Digital Transformation That Truly Delivers.

Bridging Human Intelligence and Technology
for sustainable Business Value.

I understand data, digital technologies, and AI — and above all, what it takes for organisations and people to use them in ways that create real value.

With this combination of technological judgement, behavioural psychology, and years of strategic and leadership experience, I drive successful digital transformations.

Let's Talk What I Do

Dr. phil. MBA

Advisor Keynote Speaker Fractional CDO Lecturer

Im Überblick

10+

Years of Leadership

1,000+

People guided through digital transformation

20+

Research studies published

15+

Keynotes & talks delivered

News

Engage: From Grand Vision to Monday Morning — Part 2 of 4

20 July 2026

Part 2 of my series is out: Engage — From Grand Vision to Monday Morning.

The hard part of AI transformation is rarely the vision on the slide. It is translating it into goals a team can actually start on this quarter.

This second essay is about why visions decay on the way down the organisation — 56 per cent of C-level leaders are clear on strategic priorities, but only 27 per cent in middle management. And about what leaders can do differently: co-create the vision instead of announcing it, verify the cascade instead of assuming it, and put the CEO visibly in the driver seat.

Read Article →

The AI Paradox: Pilot-Rich, Transformation-Poor

Details▾

My first Substack essay is out: The AI Paradox — Pilot-Rich, Transformation-Poor.

Nearly every company invests in AI. Fewer than one in five see a meaningful return. The reason is rarely the technology — which is exactly why leaders can fix it.

In this first piece I write about why so many AI initiatives get stuck at the pilot stage — and what it takes to enable real transformation.

Read Article →

26 June 2026

Zonta Webinar: Job Killer or Game Changer?

Details▾

Zonta Digital Day 2026 – Webinar: Job Killer or Game Changer?

A wonderful evening at the Zonta Webinar on 26 June — alongside a fantastic group of fellow speakers and an audience that asked exactly the right questions.

My perspective came from two directions: from professional practice, where I have been guiding AI and data transformation in organisations for years, and from university teaching, where students ask me exactly the questions that matter to all of us — what stays, what changes, where do we begin?

The recording of the webinar is still available.

Watch recording →

Positioning

Technologies create possibilities. People decide whether they create impact.

Artificial intelligence, automation, data-driven decision systems: technology is transforming organisations and markets at a pace that challenges companies and people alike. This dynamic creates uncertainty — and at the same time, real opportunities for organisations that actively shape the change. That is precisely where I come in.

Human-Centered Transformation

I understand how people respond to change — what drives acceptance and what triggers resistance. I apply this knowledge from psychology and behavioural economics directly to AI adoption, change management, and digital leadership.

Hands-on Experience

Over 10 years of operational leadership responsibility across three industries — media, industrial mid-market, and global industrial corporation. I have not advised on data and AI organisations — I have built, scaled, and led them myself.

Technology Expertise

I know the Microsoft stack from many different professional contexts — from Azure and Fabric to Power Platform and Databricks. For specialised implementation, I work with a network of experienced specialists.

Services

Advisory

As a sparring partner and thought leader, I guide companies and executives through digital transformation — strategically grounded, human-centred, and focused on real business value.

→ Strategy & Technology — Digital roadmap, AI strategy, technology stack, data governance & compliance
→ Leadership & Enablement — Executive development, digital literacy, change management, tailored workshop formats
→ Personal Guidance — Individual support for CDOs and digital leaders, clarity on role and mandate
→ GDPR-compliant AI implementation — Data protection and compliance built in from the start, not retrofitted
→ Data Governance Foundations — Clear rules for data access, quality, and accountability as the basis for any AI initiative

Fractional CDO

Not every company needs digital leadership full-time — but every company in transformation needs it at executive level. As Fractional CDO, I take on this role on an interim basis: with real accountability, strategic vision, and operational understanding.

→ Digital leadership at C-level — without full-time commitment
→ Building and structuring digital and data organisations
→ Technology decisions within the Microsoft stack environment
→ Governance and steering towards executive management and supervisory boards

Keynotes & Speaking

I don't tell best-in-class success stories. I tell what really happens when companies tackle AI and digital transformation — with everything that comes with it, the highs and lows. My keynotes combine operational experience with academic rigour — honest, direct, and close to reality.

→ On Our Way to Co-Intelligence: Why AI Transformation is 80% People — C-Level, Senior Management, Cross-functional Teams
→ The Cultural Code: Bridging the Gap Between AI Teams and Business — Change Managers, HR Leaders, Transformation Teams
→ From Hype to ROI: Building Data & AI Organizations that Deliver — CDOs, CIOs, VPs Data/Digital

Advisory & Supervisory Boards

Companies that take digital transformation seriously need a voice on their board that truly understands technology — and can critically assess what creates real business value.

→ Strategic assessment of AI and digitalisation initiatives
→ Critical evaluation of technology investments and roadmaps
→ Governance, risk, and compliance for digital endeavours
→ External reference perspective from three industries

Case Examples

What Gets Built

Transformation is not an end in itself. Here are some examples from projects I personally led — and what was concretely achieved.

Organisation & People

→ Global Digital Transformation Programmes — enabling employees to use digital technologies in ways that create real value
→ From corporate strategy to a clear digital roadmap — translating strategic goals into measurable digital action packages and implementing them

Quality & Decisions

→ Enterprise Data Warehouse (Azure/Snowflake) — unified data foundation instead of Excel silos
→ Data Governance & Master Data Management — ensuring data quality, acting in compliance, and establishing a clear legal framework

Efficiency & Cost

→ Predictive Maintenance based on IoT sensor data — reducing unplanned service visits and downtime costs
→ Self-Service Analytics for business units — eliminating ad-hoc data requests, faster decision-making

Revenue & Growth

→ Churn Prediction Models in subscription business — reducing customer attrition, more targeted retention measures
→ Data-driven pricing strategy — optimising price structures and revenue models

Profile

About Me

Dr. Imme Baumüller Human-Centered AI & Digital Transformation

I studied communication science, psychology, and economic policy in Münster — a combination that shapes how I work to this day. After completing my doctorate in Mannheim, I started in the media industry, initially as a management trainee at a major publisher in Hamburg. At Handelsblatt, I took on my first leadership roles — and decided to pursue an MBA at WHU — Otto Beisheim School of Management alongside my work. From there, I continued deepening my expertise in data and AI across various leadership positions. Academic research and professional practice have never been opposites for me — as a visiting lecturer at WHU, my alma mater, the two continue to inform each other. What runs through my career: I have repeatedly had the opportunity to build something from scratch. At Handelsblatt and at Vaillant, I built data and AI organisations from zero — with full accountability, but always as part of a team. That is what drives me: not managing, but creating.

Education

Dr. phil.

University of Mannheim

Doctorate in Communication Science

Education

MBA

WHU — Otto Beisheim School of Management

Strategy & Digital Innovation (part-time)

Education

Magister Artium

University of Münster

Communication Science, Psychology, Economic Policy

Experience

Visiting Lecturer

WHU — Otto Beisheim School of Management

Teaching on Data & AI Strategy, Digital Transformation, and Change Management (since 2019)

Mitgliedschaften

→ KI Bundesverband — Active Member
→ FidAR — Women on Supervisory Boards

Career Path

2024—2026

Head of Global Digital Business & Applications TK Elevator

2021—2024

Director Group Data, BI & Analytics Vaillant Group

2019—2021

Director Data Technology & Business Intelligence Handelsblatt Media Group

2016—2019

Head of Research & Insights iq Digital / Handelsblatt

2015—2016

Head of Strategic Market Analysis DPV Deutscher Pressevertrieb

2014—2015

General Management Trainee Gruner+Jahr

Testimonials

„She combines academic depth with practical implementation experience in an impressive way.“

I have known Imme Baumüller since 2018 – first as an outstanding participant in our MBA programme, later as a valued guest lecturer for Data Science and Digital Transformation.

What makes Imme special: she combines academic depth with practical implementation experience in an impressive way. As a lecturer, she manages to make complex data and AI topics tangible and to inspire students to apply them in practice. Her courses are consistently very well attended and receive outstanding evaluations.

Imme's commitment goes far beyond simply imparting knowledge. When I was building our new Analytics Master, she was one of the first people I wanted to involve as an expert. Her ability to combine strategic thinking with hands-on expertise makes her an inspiring figure for students and practitioners alike.

With her impressive track record in building data & AI organisations (including Vaillant Group and TK Elevator) and her passion for teaching, Imme is an ideal leader for digital transformation at executive level.

Prof. Dr. Stefan Spinler

Professor

WHU – Otto Beisheim School of Management

October 2025 · translated from German

Speaking

Keynotes & Speaking

I speak at conferences, corporate events, and leadership gatherings on AI, digital transformation, and the people behind it. My keynotes are not polished presentations — they are honest, direct, and close to reality. With stories from practice, the highs and lows, and concrete impulses that resonate.

For keynote and speaking enquiries, please get in touch.

Get in Touch →

Mar 2026

On Our Way to Co-Intelligence

GMP.KI Conference, Paderborn

Keynote

Jan 2026

On Our Way to Co-Intelligence

Miele Data & AI Day, Gütersloh

Keynote

Jun 2024

From Hype to ROI: Mastering the Challenges of Building Data Teams

TDWI Conference Munich

Opening Keynote

Jun 2024

AI and German Midsized Companies — a perfect match?

NRW Bank Private Equity Conference

Panel

Jun 2024

IT Transformation in the Age of AI

Handelsblatt Future IT Conference

Panel

Research & Teaching

Research and Practice —
for me, no contradiction

My academic foundation continues to shape how I approach transformation — and I have actively maintained the connection to research, through teaching, applied research, and continuous engagement with current findings. My academic interests lie at the intersection of technology, organisation, and people:

Research Interests

→ Organizational AI Readiness & Data Organisation Design — how companies embed AI organisationally: structures, roles, strategic integration, and measurable value creation
→ Change Psychology, AI Adoption & Co-Intelligence — which psychological factors determine acceptance and resistance, and how Co-Intelligence can be deliberately developed
→ Digital Leadership & Management in the AI Era — which strategies, frameworks, and programmes CEOs and senior leaders can use to actively and successfully shape digital transformation
→ Societal Change through AI — how AI is transforming labour markets, social structures, and economic power dynamics
→ Human & AI: Neuroscience, Psychology, and what it means to be Human — what the interface between the human brain and artificial intelligence reveals about ourselves, and how AI changes and sharpens our experience and self-understanding

Academic Teaching

since 2019 Visiting Lecturer

WHU — Otto Beisheim School of Management

· Senior Executive Education: The Human Side of AI Transformation (2026)
· Product Canvas & OKRs for Data & AI Products (PT-MBA 2025)
· Analytics Edge: Data Strategy (MBA)
· Strategic Pricing via Business Analytics (MBA)
· Digital Transformation, Data & AI Strategy, Change Management

2019–2021 Lecturer

Hochschule Macromedia, Cologne

· Advertising & Consumer Psychology
· Statistics & Business Mathematics

2010–2014 Research Associate & Lecturer

University of Mannheim

· Teaching appointment in the context of doctoral research
· Quantitative Content Analysis | Media Use & Effects | Academic Writing
· Media Economics | Media Systems in International Comparison | Staging in the Media Society

Publications & Resources

Selected Publications

Academic publications, applied research, and thought leadership contributions.

Essay · Part 2 of 4

Engage: From Grand Vision to Monday Morning

The hard part of AI transformation is rarely the vision — it is translating it into goals a team can start on this quarter. Why visions decay on the way down the organisation, and what leaders can do differently. Part 2 of 4 in my series on the human side of AI transformation.

Download PDF ↓

Substack

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Direct

imme@dr-baumueller.de Email linkedin.com/in/imme-baumueller LinkedIn immebaumueller.substack.com Substack

Bridging Human Intelligence and Technology
for sustainable Business Value.

The AI Paradox: Pilot-Rich, Transformation-Poor

Zonta Webinar: Job Killer or Game Changer?