Gero Presser
Founder and CEO QuinScape.
Founder and CEO QuinScape, an IT services company with 175+ employees focused on Data Management and Data Analytics. Computer Scientist (TU Dortmund), PhD in Decision Theory on how to make good decision based on vague data. Working on topics related to data since 1995 – commercially (with customers as partners) and academically (teaching, writing). Personal interest in Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, Big Data and how Data in general is shaping our world. Born 1973 in Frankfurt/Main, Germany. Family father with two sons and one dog. Passionate skier.
How did you get to become an expert in your key topics?
I had a eureka moment at university when I became deeply interested in the theories of Alan Turing. I was fascinated by his ideas about the limits of computers, how far they can be developed and what can be computed. At the same time, I couldn’t stop thinking about the question Roger Penrose asked: whether our brain was just a gigantic neural network, or something more. Since then, AI and business intelligence have been an area of intense interest for me. In particular, how we can make decisions with the help of AI. I’ve spoken at several international seminars, and contributed to several books and publications on decision theory and business intelligence. I am Co-Founder and CEO of QuinScape, a company focused on Data Management and Data Analytics (and Software Engineering), working closely together with partners and customers on this topic. Besides, I am teaching, writing, and speaking about related topics, e.g. I am giving the “Big Data & AI” lecture at a local university.
What topic areas are you most passionate about?
I am passionate about Data Management, Data Analytics, Business Intelligence, Data Governance, Data Integration, Data Quality, Data Engineering, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Data Science, Big Data, Decision Theory.
Which influencers influence you within those key topics?
Outside of key topics, who else influences you?
There have been so many. Frank Zappa was super-talented and prepared to push the boundaries. At the same time, he had a great sense of humor, which you hear in his experimental music. I just regret never having had the chance to see him live. One of the guys who laid the fundamentals of game theory and computer science was John von Neumann. In addition, I was influenced by those great sci-fi books by Isaac Assimov in which he posed essential questions about predicting group behavior and living in a society together with robots.
How would you describe your offline influence?
Broad and actively managed network of partners and customers, speaking at conferences, consulting with clients. Organizer of meetup group “Data & Analytics Dortmund” with ~1500 members, co-organizer of TDWI Roundtable Ruhrgebiet.
If a brand wanted to work with you, which activities would you be most interested in collaborating on?
Podcasts, Webinars, Whitepapers, Speaking Opportunities. (As long as the work aligns with our focus and work as a company.)
What’s your best source of information for getting ahead of a story?
What brands have you worked with?
Closely working together with our partners, e.g. Talend, TIBCO, Snowflake, Databricks, Denodo, RapidMiner.
Which non-paid activities would you be keen to take part in if the opportunity raised your profile or delivered value to your audience?
I would keen to co-create long form content (e.g. blogs, white papers, ebooks, research), provide a quote for content or news article, share or create a social post, speak at an event or a podcast, webinar or even an online chat.
What are your passions outside of work?
Family, skiing, reading, running, music, almost everything from Algebra to Zappa.
What would be the best way for a brand to contact you?
Email me: gero.presser@quinscape.de