One Day in Transformation

Most organisations treat IT sustainability as a reporting exercise. Wiebren van der Zee treats it as a design principle — and has the results to prove it. In the first nine months of 2025, ABN AMRO reduced its IT-generated carbon emissions by nearly 21 % compared to the previous year. In this episode, Wiebren explains what it actually takes to make that happen — and why most organisations are still leaving enormous potential untouched.

Wiebren has spent nearly 30 years at ABN AMRO, evolving from IT operations to pioneering sustainable architecture. He is the architect of the S3 model, a framework that integrates Sustainability, Security and Sovereignty as inseparable design principles for IT strategy. He leads ABN AMRO's Sustainable IT dashboard, toolbox and research programmes, and is an active member of SustainableIT.org and the Dutch National Coalition for Sustainable Digitalisation (NCDD).

What we cover in this episode

• The pivotal moment in London in 2018 that changed how Wiebren thinks about IT architecture
• Why it took two to three years of pushing before Sustainable IT became one of ABN AMRO's seven IT strategy pillars
• The S3 model explained: Sustainability, Security and Sovereignty as interconnected design drivers — and the trade-offs between them
• Why GreenOps is not the same as FinOps — and why that distinction matters
• How ABN AMRO built a carbon and energy dashboard across thousands of applications
• Market-based vs. location-based carbon accounting: two realities, one honest picture
• The Cloud Act, GDPR and digital sovereignty: why legislation from other countries is already inside your IT stack
• What 80 % of your IT footprint has in common with the production phase of a device
• Why "Default = Off" is the single most impactful place to start

Connect

Wiebren van der Zee — https://www.linkedin.com/in/wiebrenvanderzee
Rainer Karcher — https://www.linkedin.com/in/rainerkarcher
Anthea Wagner — https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthea-wagner

About Heartprint

Heartprint GmbH is a Twin Transformation consultancy based near Munich. We help organisations build resilient business models at the intersection of digital transformation and sustainability — pragmatic, measurable and future-proof. We believe that reducing your footprint and growing your business are not opposing forces. They are the same agenda.

Learn more: https://www.heartprint.eu

Accessibility Is a Profit Centre, Not a Cost Centre — with Neil Milliken

Neil Milliken spent over two decades as VP and Global Head of Accessibility at Atos, one of Europe's largest IT companies. He is co-founder of AXSChat, one of the most influential accessibility communities on social media, and an expert on the W3C Cognitive Accessibility Task Force. In this episode, Anthea Wagner and Rainer Karcher explore why accessibility is not charity — it is the original innovation engine.

What we cover:

00:00 — Intro: Why accessibility is a business imperative, not a niche 02:17 — From technical architect to global policy leader: Neil's journey at Atos 03:50 — The US backlash on DEIA — and why Europe now has a competitive window 10:03 — Medical vs. social vs. bio-psycho-social model of disability 12:07 — Germany's paradox: social-model language, medical-model practice 13:48 — Procurement as a transformation lever: renegotiating billion-euro contracts for accessibility 16:31 — What accessibility actually means — beyond visible disability 18:02 — AI: the original assistive technology — and its new risks for disability communities 22:09 — The Canadian inclusive AI standard and why leaders should read it 24:29 — We all age into disability: demographic shifts and the inverted pyramid 27:34 — WCAG, EN 301 549 and the case for AAA criteria 29:48 — Twin Transformation: aligning accessibility with sustainability strategy 31:30 — Exclusion is pollution: co-opting the decarbonisation framework for inclusion 33:30 — Neil's transformation challenge: turn on the accessibility checker in Word/PowerPoint (Review pane) — and leave it on 36:06 — Neil's playlist: four songs from beat poetry to Cleo Sol — find them on our Apple Music playlist

Key takeaways:

— Companies investing in disability inclusion are measurably more profitable (EY, Accenture, Return on Disability Index). — Accessibility tools are productivity tools: speech recognition, text-to-speech, image recognition all originated from solving disability challenges. — The European Accessibility Act is now in force. While the US deprioritises, Europe has a strategic window. — AI models struggle at the edges of the data galaxy — disability is diverse and sits precisely there. Inclusive design and testing with disability communities is essential. — Treating exclusion like pollution — as a negative externality — changes the boardroom conversation.

Your challenge from this episode: Open the accessibility checker in Microsoft Word or PowerPoint. It is in the Review pane. Turn it on and leave it on. It works like a spell checker for inclusion.

Connect with Neil Milliken: linkedin.com/in/neilmilliken axschat.com

Connect with us: Heartprint GmbH — heartprint.eu Anthea Wagner — linkedin.com/in/anthea-wagner Rainer Karcher — linkedin.com/in/rainerkarcher

Listen on your favourite platform: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube

One Day in Transformation is a Heartprint GmbH production. We believe sustainable transformation and digital transformation are not two separate agendas. They are one. And inclusion is the thread that holds them together.

In this episode of One Day in Transformation, we welcome Alexander Nusselt, a coach, psychotherapist, and transformation expert who believes leadership thrives where tension exists—not where it is avoided. With over two decades of experience spanning organisational change, crisis intervention, and self-leadership, Alex helps executives and teams harness ambiguity, emotional pressure, and polarisation as tools for resilience and integrity.

Key Highlights:

• Tension as a Resource: Why the most effective leaders don’t seek comfort but clarity—and how to reframe ambiguity as an experiment.
• The Mercedes-Benz vs. Golf Dilemma: A Siemens case study on how one-sided decisions create hidden tensions and what happens when leaders ignore the consequences of their choices.
• Self-Leadership Under Pressure: How to set boundaries without burning out or becoming cynical, and why suppressing emotions leads to systemic failure.
• Diversity Initiatives That Fail: The unspoken reason most DE&I efforts stall—and how to design inclusive systems that account for all stakeholders, not just marginalised groups.
• Innovation vs. Stability: Why "innovation Stammtische" don’t work, and how to create structures that actually foster creativity.
• Technology and Human Integrity: How AI and digital transformation reflect our values—and what happens when we prioritise efficiency over ethics.

Alex’s Challenge for You: This week, pick one tension in your team (e.g., stability vs. innovation) and ask: "What can we learn from this?" instead of "How do we solve this?" Share your insights in the comments—we’d love to hear from you.

About Alexander Nusselt: Alex is the founder of spannungsRAUM®, where he designs labs turning tension into growth. He combines executive coaching, psychotherapeutic practice, and systemic organisational development to help leaders navigate complexity. Connect with Alex on LinkedIn.

Hosts:

• Rainer Karcher (LinkedIn) – Global Director IT Sustainability, Heartprint
• Anthea Wagner (LinkedIn) – Transformation Expert, Heartprint

Listen & Subscribe: Explore more at www.heartprint.eu. Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, Amazon Music, and Deezer.

Song of the Episode: Arcade Fire – Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels) (A track about moving forward despite uncertainty).

One Day in Transformation: Where we talk about the future like it’s ours to build.

One Day in Transformation – Season 2, Episode 6

In this episode of One Day in Transformation, we welcome Aarti Gupta, a leader who bridges the gap between India and Germany, corporate strategy and start-up agility, and resilience and innovation. Aarti shaped the IT sustainability strategy at Allianz Technology, now leads an AI and Agentic AI innovation programme at Deutsche Bank, and founded Fiutran, a platform democratising tech knowledge. Her journey—from YouTube motorcycle repair videos to building global AI sustainability communities—reveals how transformation thrives when humanity and technology align.

We explore:

• Why human-centered innovation is more than a buzzword—it’s a systemic necessity.
• How Aarti reduced IT disaster recovery reporting times from 5 days to 1 hour at Allianz by redesigning processes, not just automating them.
• The cultural contrasts between Indian improvisation and German precision, and why combining both creates unstoppable resilience.
• Why 300-member AI sustainability communities succeed without budgets—and what corporates can learn from start-up decision-making.
• The uncomfortable truth about AI: It’s not about replacing humans but amplifying their potential.

Aarti also shares her "One Week of Transformation" challenge—a daily journaling practice to foster self-awareness and systemic change—and adds Coldplay’s "Fix You" to our podcast playlist as a reminder that acknowledging uncertainty is the first step toward clarity.

1. 00:00 – Introduction: Aarti’s hybrid career—corporate strategist, start-up founder, and YouTube mechanic.
2. 03:25 – Roots of Resilience: Growing up in an entrepreneurial family in India and the "figure it out" mindset.
3. 07:02 – Human-Centered Innovation: Why technology must serve people, not the other way around.
4. 14:16 – Cultural Synergy: Merging Indian agility with German structure for transformative impact.
5. 19:39 – Corporate vs. Start-Up Innovation: Decision-making clarity over speed.
6. 24:23 – AI at Deutsche Bank: Use cases where AI empowers, not replaces, employees.
7. 27:11 – Lessons from IT Disaster Recovery: Why resilience ≠ speed, and how behavioural design prevents failure.
8. 32:42 – Inclusion as Risk Mitigation: The business case for accessibility and diverse teams.
9. 35:55 – One Week of Transformation Challenge: Aarti’s journaling prompts for systemic self-reflection.
10. 39:05 – Hope in Action: The power of a solution-oriented mindset in uncertain times.

• Aarti Gupta: LinkedIn Profile
• Fiutran: Instagram
• Coldplay – "Fix You" (on our playlist)

• Human-centered innovation, AI ethics, Agentic AI, IT sustainability, disaster recovery strategies, corporate-startup collaboration, resilience in leadership, digital transformation, inclusive design, behavioural systems, twin transformation, Deutsche Bank innovation, Allianz Technology, Fiutran, AI communities, cultural agility, decision-making frameworks, emotional intelligence in tech, journaling for leaders.

In this episode of One Day in Transformation, Matthias Biehl, Senior Lead for Experience and Innovation Strategy at Kyndryl and founder of Pool Match, shares his journey from leading Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) for 850 employees to launching a startup that fosters empathy through random human connections. Matthias discusses why diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) are critical for corporate resilience, how empathy can be trained like a muscle, and why the most meaningful connections are often the ones we don’t plan. He also introduces Pool Match, a platform that connects people outside their usual networks to break down barriers and build understanding.

1. DEI as a Strategic Priority:
   • Why companies that prioritize inclusion navigate crises more effectively.
   • How empathy and emotional intelligence transform leadership, especially in challenging times.
   • The misconception that DEI is a "soft factor" and why it’s a competitive advantage.
2. Pool Match: Breaking Echo Chambers Through Randomness:
   • The origin of Pool Match: Scaling an internal belonging initiative to a public platform.
   • Why randomness—not algorithms—creates more authentic connections.
   • The vision: Sparking conversations that bridge divides in polarized societies.
3. Actionable Insights for Leaders:
   • How to hold leaders accountable when their commitment to allyship wavers.
   • A simple, practical challenge to build empathy in daily life.

• 00:30 – Matthias’ personal journey: From ERG member to DEI leader.
• 05:52 – Why DEI is a competitive edge, not just a moral obligation.
• 09:51 – The biggest misconceptions about empathy in leadership.
• 13:04 – "Allyship has no memory": Navigating performative vs. authentic support.
• 17:55 – Introducing Pool Match: Random connections for empathy and growth.
• 25:34 – How Pool Match ensures meaningful conversations.
• 32:57 – Matthias’ song recommendation: Reliquia by Rosalía.
• 37:28 – One Week in Transformation Challenge: Spark conversations with strangers.
• 40:42 – The one thing Matthias would change about corporate transformation.

• Matthias Biehl:
  • LinkedIn Profile
  • Kyndryl
• Pool Match:
  • Website (Launching January 2026)
• Mentioned in the Episode:
  • Reliquia – Matthias’ song recommendation.

• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)
• Empathy in leadership
• Employee Resource Groups (ERGs)
• Random networking
• Corporate transformation
• Emotional intelligence
• Pool Match
• Kyndryl
• Rosalía Lux
• Unplanned connections
• Allyship in business

Call to Action: If this episode resonated with you, share it with a leader who needs to hear it. Try Matthias’ challenge! Spark a conversation with someone outside your usual circle and let us know how it goes.

In this episode of One Day in Transformation, we welcome Belinda "Bee" Murray, founder of Bee Formless and a pioneer in soulful, high-flow conscious leadership. With over 25 years of experience in advertising and communications—including scaling a $20M business and leading 150 employees—Belinda experienced firsthand the unsustainability of the "hustle and grind" culture. After recovering from severe burnout, she developed the Formless™ Methodology, a science-backed approach combining flow science, neuroscience, and subtractive psychology to help leaders and organizations transition from survival-driven growth to antifragile, high-performance ecosystems.

Belinda shares her journey from burnout to inside-out transformation, explaining why traditional productivity metrics often fail to address the root causes of disengagement and exhaustion. She introduces her four-step cycle—Learn, Unlearn, Relearn, Active Recovery—and provides practical tools for leaders to cultivate presence, creativity, and resilience in their teams. We also discuss the global challenge of burnout, the role of AI and digital overload in exacerbating stress, and how organizations can redesign work cultures to prioritize human energy and purpose alongside profitability.

This conversation is a must-listen for C-level executives, HR leaders, and transformation drivers who recognize that sustainable success requires more than spreadsheets and KPIs—it demands a fundamental shift in how we lead, work, and measure impact.

Guest: Belinda "Bee" Murray

• Founder, Bee Formless (beeformless.com)
• LinkedIn: Belinda "Bee" Murray

Hosts: Rainer Karcher

• CEO & Founder, Heartprint GmbH (heartprint.eu)
• LinkedIn: Rainer Karcher

Anthea Wagner

• Twin Transformation Specialist, Heartprint GmbH (heartprint.eu)
• LinkedIn: Anthea Wagner

Resources Mentioned:

• Bee Formless Methodology Video: YouTube
• Song Pick: "Sitting on the Dock of the Bay" by Otis Redding – Belinda’s anthem for presence and patience in 2026.

Listen Now: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube

In this episode of One Day in Transformation, we welcome Daniel Scholz, co-founder of Footprint Intelligence, a Munich-based platform that automates ESG reporting for companies struggling with CSRD compliance, data chaos, and manual spreadsheets. With a background in sustainability and AI innovation at BMW, Daniel shares how Footprint Intelligence turns compliance into a competitive advantage—reducing reporting time from weeks to days and cutting costs by 50–70%.

Key Takeaways:

1. The ESG Automation Revolution: Daniel explains why 90% of companies still use Excel for sustainability data—and how Footprint Intelligence’s AI-driven platform eliminates manual errors while ensuring regulatory alignment with CSRD, EU Taxonomy, and GRI standards. "The problem isn’t the regulations—it’s the tools," he argues. "We built a system that turns data into actionable insights, not just another PDF."
2. From BMW to Startup: Scaling Sustainability: Drawing from his experience at BMW, where he led sustainability reporting and AI projects, Daniel reveals how corporate strategies translate into startup agility. His advice for companies drowning in ESG spreadsheets? "Start with what you already have. Most companies sit on a goldmine of unused data."
3. Twin Transformation in Practice: Footprint Intelligence doesn’t just automate reporting—it bridges the gap between digital tools and sustainability goals. Daniel’s team uses machine learning to identify trends, risks, and optimization opportunities in real-time. "We’re not just making compliance easier. We’re making it strategic."
4. The Future of ESG Tech: With 40,000+ EU companies facing CSRD deadlines in 2026, Daniel predicts a shift: "Companies that treat ESG as a cost center will lose. Those that use data to drive decisions will win." His platform’s white-label solutions let enterprises embed sustainability reporting into their own systems—without vendor lock-in.
5. One Week of Transformation Challenge: Daniel’s tip for listeners? "Pick one ESG metric you’re already tracking—like energy use or waste—and automate its collection this week. You’ll save hours and spot opportunities you missed."

Links:

• Heartprint GmbH: www.heartprint.eu
• Footprint Intelligence: www.footprint-intelligence.com
• Daniel Scholz (LinkedIn): LinkedIn Profile
• Rainer Karcher (LinkedIn): LinkedIn Profile
• Anthea (LinkedIn): LinkedIn Profile

Listen to the Episode:

• Apple Podcasts: Link
• Spotify: Link
• YouTube: Link

What if sustainable transformation started with a 7 AM boxing session and local AI experiments? In this episode, Angelo Fienga—a 28-year veteran in AI, IoT, and circular economy—shares his unconventional yet practical approach to merging technology and sustainability. From optimizing Tanzanian coffee farms with IoT to reimagining Rome’s water fountains as smart grids, Angelo proves that real change begins with measurable data, local solutions, and Italian ingenuity.

1. AI as a Tool, Not Magic: "AI is a fast, dumb calculator—it needs humans to ask the right questions." Learn how IoT + AI reduced water waste by 30% in Tanzania, and why "human-in-the-loop" systems are critical.
2. Italy’s Local Solutions vs. Global Hype: While Germany debates free water fountains, Italy has had them for centuries. Angelo explains how local traditions (like Rome’s nasoni) + tech (IoT, edge AI) create resilient hybrid solutions.
3. Angelo’s "One Week Challenge":
   • Physical: Start your day with boxing/jogging to clear mental clutter.
   • Tech: Experiment with local AI models (e.g., LM Studio)—"Test AI privately with your own data to understand its limits."
4. Circular Economy in Action: From recycling exhaust oil (his father’s legacy) to repurposing old PCs, Angelo shows how waste is a design flaw: "If you can’t measure it, you can’t improve it."
5. Policy Wish for the EU: "Tie revenue sharing to long-term impact. Fund projects that save resources AND make money—twice."

Try Angelo’s tips this week:

1. Swap your morning scroll for 10 minutes of boxing/jogging.
2. Run a local AI model (e.g., LM Studio)—"Ask it to analyze your CV or a personal project."

Share your results with #OneDayChallenge!

• Local AI Tools: LM Studio | Mistral AI
• Italy’s Water Traditions: Rome’s Nasoni Fountains

🔗 Apple Podcasts 🔗 Spotify 🔗 YouTube

New episodes every Monday at 8 AM CET. #SustainableTech #AIforGood #CircularEconomy

What’s YOUR radical sustainability tip? Share it with #OneDayTransformation! Rate us 5⭐ to help others discover unconventional changemakers like Angelo.

More about Angelo:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/angelofienga/

More about us:

www.heartprint.eu

What if sustainability was less about guilt and more about training for the Olympics? In this episode, Stefan Brechling Larsen—Global Sustainability Leader at Lenovo—shares his playbook for turning IT sustainability into a competitive edge. From Danish bottle-recycling culture to Lenovo’s CO2 Offset Service, Stefan reveals why sustainability isn’t a cost—it’s an investment with measurable ROI. His mantra? "Train like an athlete, measure like a scientist, and win like a champion."

1. The "Olympics of Sustainability" Mindset: "If you don’t train, you won’t win." Stefan compares sustainability to the Olympics: preparation, rules, and persistence matter. Unlike sports, "in sustainability, participating IS winning—because every step counts."
2. Why IT Hardware = The New Plastic Bottle: "We recycle bottles but toss IT hardware—responsible for 2-4% of global emissions." Stefan’s 3-pillar framework (cost, carbon savings, implementation) shows how Lenovo’s CO2 Offset Service makes sustainability tangible and profitable.
3. From Denmark to Global IT: Danish culture taught Stefan that sustainability starts small (e.g., household recycling). Now, he scales this mindset globally: "If a 4-year-old Lenovo device works, why buy new?" Refurbished hardware, leasing models, and circular design are his tools.
4. AI + Sustainability: The Perfect Team: "AI alone won’t save us—but AI + human expertise can." Stefan’s team uses AI to predict carbon footprints before purchases, proving tech can measure AND reduce impact.

Try Stefan’s tip this week:

• Block 30 minutes daily for exercise (run, yoga, or a walk).
• Audit your IT hardware: "Do you need new devices, or can refurbished ones work?" Share your results with #OneDayChallenge!

• Lenovo’s CO2 Offset Service: Lenovo Sustainability
• Danish Recycling Culture: Denmark’s Circular Economy

🔗 Apple Podcasts 🔗 Spotify 🔗 YouTube

New episodes every Monday at 8 AM CET. #SustainableIT #CircularEconomy #GreenLeadership

What’s YOUR sustainability "training plan"? Share it with #OneDayTransformation! Rate us 5⭐ to help others discover how small steps + smart tech = big impact.

• Italy’s smart water grids |

Keywords

Transformation, Podcast, Jahresrückblick, Erkenntnisse, Gemeinschaft, Gäste, 2026

Summary

In dieser letzten Folge von 'One Day in Transformation' reflektieren Anthea und Rainer über das vergangene Jahr, die Entstehung des Podcasts und die Highlights der Staffel. Sie teilen persönliche Erkenntnisse, besondere Gäste und die Bedeutung von Transformation als Gemeinschaftsaufgabe. Zudem geben sie einen Ausblick auf die kommende Staffel 2026, die internationaler und offener gestaltet wird.

Takeaways

Der Podcast entstand aus der Idee, Transformation verständlicher zu machen.

Transformation ist nicht nur ein Projekt, sondern eine Haltung.

Die Vielfalt der Gäste bringt unterschiedliche Perspektiven in die Diskussion.

Gemeinschaft ist entscheidend für den Transformationsprozess.

Positive Energie ist wichtig, um Veränderungen zu bewirken.

Jede Folge hatte ihre eigenen Highlights und Erkenntnisse.

Überraschungen in den Gesprächen fördern das Lernen.

Die Playlist des Podcasts spiegelt die Vielfalt der Themen wider.

Transformationsthemen sind oft auch persönliche Herausforderungen.

Der Ausblick auf 2026 verspricht spannende neue Formate und internationale Gäste.

Titles

Ein Rückblick auf Transformation 2025

Die Entstehungsgeschichte unseres Podcasts

Sound bites

"Was ist 2025 hängen geblieben?"

"Transformation ist was Gutes."

"Wir sehen uns in der Zukunft."

Chapters

00:00 Jahresrückblick und Podcast-Entstehung

07:15 Highlights und Erkenntnisse aus der Staffel

14:42 Transformation als Gemeinschaftsaufgabe

20:26 Überraschungen und besondere Gäste

33:45 Ausblick auf 2026 und neue Formate

Mehr zu Heartprint: www.heartprint.eu
Mehr zu Anthea: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthea-wagner/
Mehr zu Rainer: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rainerkarcher/

Unsere One Day in Transformation Playlist: https://music.apple.com/de/playlist/one-day-in-transformation-staffel-1/pl.u-EGqCGVPGMM