did it serve you?

My program director when I was pursuing training in medical informatics advised me to quit because she did not think I was cut for this field.

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Valeria De Luca, director of AI and data science, Novartis (L+LC+GFTG)↓

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Your position and organisation

Director data science and AI, Novartis

Please share links to content that features yourself and/or your work you would like to share with our participants: e.g. a news article, a lecture you gave, a scientific paper you authored. Our suggestion would be 3.

Recent external content: https://youtu.be/y3nXerZLTB0?feature=shared

One of the papers that shaped my career: https://aapm.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/mp.13152

What or who inspires you? Whose work do you admire? Why? Give us 1-2 examples.

I often look at leadership examples outside the field of pharma for inspiration and more out-of-the-box thinking.

What are the hobbies you enjoy doing in your spare time?

Play basketball, car racing & adventurous driving, k-drama binge watching, reading

What is one of the best pieces of advice you have received and how did you use it/how did it serve you?

"Ask for forgiveness not permission." It pushed me to continue innovate, pilot new ideas, focus on bringing value and spin-off projects I believed in, even if these were not necessarily within my day-to-day responsibilities.

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Ece Özkan Elsen, senior researcher, ETH Zürich (GFTG)↓

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Your position and organisation

ETH Zurich, Medical Data Science Lab

Please share links to content that features yourself and/or your work you would like to share with our participants: e.g. a news article, a lecture you gave, a scientific paper you authored. Our suggestion would be 3.

• Video protrait of me

• Work on ML driven diagnosis for appendicitis

• Work on making the ML models more fair

• Work on detecting heart defects in newborns using AI

Life is filled with victories and valuable lessons learned, especially when you try something new. Can you tell us please about a time you failed, how you overcame it and what you learned from it?

At the end of high school, I always dreamed of studying in Turkey. I was diligently preparing for the entrance exam, putting in a lot of effort. Meanwhile, a friend of mine took the initiative to apply to ETH Zurich on her behalf and mine. When the results came out, I didn’t get into my desired program in Turkey, which left me feeling deeply saddened and shocked. Around the same time, I received an acceptance letter from ETH Zurich. My parents persuaded me to give studying abroad a chance, even though I hadn’t considered moving away until then. Eventually, I agreed to their suggestion, and now, more than 15 years later, I reflect on how that decision has shaped my life. My friend’s application and my initial failure in the Turkish university exam completely changed my path. Sometimes, what we perceive as failure can lead to better opportunities.

Is there an achievement that you are particularly proud of?

After completing my PhD, I began working as a consultant at a major consulting firm. The job was lucrative, and I engaged in intriguing financial advisory projects. However, after spending some time working with medical data science, I realized that my work was not truly fulfilling. Recognizing that this path would not bring me happiness, I decided to return to academia, especially after becoming a mother a few months ago. Although my current academic position pays less than consulting, I am proud of my decision to prioritize my passion and happiness over monetary gain.

What or who inspires you? Whose work do you admire? Why? Give us 1-2 examples.

Xavier Boix, who was my supervisor at MIT truly inspires me. Working with such an intelligent and brilliant mind was awesome. Also my supervisor from MIT, Pawan Sinha, was very inspiring. He is not only an amazing scientist but also an inspiring heart, such a kind and caring person.

One of the most dreaded introductory questions: What is a fun/quirky/geeky fact about you? :)

I went skydiving in New Zealand over Lake Taupo, experiencing the longest 45 seconds of my life.

What are the hobbies you enjoy doing in your spare time?

As a mom of a toddler, I don't have much spare time, but I always make sure to find time for myself to do functional training and running.

What is one of the most interesting questions you have received up to now and why?

"If you could travel back in time and give one piece of advice to your younger self, what age would you choose and what would you say?" I find this question very interesting because it always forces me to reflect on time.

What is one of the best pieces of advice you have received and how did you use it/how did it serve you?

"Always seek out new experiences and knowledge, as they will help you grow and adapt in an ever-changing world." I am a person of comfort zone and this advice always help me to challenge myself to go out and experience something new.

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tutorials: excellence in practice

Krishna Chaitanya, data scientist, Johnson & Johnson ↓

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Your position and organisation

Data Scientist, R&D, Johnson & Johnson

Please share links to content that features yourself and/or your work you would like to share with our participants: e.g. a news article, a lecture you gave, a scientific paper you authored. Our suggestion would be 3.

• Contrastive learning of global and local features for medical image segmentation with limited annotations, NeurIPS, 2020.
• Semi-supervised and Task-Driven Data Augmentation, IPMI 2019.
• Test-time adaptable neural networks for robust medical image segmentation, Medical Image Analysis, 2021.

Life is filled with victories and valuable lessons learned, especially when you try something new. Can you tell us please about a time you failed, how you overcame it and what you learned from it?

I left a well-paying job in a major VLSI design company in India after my Bachelor's degree in Electronics Engineering to pursue a Master's and PhD at ETH Zurich. I wanted to switch fields from VLSI circuit design because I had lost interest in it. The initial part of my Master's was a struggle as I adapted to the local environment, food, and weather in Zurich. After exploring various courses, I found my passion in applied machine learning during my second semester. Upon completing my Master's, I pursued a PhD to apply machine learning to medical image analysis at ETH.

However, the early years of my PhD were challenging. My initial papers were rejected from conference submissions, and for the first 1.5 years, I had no accepted papers. This was very disheartening, and I was worried about my research progress. Fortunately, my professor, who valued hard work and research over immediate results, provided excellent mentorship. He advised me to focus on the work itself and assured me that success would follow in time. His guidance helped me manage the pressure of these initial setbacks.

With this mindset, I continued to work hard and eventually produced a strong set of papers. By the end of my PhD, my thesis was well-appreciated by external supervisors. This experience taught me the importance of perseverance, enjoying the process, and the value of good mentorship.

Is there an achievement that you are particularly proud of?

I was especially proud when my first PhD paper was accepted for oral presentation at a top medical imaging conference, placing it among the top 1-2% of submitted papers.

What or who inspires you? Whose work do you admire? Why? Give us 1-2 examples.

I draw a lot of inspiration from the world of sports, particularly from athletes like Cristiano Ronaldo (Football) and Sachin Tendulkar & Virat Kohli (Cricket). Their exceptional work ethic, discipline, and mental resilience in overcoming challenges to perform at their best are truly motivating. Additionally, they all come from modest economic backgrounds, much like many people in India, including myself. Their journeys highlight that with hard work, discipline, and sacrifice, achieving our dreams is possible.

One of the most dreaded introductory questions: What is a fun/quirky/geeky fact about you? :)

A fun fact about me is that I love watching post-match analysis and tactical breakdowns of football and cricket matches. I enjoy dissecting the strategies and learning about the intricate details that influence the outcomes of the games I follow.

What are the hobbies you enjoy doing in your spare time?

Hiking, Badminton

What is one of the most interesting questions you have received up to now and why?

One of the most interesting questions I've received is, 'How do you stay motivated in the face of repeated failures?' This question made me reflect deeply on my own resilience and perseverance. It inspired me to consider the importance of mindset and how maintaining a passion for learning and growth can help overcome setbacks. Sharing my journey with others helps them understand the value of persistence and self-belief.

What is one of the best pieces of advice you have received and how did you use it/how did it serve you?

One of the best pieces of advice I received during my PhD was from my professor, who told me to not worry about the outcome and to enjoy the process of research. This advice was particularly helpful when some of my initial papers were rejected from conference submissions. By focusing on enjoying the work and the research process itself, I was able to overcome the disappointment and stay motivated. I apply this mindset in my current work as well, which allows me to work hard and stay passionate without being overly concerned about the outcomes.

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Aya El Mir, computer engineering graduate, NYU ↓

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Your position and organisation

Researcher, New York University Abu Dhabi

Please share links to content that features yourself and/or your work you would like to share with our participants: e.g. a news article, a lecture you gave, a scientific paper you authored. Our suggestion would be 3.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37767154/

Life is filled with victories and valuable lessons learned, especially when you try something new. Can you tell us please about a time you failed, how you overcame it and what you learned from it?

In my second year at university, I secured an interview for a summer software engineering internship at a big tech company. I was incredibly excited about the opportunity, as I admired the company and dreamed of working there. I passed the first round of selection and had two weeks to prepare for the coding interview. However, I was new to the topic of Data Structures, which was the focus of the test. To add to the challenge, the interview date fell in the midst of midterms, making it difficult to balance academics with cramming Data Structures concepts. The interview was divided into two parts, with each interviewer asking a coding question. I did my best for each of the questions, but a few days later, I received the news of my rejection. I was devastated, as I had really wanted to work there. Initially, negative thoughts began to take over, but I decided to view the experience from a different perspective and learn from it instead of blaming myself. I promised myself that I would always plan ahead better. If I wanted something badly, I needed to start preparing early. The world is full of opportunities, but you must know what you want and start planning and executing in advance rather than waiting for opportunities to come to you. With this mindset, I decided to seek opportunities for that summer. I knew I wanted to spend the summer in Germany, so I researched programs there. Eventually, I found one at the Technical University of Munich, applied, and got accepted. My 'failure' taught me that, although the internship at that company would have been great, I still learned the importance of actively seeking opportunities and preparing for them in advance instead of waiting for them to come to me.

Is there an achievement that you are particularly proud of?

I have always had a love for swimming, starting at the age of 6. I competed in swimming and water polo throughout my teenage years. However, when I started university and decided to pursue engineering, everyone around me said that it was nearly impossible to train competitively in swimming while excelling in my studies. For three years, I followed that mindset, training only two or three times a week worried that it might impact my academic performance, and sometimes did not train at all during finals. At the end of my third year, a new swimmer joined the team. She was a researcher at my institution and had been both a national swimmer in her home country and a computer science and engineering student during her undergrad. Her ability to excel in both areas inspired me. In my final year, I promised myself that I would do my best to achieve my dream of training and competing in swimming while excelling academically. It was challenging at first to balance both, but I managed. For the first time in my undergrad, I maintained a consistent training schedule, and ended up representing my university in regional swimming competitions and winning various medals. I also participated in a triathlon and did open water swims. This experience taught me that, although it sounds cliché, you are the only one who can define your limits and determine what is possible. The key is to stop dreaming while hoping that someday it will happen, and instead, stand up for yourself and push every day to live the dreams and lifestyles you set for yourself.

What or who inspires you? Whose work do you admire? Why? Give us 1-2 examples.

What inspires me? I am inspired by the immense potential of AI to transform the healthcare field, particularly its ability to support and impact those most in need. Whose work do you admire? My main inspiration is my mother, a dedicated doctor who has instilled in me from a young age the importance of caring for those who have little and finding meaning in your work to truly give your best. One of the most inspiring aspects of my mom is her desire to always keep learning. Even though many would consider her to be at the end of her career, having already earned a doctoral degree and a specialty in sports medicine, she recently decided to pursue a two-year degree in radiology. This exemplifies her belief that we can never stop learning, a value that has deeply influenced me.

One of the most dreaded introductory questions: What is a fun/quirky/geeky fact about you? :)

In my home country of Morocco, about five years ago, I surfed and skied within the same 24 hours.

What are the hobbies you enjoy doing in your spare time?

Swimming and watching the sunset – wherever I travel, I love finding the best sunset spots, listening to good music, and watching the sun go down. I also enjoy reading, dancing, going to the beach, and spending time with loved ones in nature.

What is one of the most interesting questions you have received up to now and why?

Recently, I was discussing career paths with a first-year university friend. During our conversation, she asked, "What if I am inspired by someone's work and have a goal and a dream to follow in their footsteps, but it doesn’t work out and I don’t achieve it?" This question made me think deeply, as I had never been asked that before. I answered that it all comes down to confidence in yourself and hard work. If you break down your dream into actionable steps and have a timeline for how to act upon it, then you wake up every day and execute your plan to the best of your ability. There is nothing more you can do. One of my mottos in life is, "Do your best and let God do the rest." You should always focus on what you can control and work towards it.

What is one of the best pieces of advice you have received and how did you use it/how did it serve you?

My mom always told me, "It is when you are not feeling like working that you should push the hardest. These moments matter the most because they are what separate average from excellent." This advice has served me throughout my life, whether in sports or academics. I always reminded myself that I had to push and follow my plan if I wanted to achieve what I set my mind to. Indeed, this advice became most helpful during university, where the challenging nature of the coursework required such a mindset to excel.

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Lito Kriara, senior data scientist, Roche ↓

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Your position and organisation

Senior Scientist, Roche

Please share links to content that features yourself and/or your work you would like to share with our participants: e.g. a news article, a lecture you gave, a scientific paper you authored. Our suggestion would be 3.

https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1361-6579/ad10c7

What or who inspires you? Whose work do you admire? Why? Give us 1-2 examples.

I admire resilient people that focus on their own development path, filtering out the unnecessary noise!

What is one of the best pieces of advice you have received and how did you use it/how did it serve you?

Enjoy the process and do not focus entirely on the goal. The goal might actually change in the process!

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Drago Plečko, postdoctoral scholar, Columbia University (GFTG) ↓

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Your position and organisation

Postdoc, Columbia Computer Science

Please share links to content that features yourself and/or your work you would like to share with our participants: e.g. a news article, a lecture you gave, a scientific paper you authored. Our suggestion would be 3.

Relevant article: https://causalai.net/r90.pdf

Relevant tutorial: https://fairness.causalai.net/

Relevant faculty job talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5mjk6gnVcmQ&ab_channel=Dept.BiomedicalInformaticsColumbiaUniversity

Life is filled with victories and valuable lessons learned, especially when you try something new. Can you tell us please about a time you failed, how you overcame it and what you learned from it?

Well, this is an interesting one. When doing research, I feel like failure is an essential component of what I am doing. I can say with certainty that most of my days I am feeling stuck, unable to solve the question in front of me. Sometimes, with enough perseverance, eventually a solution pops up, but it is not always the case.

The lessons from this are simple. First, if you do not feel stuck, the problems and challenges you are facing may be too easy. Second, the progress in solving interesting problem comes from the experience of being stuck and confused. It is precisely these moments that stimulate us, and make us develop our skills. Finally, not all problems are solvable, and this should serve as humbling experience.

Is there an achievement that you are particularly proud of?

Nothing that I would single out. Things usually evolve as a long sequence of little steps, and singling out specific achievements is difficult from my point of view.

What or who inspires you? Whose work do you admire? Why? Give us 1-2 examples.

I find inspiration in scientific work that benefits humanity. For me, this mostly means work in (bio)medical or environmental sciences.

One of the most dreaded introductory questions: What is a fun/quirky/geeky fact about you? :)

I have been practicing transcendental meditation twice a day for the last 10 years.

What are the hobbies you enjoy doing in your spare time?

Cycling, swimming, hiking, and reading books.

What is one of the most interesting questions you have received up to now and why?

"Why do you care about the research questions you are working on?"

What is one of the best pieces of advice you have received and how did you use it/how did it serve you?

"Never take yourself or things that happen to you too seriously. Take it as it comes." -- said to me once by someone I respect. It often helps me relax.

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Pushpak Pati, senior data scientist, Johnson & Johnson ↓

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Your position and organisation

Senior Scientist, Johnson & Johnson

Please share links to content that features yourself and/or your work you would like to share with our participants: e.g. a news article, a lecture you gave, a scientific paper you authored. Our suggestion would be 3.

1. Hierarchical Graph Representations in Digital Pathology Medical Image Analysis, 2021
2. SI-MIL: Taming Deep MIL for Self-Interpretability in Gigapixel Histopathology CVPR, 2024
3. Differentiable Zooming for Multiple Instance Learning on Whole-Slide Images ECCV, 2022

Life is filled with victories and valuable lessons learned, especially when you try something new. Can you tell us please about a time you failed, how you overcame it and what you learned from it?

I am glad to share my experiences. During my PhD, I faced several setbacks, particularly with my first project on graphs in digital pathology. This ambitious topic, filled with unknowns, required learning new algorithms and developing innovative solutions. It was both fascinating and overwhelming. Through various challenges, I learned the importance of breaking down large projects, applying agile development practices in research, and seeking early, continuous feedback. These lessons have been invaluable in shaping my subsequent projects and are crucial as I scale up my work at J&J.

Is there an achievement that you are particularly proud of?

I'm particularly proud of my work on applying graphs in medical imaging, especially in digital pathology. Building on past challenges, we developed novel applications that improved deep learning performance, enhanced interpretability, and scaled to large datasets. Beyond research, we released software packages to make our findings accessible, garnering significant community interest. Additionally, our efforts earned notable awards at top machine learning conferences.

What or who inspires you? Whose work do you admire? Why? Give us 1-2 examples.

I am inspired by individuals who push the boundaries of innovation and impact. Yoshua Bengio inspires me the most, whose pioneering work in deep learning has significantly advanced the field. His contributions to AI have shaped modern approaches and his pragmatic vision for AI's application across various sectors highlights its transformative potential. Another is Demis Hassabis of DeepMind, whose breakthroughs, like AlphaGo, demonstrate the potential of combining scientific curiosity with advanced technology. Their dedication to advancing technology while considering broader societal impacts is truly admirable.

One of the most dreaded introductory questions: What is a fun/quirky/geeky fact about you? :)

A fun fact about me is that I enjoy watching movies at 2x speed—it makes the action even more exciting! I also have a unique collection of knives, each with its own story and craftsmanship.

What are the hobbies you enjoy doing in your spare time?

In my spare time, I love hiking and spending time in nature. I also enjoy cooking different cuisines and exploring various culinary delicacies.

What is one of the most interesting questions you have received up to now and why?

One of the most intriguing questions I have encountered is about identifying and formulating innovative scientific project ideas for research. It captivates me because I've navigated this challenge myself during my academic journey and have learned valuable insights from experienced researchers. This exploration has shaped my personal approach, which I continue to refine and expand daily.

What is one of the best pieces of advice you have received and how did you use it/how did it serve you?

One of the best pieces of advice I have received is to "focus on progress, not perfection." It has enabled me to embrace iterative processes, take calculated risks, and achieve meaningful results while maintaining a healthy perspective on success. In today's rapidly evolving era of AI, where innovation moves swiftly, this approach fosters adaptability, resilience, and the agility needed to stay ahead in groundbreaking technological advancements.

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communication sessions

Paul Edgar Clemencon, chief business officer, InSphero

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Your position and organisation

Chief Business Officer, InSphero

Life is filled with victories and valuable lessons learned, especially when you try something new. Can you tell us please about a time you failed, how you overcame it and what you learned from it?

When I worked for a big corporation in Brazil, I managed to turn the business around, but I was caught by surprise when the corporation was acquired by another company, and the new company decided to fire all employees in South America (including myself).

Accepting that certain things are out of my control but several things are within my control was critical in that phase. Not only did I manage to find jobs for 95% of the staff within the Brazilian market, but I also managed to land my new job while helping everybody out. Do good things, and good things will happen to you.

Is there an achievement that you are particularly proud of?

Worked on a strategic team that led to a beautiful exit for the leadership team on a chemistry startup in 2021 amid the pandemic.

What or who inspires you? Whose work do you admire? Why? Give us 1-2 examples.

Chris Gibson (CEO Recursion)

Jocko Willink

Ugur Sahin

One of the most dreaded introductory questions: What is a fun/quirky/geeky fact about you? :)

I am a big fan of Magic the Gathering, and I have been playing this game since the first year.

What are the hobbies you enjoy doing in your spare time?

Trail running, cooking (especially BBQ)

What is one of the most interesting questions you have received up to now and why?

Why did you leave the big corporation world and work on smaller companies?

It is interesting because while I had a great career at a multinational, it was difficult to assess my real impact when your work is diluted with other 15K people.

Working on smaller teams is more fragile and more challenging, but it also brings the best out of anyone and you will realize what you are truly capable of.

What is one of the best pieces of advice you have received and how did you use it/how did it serve you?

Price is what you pay, value is what you get.

It has been one of my golden rules in business and life. If the value of what you want to get / offer is higher than the price requested, you will buy / sell it, otherwise you won't. It's a simple implication with deep insight on how to manage interactions, your career and your life.

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leadership conversation series

Janet Adeyemi, enterprise architect, Roche

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Your position and organisation

Enterprise Architect, Hoffmann-La Roche

Life is filled with victories and valuable lessons learned, especially when you try something new. Can you tell us please about a time you failed, how you overcame it and what you learned from it?

Years ago, I was in a team where we were developing an approach for a strategy that would demonstrate both our services and capabilities as well as our value proposition to the wider organization. I had done similar work in the past and as part of our team, provided my perspective and the potential risks involved, however this was not taken into account by the leadership. This felt like a blow as those same risks I had raised quickly became issues which also impacted our team. I regretted not pushing my leaders harder. I learnt from that experience and I grew in my own personal development that having a speak up mindset is beneficial both for the individual and organization, it fosters growth, creativity and innovation.

Is there an achievement that you are particularly proud of?

I've been at Roche for 10 years and in my earlier years I co-Led the creation of Roche’s First Central Study Master Data Hub, a multiple process, multiple systems and cross functional global initiative which included the simplification of the Clinical Study creation business process, establishment of Study Data Management Processes and Data Migration of over 5000 study records and new Study Data Standards. It became Roche Pharma's trusted source, aligned with global standards where all study numbers are created across Pharma. The Go-live event was a very pivotal and mindset shifting moment for us at that time and I'm very proud to have been part of that.

What or who inspires you? Whose work do you admire? Why? Give us 1-2 examples.

At school I was always fascinated with what makes the universe what it is. I'm inspired by the many discoveries that are being made about our universe and new insights gained. There is so much that we do not know about the infinite aspects of our galaxy. I am interested in what advances in medicine can be made from the new discoveries?
My other inspiration is Nelson Mandela, amongst many things, he really saw the power of education and the positive impact it can have on any society.

One of the most dreaded introductory questions: What is a fun/quirky/geeky fact about you? :)

I am a big star wars fan and I still get excited watching old re-runs. Yoda is my favorite character in the series. I also love watching "whodunit " movies. There's something exhilarating in trying to deduce who the main culprit is and are there others?

What are the hobbies you enjoy doing in your spare time?

I am currently learning the piano and learnt the recorder as a child. I also like Art (Old Masters), Architecture and Interior Design, Traveling and Music (all genres).

What is one of the most interesting questions you have received up to now and why?

If you could go back in time, what would you change in your life? I personally take inspiration that each day is a learning canvas, as well as an opportunity to face challenges with courage and positivity. The only thing I would change would be that I wish some aspects were learnt earlier in life. Nevertheless, I am incredibly grateful for my life and the lessons I've learnt and continue to learn along the way.

What is one of the best pieces of advice you have received and how did you use it/how did it serve you?

Be curious and never stop growing and learning in life, the healthcare industry and about the world. A better you means a better impact on teams, organizations and society at large. I try to apply this in my daily work and life.

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María Cervera de la Rosa, research scientist, health AI, Apple

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Your position and organisation

Applied Research Scientist, Apple

Please share links to content that features yourself andor your work you would like to share with our participants: e.g. a news article, a lecture you gave, a scientific paper you authored. Our suggestion would be 3.

https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&user=23ikd8YAAAAJ

Life is filled with victories and valuable lessons learned, especially when you try something new. Can you tell us please about a time you failed, how you overcame it and what you learned from it?

At the start of my PhD, I spent months trying to define my own personal line of research. After a lot of isolation and frustration, I let go of this idea and united forces with lab colleagues to work on some of their common projects. Although difficult to take, this ended up being a great decision: I learned a lot and the collaboration led to fruitful projects and long-lasting friendships.

Is there an achievement that you are particularly proud of?

When I joined the mountaineering club during my masters at EPFL, the club was somewhat disconnected despite regular events happening. I put a lot of energy into creating a core group of people that were willing to commit and turn the club into a large and lively family. I think we succeeded: the club is ever since more active, and this core group of people are still some of my best friends.

What or who inspires you? Whose work do you admire? Why? Give us 1-2 examples.

I believe science and technology should benefit everyone on the planet, and I deeply admire people that manage to leverage it for reducing inequality. As an example, I am a big fan of Esther Duflo’s scientific approach towards understanding and reducing poverty.

One of the most dreaded introductory questions: What is a fun/quirky/geeky fact about you? :)

I am from Madrid, I live in Zurich and I love maps. In 2022, I was happy to physically connect these two worlds by cycling from Zurich to Madrid on my own. Reaching charted territory on the Madrid surroundings was a very emotional moment!

What are the hobbies you enjoy doing in your spare time?

I love pushing my physical endurance in a variety of ways: cycling, ski touring, swimming… followed by the mandatory comfort meal afterwards.

What is one of the most interesting questions you have received up to now and why?

A good friend recently asked me why I try to do so much if it means I’m always rushing. Although basic at first sight, this question contains a deep truth about my generation: always on the quest for productivity and self-improvement, even in our hobbies and private lives, at the cost of important things such as quality time. Now I always try to keep this question in mind and reflect on why I do the things I do.

What is one of the best pieces of advice you have received and how did you use it/how did it serve you?

I can’t remember who said to me once, "if you’re the smartest in the room, you’re in the wrong room”. Whatever smart might mean, this sentence reminds me of the value of being surrounded by people with more experience and insights than me, and helps me persevere whenever imposter feelings haunt me.

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Luca Finelli, vice president, global head of data science, analytics and imaging, personalised healthcare, Roche

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Tracy Glass, group leader, clinical statistics and data management group, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH)

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Your position and organisation

Group leader, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute

Life is filled with victories and valuable lessons learned, especially when you try something new. Can you tell us please about a time you failed, how you overcame it and what you learned from it?

I have failed many times to speak German well. Sometimes this has led to embarrassing situations. However, the situation usually ends very positive when I respond with humility and am able to laugh at myself and my mistakes. This response has been extremely helpful not just in social situation but in work situations as well.

Is there an achievement that you are particularly proud of?

I am proud of contributing to studies that change the standards of medical care and its implementation, particularly in resource-limited settings where access to care is the biggest challenge.

I am proud of raising two amazing girls who are now strong, independent teenagers while also managing a career.

I am proud of having a true partnership with my husband allowing us both to achieve our career goals.

What or who inspires you? Whose work do you admire? Why? Give us 1-2 examples.

I am very inspired by strong women who embrace their intelligence and project authenticity even when it requires being vulnerable. Michelle Obama is a clear example of this.

What are the hobbies you enjoy doing in your spare time?

Tennis

What is one of the best pieces of advice you have received and how did you use it/how did it serve you?

My mother always gave me the encouragement to make non-traditional life choices. That allowed me to move to Europe and pursue the things that were critical to my happiness.

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Gian-Reto Grond, stakeholder management, digital transformation and AI, Federal Office of Public Health (BAG, Swiss Ministry of Health)

Your position and organisation

Expert on Digital Transformation within the programme "DigiSanté", Federal Office of Public Health, Switzerland

Please share links to content that features yourself andor your work you would like to share with our participants: e.g. a news article, a lecture you gave, a scientific paper you authored. Our suggestion would be 3.

https://www.bag.admin.ch/bag/de/home/strategie-und-politik/nationale-gesundheitsstrategien/digisante.html

Life is filled with victories and valuable lessons learned, especially when you try something new. Can you tell us please about a time you failed, how you overcame it and what you learned from it?

Unfortunately, I didn't pass the midterm exams when I was studying. This meant that my career goal at the time (juvenile court judge) suddenly fell away. A intermediary solution developed into a long and highly exciting career within the financial sector. An additional highlight is that the very knowledge acquired in the financial sector also helps in numerous moments in eHealth.

Is there an achievement that you are particularly proud of?

At the age of 50 I managed to change my professional life. I wanted to save the knowledge i have acquired so far and at the same time I wanted to work in new topics and issues. That is how a banker entered the world of eHealth at the age of 50!

What or who inspires you? Whose work do you admire? Why? Give us 1-2 examples.

In my training (MBA eHealth 2015), I found that very many questions in the financial sector have already been answered and implemented. This motivated me because I recognised a wide range of possible approaches for improving the health system. From a personal point of view, it is to a large extent Andrea Belliger (IKF Lucerne) who showed me the way into the world of eHealth during my training.

One of the most dreaded introductory questions: What is a fun/quirky/geeky fact about you? :)

...no matter how complicated the question may be...I usually succeed in presenting this situation in a simplified and often humorous way, and I am motivated to find a solution as well as to support my team....

What are the hobbies you enjoy doing in your spare time?

In winter, it's certainly skiing and snowshoeing. In summer, we are also in the mountains a lot (hiking) or on our eBikes. What always suits: reading!

What is one of the best pieces of advice you have received and how did you use it/how did it serve you?

There is always a solution, but sometimes you have to look hard for it... and the solution is not always pleasing....

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Tobias Heimann, head of AI Germany, Siemens Healthineers

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Your position and organisation

Head of Artificial Intelligence at Siemens Healthineers

Please share links to content that features yourself andor your work you would like to share with our participants: e.g. a news article, a lecture you gave, a scientific paper you authored. Our suggestion would be 3.

https://www.siemens-healthineers.com/perspectives/ai-sherlock.html

https://blog.siemens.com/2021/02/human-and-ai-mind-machines-and-the-gradient-descent-tobias-heimann-inspiring-trust/

https://en.acatech.de/allgemein/health-in-the-big-data-era/

Life is filled with victories and valuable lessons learned, especially when you try something new. Can you tell us please about a time you failed, how you overcame it and what you learned from it?

When I was still in academia, I once applied for a big grant and was invited to the final round, with presentation and discussion. As these always came easy to me, I hardly prepared and was taken apart by the reviewers. Since then, I always prepare before any larger review situation...

Is there an achievement that you are particularly proud of?

No, I don't think too much about specific past achievements.

What or who inspires you? Whose work do you admire? Why? Give us 1-2 examples.

I'm inspired by people like Christian Rudder, who excel in multiple, pretty much unrelated areas. Christian, a mathematics graduate from Harvard, founded the pretty cool band Bishop Allen, where he played almost all of the instruments. He also acted in a couple of movies. Then, he started writing blogs and founded multiple companies, which he sold in total for >100m USD. And a book he wrote became a NYT bestseller. Speaking of books, I also admire Haruki Murakami, because pretty much everything he writes is so amazing that you wonder where he draws these stories from. Allegedly, he does not know himself how a book will develop when he starts writing it and continues working on it to find out.

One of the most dreaded introductory questions: What is a fun/quirky/geeky fact about you? :)

When I was in school, I programmed a complete 3D engine in 8086 Assembler language. Some of the key challenges were solved during sleeping - great times! :-)

What are the hobbies you enjoy doing in your spare time?

Watching movies, listening music, reading, running, hiking, and mountain-biking.

What is one of the most interesting questions you have received up to now and why?

The most interesting questions I receive these days are from my kids (5 and 9 yrs) - it's amazing to see how their brains are working!

What is one of the best pieces of advice you have received and how did you use it/how did it serve you?

Make sure to sleep enough! Skimping on sleep does not help you to get more stuff done.

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Rebecca Kaufmann, chief operating officer - data, digital, & technology, Takeda

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Your position and organisation

Chief Operating Officer - Data, Digital, & Technology, Takeda

Life is filled with victories and valuable lessons learned, especially when you try something new. Can you tell us please about a time you failed, how you overcame it and what you learned from it?

Maybe I can share two for this question.

Speaking about trying something new, when I transitioned from leading enterprise technology to leading finance, I needed manage a $2 billion P&L with limited finance background. It was absolutely necessary for me to ask for help and learn from my colleagues or ask the experts. The lesson learnt for me is recognizing where you are good at, and where you have weaknesses and need seeking support.

As another example, a few years back we were rolling out a new system at our German manufacturing facility. Initially, the project started strongly, but we encountered a major setback during the implementation, which caused interruptions to manufacturing operations. We had to step back and really think about what went wrong. This involved reflecting on our processes/procedures and identifying what needed to be done differently moving forward. It was a challenging time, but also provided valuable lessons. As senior leaders we don’t always have all the answers. When something doesn’t go as planned or if I feel overwhelmed, I take myself out of the situation for a few minutes or a few hours or days, to reflect internally. After that, I talk with the team and work with the team to find the best path forward.

Is there an achievement that you are particularly proud of?

If I have to choose one, my biggest achievement is raising a happy and confident daughter while balancing my professional career. It is fulfilling to find the harmony of life and career.

Professionally, I have led a few large-scale digital transformations successfully over these years, including projects like Takeda's Business Process Redesign which spanned 54 global entities and impacted approximately 55,000 users and the post-acquisition ERP integration with Shire across the globe.

Currently, I am leading a workforce transformation program, changing the operating model of how global technology organization operates focusing on building our internal strategic digital capabilities. We successfully built three innovation capability centers across Europe, Latin America and APAC through collaboration with local authorities, education stakeholders and communities.

What or who inspires you? Whose work do you admire? Why? Give us 1-2 examples.

Definitely my daughter, who inspires me with her curiosity, development and kindness every day and secondly Christine Lagarde who has broken many glass ceilings though her career and continues to excel as a level headed leader and strategy setter.

One of the most dreaded introductory questions: What is a fun/quirky/geeky fact about you? :)

One fun fact about me I'm a bit of an organization geek! I find joy in keeping everything in perfect order. My bookshelves are like a library, carefully arranged by author and genre, and my pantry looks like a mini grocery store with cans lined up neatly. It may sound a bit quirky, but I love the sense of calm it brings, especially when things get busy!

What are the hobbies you enjoy doing in your spare time?

I like taking walks through the fields and farmland near my house. I also like spending time near water, whether it's by a lake or the sea. There's something incredibly calming about being close to water.

During the winter, I love skiing; it's a great way to enjoy the season and stay active.

And lastly but not least, I really enjoy baking cakes and decorating them with my daughters.

What is one of the most interesting questions you have received up to now and why?

One of the most interesting questions I've received was during a leadership team meeting. We were each asked to describe the worst thing we have ever done in our lives. It was intriguing because it required deep personal reflection and honesty, and also challenging to answer such a profound question in a professional context!

What is one of the best pieces of advice you have received and how did you use it/how did it serve you?

One of the best pieces of advice I've ever received is to always be true to yourself and to your own beliefs. This advice has been incredibly valuable to me, especially when making important decisions. It has reminded me to trust my gut feelings and to stay aligned with my values, even when faced with difficult choices.

For instance, whenever I need to make a decision, I balance the facts and information at hand with my own instincts and beliefs. This approach has helped me stay grounded and confident in my choices, ensuring that they are not only logical but also authentic to who I am.

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Kortine Kleinheinz, head of disease biology IT, Bayer

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Your position and organisation

Head of Disease Biology IT, Bayer AG

Please share links to content that features yourself andor your work you would like to share with our participants: e.g. a news article, a lecture you gave, a scientific paper you authored. Our suggestion would be 3.

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/kortine-kleinheinz-70b73443_thank-you-for-the-opportunity-to-share-our-activity-7062658553064349696-zFT8

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/kortine-kleinheinz-70b73443_teambayer-herhackathon-forwomenbywomen-activity-7084217906502230016-qGpu

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/what-happens-when-spotlight-shines-ai-digital-health-42-berlin

Life is filled with victories and valuable lessons learned, especially when you try something new. Can you tell us please about a time you failed, how you overcame it and what you learned from it?

I was part of a large program with multiple parties involved on various management levels (~10 people) that needed to align, coordinate and decide on a roadmap. To my understanding I was the expert for certain domains and should make recommendations and take decisions on the path forward in these domains. However, I frequently failed to convey the importance of certain capabilities for scientists and the required logical order of certain steps. This led to frustration and I was very close to quitting the project. Luckily shortly after we decided to once again re-organise which resulted in:

• More clarity on roles and responsibilities
• Empowering those closest to the work
• start working in 90-day cycles, learn quickly and continually develop
• focus on a mission to deliver best outcomes and close alignment with stakeholders Things moved forward from this point and we started to deliver. To me it payed off to be patient and give the initiative another chance.

Is there an achievement that you are particularly proud of?

During my rather time consuming PhD I decided to step up within my handball club to take on two voluntary roles within the board of the division. This meant regular extra work and meetings in addition to my PhD and actively playing handball myself. I managed to support the club in those roles for more than two years in parallel to writing my thesis and graduating.

What or who inspires you? Whose work do you admire? Why? Give us 1-2 examples.

In general strong women who made their own way despite obstacles of various kinds and set out to support and inspire other women and girls. One prominent example would be Michelle Obama but I also follow and admire the work people who try to get more girls and women interested in and excited about STEM locally.

One of the most dreaded introductory questions: What is a fun/quirky/geeky fact about you? :)

I built some of the furniture at home myself.

What are the hobbies you enjoy doing in your spare time?

• sports in general but particularly playing handball and running
• building things from wood
• reading

What is one of the best pieces of advice you have received and how did you use it/how did it serve you?

Always make sure to take the time for the things you enjoy no matter how high the stress-level and/or the work-load.

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Aishwarya Parthasarathy, investment analyst, Sofinnova Partners

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Your position and organisation

Analyst, Sofinnova Partners

Please share links to content that features yourself andor your work you would like to share with our participants: e.g. a news article, a lecture you gave, a scientific paper you authored. Our suggestion would be 3.

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41593-017-0003-2

Life is filled with victories and valuable lessons learned, especially when you try something new. Can you tell us please about a time you failed, how you overcame it and what you learned from it?

As a post-doctoral scientist, I applied for nearly 15 grants while managing full-time lab work and the demands of early motherhood. Many scientists understand how rejections, both for publications and grants, can seriously impact your confidence and make you anxious about your ability to build a career in this field. Growing up competitive, these rejections significantly dented my confidence and made me doubt my capacity to succeed. During this time, work felt burdensome, and staying motivated was difficult.

Talking to peers who had faced similar rejections and eventually succeeded was immensely helpful. I sought their advice and discussed my vulnerabilities in my applications. These conversations allowed me to refine my applications, ultimately securing two high-impact grants. Through this process, I learned a lot about myself. I realized that seeking help from peers is not a sign of weakness, and achieving success felt even more rewarding knowing the effort it took. Now, I view failures as opportunities for even sweeter successes.

Is there an achievement that you are particularly proud of?

A year after securing two prestigious grants in academia, I decided to start from scratch as a 34-year-old intern at a venture capital firm. I had doubts about how I would adapt to a field seemingly far removed from academic research and how I would fare at the bottom of the hierarchy. Nine months later, despite the challenges, I landed the role of my dreams, which I am currently pursuing. It has been an incredible learning experience, and the motivation I feel is refreshing. Now, I even look forward to Mondays!

What or who inspires you? Whose work do you admire? Why? Give us 1-2 examples.

Barack Obama - I admire his articulation. I believe articulation is an important trait that drives success and necessary in every facet of life.

One of the most dreaded introductory questions: What is a fun/quirky/geeky fact about you? :)

For three years during my PhD research on cognition, I worked daily with non-human primates. Throughout this period, I often spent more time with monkeys than with humans.

What are the hobbies you enjoy doing in your spare time?

I am fascinated with languages. I spend my spare time learning new languages and fine-tuning aspects of the language I already understand.

What is one of the most interesting questions you have received up to now and why?

If you could have one superpower, what would it be? The question made me dig deeper to understand what exactly I wanted to prioritize.

What is one of the best pieces of advice you have received and how did you use it/how did it serve you?

"Self-awareness of your unique qualities is essential for success. Embracing and leveraging your strengths is the best way to build your personal brand. Knowing and honing my strengths helped make me indispensable in the workforce. It was also crucial to identify which of my strengths were most valuable to each team.

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Shez Partovi, chief innovation & strategy officer, enterprise informatics chief business leader, Philips

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Fabian Rudolf, group chief data officer, Mediclinic Group

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Nina Sesto, CEO and co-founder, MEGI Health

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Your position and organisation

CEO, Megi Health

Please share links to content that features yourself andor your work you would like to share with our participants: e.g. a news article, a lecture you gave, a scientific paper you authored. Our suggestion would be 3.

https://www.ted.com/talks/nina_sesto_changing_role_of_patients_in_a_21st_century_medicine

Life is filled with victories and valuable lessons learned, especially when you try something new. Can you tell us please about a time you failed, how you overcame it and what you learned from it?

My first startup company failed. What I learned? We should take the same lean approach when building a company TEAM, as building the company product.

Is there an achievement that you are particularly proud of?

I’ve learned to sail on a laser sailing boat.

What or who inspires you? Whose work do you admire? Why? Give us 1-2 examples.

My dad- he resigned two secure jobs (full time professor at the Medical faculty, and head of the cardiology at the University Clinic), in a country that was 5 years at war, to build his vision. And 40 people took the same risk, and followed him to found Magdalena Clinc, first private cardiovascular center.

One of the most dreaded introductory questions: What is a fun/quirky/geeky fact about you? :)

I have brachidactyly

What are the hobbies you enjoy doing in your spare time?

Hiking

What is one of the best pieces of advice you have received and how did you use it/how did it serve you?

You have to take your freedom! nobody is going to offer it to you… (my friend from Kenya, few days ago, when we discussed the riots). This is true with everything in life.

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Haris Shuaib, head of clinical scientific computing team, Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust

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Your position and organisation

Head of Clinical Scientific Computing

Please share links to content that features yourself andor your work you would like to share with our participants: e.g. a news article, a lecture you gave, a scientific paper you authored. Our suggestion would be 3.

• https://rorycellanjones.substack.com/p/ai-in-the-nhsthe-pioneer
• https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/rsmdhcouncil/episodes/Building-an-AI-ready-NHS--With-Haris-Shuaib--Head-of-Clinical-Scientific-Computing-at-Guys-and-St-Thomas-NHS-Foundation-Trust-e2e5fhi
• https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/bmjopen/14/6/e078227.full.pdf

Life is filled with victories and valuable lessons learned, especially when you try something new. Can you tell us please about a time you failed, how you overcame it and what you learned from it?

I failed several times to secure a doctoral fellowship for my PhD research. When I was eventually successfully and had read the peer review comments on my proposal, I had received the full spectrums of scores (i.e. "pass", "borderline", "reject"). Thankfully I was still invited to interview and was successfully but it highlighted how fickle success can be.

Is there an achievement that you are particularly proud of?

I'm particularly proud of the Fellowships in Clinical AI, which is now a national training programme for teaching healthcare professionals AI skills and started with zero funding.

What or who inspires you? Whose work do you admire? Why? Give us 1-2 examples.

The effort of healthcare professionals in doing their best to deliver the best outcomes for their patients inspires me.

One of the most dreaded introductory questions: What is a fun/quirky/geeky fact about you? :)

I was quarterback of the King's College London American football team.

What are the hobbies you enjoy doing in your spare time?

Playing catch with my children.

What is one of the best pieces of advice you have received and how did you use it/how did it serve you?

Look after yourself. If you are not happy and healthy then it is difficult to help others.

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Bettina Wapf, deputy head, University Hospital Balgrist

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Your position and organisation

Head of Staff Operational Hospital Management / Deputy Operational Director

Life is filled with victories and valuable lessons learned, especially when you try something new. Can you tell us please about a time you failed, how you overcame it and what you learned from it?

I was responsible for implementing an interdisciplinary collaboration platform in our clinical information system, with the aim of freeing clinical staff from administrative tasks. The implementation failed due to strong resistance from one of the key stakeholders.

This taught me the importance of identifying key stakeholders at the beginning of a project and listening and responding to user needs. Simpler solutions with good usability and UI are better than over-engineered ones.

Is there an achievement that you are particularly proud of?

I was a driving force behind a public policy initiative aimed at concentrating highly specialised medical treatments in centres of excellence in Switzerland. This was an important contribution to a sustainable and high-quality healthcare system. It saved lives because patients with diseases with a high risk of complications could be treated in centres of excellence.

What or who inspires you? Whose work do you admire? Why? Give us 1-2 examples.

I am inspired by people who have a passion for initiating change that will help to solve some of society's most pressing problems.

One of the most dreaded introductory questions: What is a fun/quirky/geeky fact about you? :)

I love travelling to remote places. Whether it's the Kalahari Desert or the Arctic wilderness.

What are the hobbies you enjoy doing in your spare time?

I do a lot of sport, enjoy being outdoors and spending time with friends and family.

What is one of the most interesting questions you have received up to now and why?

If you had three wishes, what character traits would you like to change? This question allows you to reflect on the key characteristics that hold you back from reaching your full potential or living a fulfilled life.

What is one of the best pieces of advice you have received and how did you use it/how did it serve you?

Find out what you are really good at, what values are important to you and build your career around that. My strength is thinking in a networked way and solving complex problems. Throughout my career, I have always looked for jobs that require this skill and companies that match my values.

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introduction to and the closing of the day

Mirna Šmidt, founder, Happiness Academy

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Your position and organisation

Trainer & Founder @ Happiness Academy & Trainers Toolbox

Please share links to content that features yourself and/or your work you would like to share with our participants: e.g. a news article, a lecture you gave, a scientific paper you authored. Our suggestion would be 3.

• The way to fulfilled life | Mirna Šmidt | TEDxZagreb

Life is filled with victories and valuable lessons learned, especially when you try something new. Can you tell us please about a time you failed, how you overcame it and what you learned from it?

For me the most common failure is to generate too many ideas of things I would like to create, and then overstretch with my time and energy. I keep learning how to manage that better - but I still keep falling into that trap. Learnings: how important prioritization is. How to work on my boundaries and be more consistent with them. Embracing slower pace and silent time.

Is there an achievement that you are particularly proud of?

Having participants contacting me years after some of the courses (sometimes 10+ years) and mentioning the tool or sentence that they still remember cause it hit them deeply

What or who inspires you? Whose work do you admire? Why? Give us 1-2 examples.

• Cirque du Soleil team
• Mike Horn
• Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi

One of the most dreaded introductory questions: What is a fun/quirky/geeky fact about you? :)

I wear barefoot shoes and love explore different handstands trainings and methods (although I am not that good with it :D)

What are the hobbies you enjoy doing in your spare time?

Horseriding, sailing, diving, yoga - anything outdoorsy, where I can move freely and ideally on my own

What is one of the most interesting questions you have received up to now and why?

What makes you feel alive?

What is one of the best pieces of advice you have received and how did you use it/how did it serve you?

All models are wrong but some are useful. It made me shift from being nit-picky about the flaws in a model into a question "how can this be useful", and that made all the difference to my life and to the value that I can create (instead of getting stuck in complaining about flaws).

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group food for thought gatherings :)

Small evening and morning group thematic, informal gatherings with drinks, snacks and food will be hosted by

Jonas Dorn (Roche) ↓

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Your position and organisation

Digital Biomarker Disease Area Lead, Roche

Life is filled with victories and valuable lessons learned, especially when you try something new. Can you tell us please about a time you failed, how you overcame it and what you learned from it?

In my PhD, I found that differences in means and distribution shapes of cellular dynamics between different mutants conveyed different biological insights (i.e. different means but same distributions suggest a perturbation while preserving the mechanism, different distributions, even with the same mean suggests a perturbation of the mechanism). I was proud to have found a beautiful compact way to summarize all the differences in a heatmap, with differences in means below, and differences in distributions above the diagonal. I presented this heatmap at a graduate student seminar expecting praise for the beautiful presentation of the data - nobody understood the visualization.

This is where I learned (not for the last time, sadly), that one plot will not satisfy all audiences, i.e. that some representations are good for noticing patterns, and others are good for communicating the key findings. I also learned that it takes considerable time and effort until we get it just right.

Is there an achievement that you are particularly proud of?

Of all the times when I dared to take on the impossible odds, from attempting to measuring the unmeasurable over negotiating a collaboration between two major pharma companies to asking out the woman who would become my wife.

One of the most dreaded introductory questions: What is a fun/quirky/geeky fact about you? :)

I’m still a little bit proud of the time I got a call from IT because my data analysis was bringing their file server to its knees – because I had been following protocol. They were happy to grant me an exception afterwards.

What are the hobbies you enjoy doing in your spare time?

Playing tabletop, role-playing, and the occasional computer games with family and friends, orienteering, gardening, reading, and exploring Switzerland and the rest of the world.

What is one of the most interesting questions you have received up to now and why?

What are you going to do until you retire? Such a better way to get me thinking about my career than “where do you see yourself in X years”. It’s also a good way to reveal how much time there is to make changes, do different things, and ensure that I develop my career toward happiness.

What is one of the best pieces of advice you have received and how did you use it/how did it serve you?

Advice on starting a new job: “For your first 6 months, focus on listening, and only share your opinion when asked.” There are all kinds of seemingly strange ways how things are done within an organization, but some of them are that way because of a long and complex history. Identifying the others, where an external perspective can truly make a difference and your suggestions will fall on fertile ground, requires you understand the intricacies and quirks of the organization, as well as identifying the audience that is willing to listen, and this takes time. So I was patient, and then started to make a difference not just in my day-to-day work, but in transforming our organization.

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Jennifer Pougnet (Roche) ↓

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Your position and organisation

Head of Data Strategy & Data Policy, Roche

Please share links to content that features yourself and/or your work you would like to share with our participants: e.g. a news article, a lecture you gave, a scientific paper you authored. Our suggestion would be 3.

• https://impact.economist.com/projects/health-data-governance/robust-data-ecosystems/

• https://theodi.org/insights/guides/the-softer-side-of-data-governance-a-playbook-for-non-technical-users/

• https://www.frontier-economics.com/uk/en/news-and-insights/news/news-article-i20346-understanding-the-value-of-international-healthcare-data-sharing-for-the-eu/#

Life is filled with victories and valuable lessons learned, especially when you try something new. Can you tell us please about a time you failed, how you overcame it and what you learned from it?

As part of a Patient First Strategy for the public health system I worked as a co-author of, we had a challenge adopting the recommendations and executing broadly across the organization. In developing the Data & Digital Policy Strategy I worked to ensure it was a collaborative process and stakeholders were engaged earlier in the process. Additionally in developing the implementation plan it was more focused on structure and process to ensure broader ownership of adoption of the strategy.

Is there an achievement that you are particularly proud of?

Being thanked for creating a safe space to focus and do constructive work that drove impact in a particularly politically imbalanced environment.

What or who inspires you? Whose work do you admire? Why? Give us 1-2 examples.

RuPaul; the change he has driven and continues to advocate for in the world is admirable. The world would be a better place if there was more drag culture embedded in everyday life.

One of the most dreaded introductory questions: What is a fun/quirky/geeky fact about you? :)

I watch a lot of tv/movies

What are the hobbies you enjoy doing in your spare time?

I danced competitively growing up and still love to watch dancing and dance when I can.

What is one of the most interesting questions you have received up to now and why?

Not so much a question but I was asked to deliver a Pecha Kucha presentation about my career and it was a great way to reflect on it and distill the lessons along the way.

What is one of the best pieces of advice you have received and how did you use it/how did it serve you?

To make sure you are reaching back and bringing others with you on the journey. It helps to ensure learning from and for everyone and promotes collaboration.

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schedule

Technical onboarding

day-to-day at Bumblekite

A typical day at the summer school includes the following session types:

Tutorials: excellence in practice: guided exposure to e.g. relevant data sets followed by practical assignments.

Communication sessions: skills-building sessions designed to foster key communication skills coupled with the near-real time feedback discussions with our lecturers.

Office hours: opportunities for conversations with our lecturers, either 1:1 or in a small group with other participants on the topics of your own career trajectory, project, paper and other questions you are eager to explore in a more intimate setting.

Office hours, as an informal space for a conversation whose structure and content is determined by you, are exactly that: room for free exploration, fueling not only your ascension in the career path of your choice, but also the next iteration of our machine learning summer school.

Leadership conversation series: talks, debates, and Q&A sessions with esteemed professionals who have pushed the boundaries of what is possible in their fields.

This conversation series was inspired by the Q&A sessions our team participated in, those conversations that no matter how long they last, are always way too short. Irrespective of how many of your questions got answered, there was always this one that got away. We strongly believe that the people we have chosen to participate in this part of the programme have the potential to induce similar feelings in our participants. That being written, you will be the final judge of how good our curation skills were.

The first leadership Q&A evening is reserved for an introductory panel on the topic of how leaders we admire have built and manage data science and engineering teams within the health and care systems they operate in. This panel sets the tone for the rest of the summer school, with the cumulative decades of experience, superb leadership skills and candidness of our panellists. What is the ideal portfolio of skills one needs to have at every step of their career, every transition e.g. from one field to another that they’re keen on making? Is there such a thing as “ideal”? Where is the room for upskilling at the job and what are the required skills one needs to bring to it? These are some of the questions we aim to tackle together with you during the first evening of our MLSS.

Introduction to and the closing of the day: time to prepare for and reflect on the day that has passed.

Equally importantly to an excellent start of the day is the process of unwinding and closure at its end. We would love to hear your thoughts, insights, hear more about the challenges that arose, as well as to celebrate the wins of the day. We strongly believe that taking a pause, reflecting on the experience you went through during the intense day is an essential part of the process of acquiring new skills and knowledge.

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