Léa Steinacker, PhD, is a social scientist, bestselling author, board member, and award-winning entrepreneur who focuses on the interaction between technology, people, practices, and the environment.
Her 2024 book on artificial intelligence, co-authored with Prof. Dr. Miriam Meckel, quickly became a national bestseller.
For nearly ten years, she has studied the broad effects of emerging technologies such as AI, publishing on topics including automated facial recognition, synthetic voice generation, quantum computing, and her original concept of Code Capital. She has dedicated significant effort to exploring the opportunities and risks AI presents, as well as how it can be best developed, applied, and managed.
Léa Steinacker lecture topics
- Everything everywhere at once: The transformative impact of artificial intelligence on the world and the benefits it offers
- AI in everyday life: Practical approaches to enhance business efficiency, support traditional companies, and boost team productivity
- Man with machine: Leveraging AI skills to accelerate productivity
- Ethical AI applications: Achieving corporate success amid the challenges of European regulation
- Beyond the code – AI skills for all: Preparing your workforce for the future
- Learning organisations: Enhancing employee capabilities through Generative AI
With her deep knowledge of emerging technologies and their extensive impacts, she serves on the Board of Directors of Weleda AG and is a member of the AI Advisory Board at Ringier AG, a leading Swiss media company. She also lectures at the University of St. Gallen, where she teaches courses such as “Social and Economic Impacts of Artificial Intelligence”.
In 2018, Léa Steinacker co-founded ada Learning and currently acts as its Executive Chairwoman. The organization aims to accelerate organizational transformation by identifying, developing, and connecting leaders who drive innovation internally. Since its founding, ada has engaged with thousands of employees from DAX companies, SMEs, governments, and civil society groups.
Previously, she was Chief Innovation Officer at WirtschaftsWoche, Germany’s top business magazine, where she also reported on the future of work and socio-technological changes. Before joining Handelsblatt Media Group, she worked with social justice NGOs in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
She has been recognized as a Forbes 30 Under 30 leader, one of Medium Magazine’s Top 30 Under 30 journalists, a BCG Thought Leader, and an Atlantik Brücke Young Leader. In 2011, she received the Henry Richardson Labouisse Prize for independent research.
Léa Steinacker holds degrees from Princeton University (A.B.), the Harvard Kennedy School of Government (MPP), and the University of St. Gallen (PhD).
