René Bohnsack
René Bohnsack, PhD, is a globally recognized expert in AI strategy and innovation leadership, ranked among the top 2% of scientists worldwide. His research and advisory work focus on how organizations move from emerging technologies to sustained business value.
As Full Professor of Strategy and Innovation and Academic Director of The Lisbon MBA, he bridges academic rigor with hands-on entrepreneurial experience. He has founded ventures, advised executive teams, spoken at global forums including TEDx, and trained thousands of leaders worldwide.
Z100 is the practical expression of this work, a playbook and operating system grounded in research and real-world application, designed to help leaders build lasting AI advantage, not just awareness.
Years of Experience
Companies Founded
Speaking Engagements
Global Scientist
Academic Depth, Real-World Exposure
René is Professor of Strategy and Innovation at Católica Lisbon School of Business & Economics, where his research focuses on AI, digital innovation, and sustainable business models.
His academic work is internationally recognized. He is ranked among the Top 2% of most impactful scientists worldwide (Stanford University ranking), and regularly collaborates with leading universities and research institutions.
At the same time, René has spent years working inside organizations, not just studying them.
Entrepreneurial and Advisory Experience
Beyond academia, René has founded several ventures, with successful exits, and has advised organizations across sectors including:
- Financial services and banking
- Telecom and infrastructure
- Energy and industrials
- Technology and digital platforms
- Public sector and government institutions
His advisory work spans Europe, the Middle East, and beyond, often in complex, regulated environments where AI adoption requires more than experimentation.
This exposure shapes a pragmatic view of AI:
- What scales
- What breaks
- And what actually creates advantage
Working with Leaders at Scale
Over the years, René has worked with Fortune 500 companies, scale-ups, and public institutions, supporting executive teams as they:
- 1Define AI priorities at a strategic level
- 2Move from pilots to enterprise-wide initiatives
- 3Build internal capabilities and governance
He has delivered 100+ executive keynotes, workshops, and leadership programs, including TEDx talks and closed-door board sessions.
Why Zero to 100
After years of observing AI initiatives fail to scale — despite strong technology and talent — René distilled his experience into a structured approach.
Zero to 100 reflects patterns seen repeatedly across organizations:
The methodology exists to help leaders avoid fragmented efforts and build AI advantage deliberately.
AI Advantage
- •New Business Opportunities
- •Revenue Enhancement
- •Cost Efficiency
Build foundational AI literacy and capabilities across your team.
Move from pilots to production with structured transformation.
Define your competitive positioning and strategic direction.
Establish oversight, compliance, and measurement frameworks.
AI Advantage
Goal achieved- New Business Opportunities
- Revenue Enhancement
- Cost Efficiency
The Book
René's upcoming book expands on the Zero to 100 methodology, combining:
- Academic insight
- Executive experience
- Real-world cases
It is written for leaders responsible for decisions, not for experimenting with AI, but for making it work at scale.
Today
Today, René continues to work globally with executive teams through advisory roles, leadership programs, and research collaborations.
His work is guided by a simple conviction:
AI advantage is not discovered.
It is built.
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