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Coffee With Developers • Jul 2, 2025

Inside Mercedes-Benz: How CIO Katrin Lehmann is Empowering 5,000 Developers and Driving Digital Change

Katrin Lehmann , Sead Ahmetovic

Mercedes-Benz CIO Katrin Lehmann argues that AI will not kill coding jobs, but instead skyrocket developer demand. Discover how she empowers 5,000 engineers to drive digital innovation.

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#1 about 6 min

Transitioning from economics to a tech career path

Learning programming through data migrations builds a technical foundation without a traditional computer science degree.

#2 about 2 min

Establishing the first chief data officer role at SAP

Building a dedicated data department highlights the imperative of top-down data-driven decision making.

#3 about 4 min

Moving from a pure software company to automotive

Transitioning to physical products showcases the real-world impact of software embedded in daily life.

#4 about 3 min

Utilizing personal networks for executive career opportunities

Bypassing traditional application processes through industry networking can lead directly to executive leadership interviews.

#5 about 3 min

Governing enterprise IT as a global automotive CIO

Managing global enterprise IT encompasses workplace support, production software, and cybersecurity across multiple subsidiaries.

#6 about 2 min

Rolling out GitHub Copilot to thousands of developers

Testing new tools with pilot groups ensures successful adoption and encourages peer-based learning among technical teams.

#7 about 3 min

Implementing agile frameworks alongside legacy milestone product planning

Balancing agile methodologies with strict hardware launch dates requires persistent cultural evolution within traditional product organizations.

#8 about 2 min

Removing developer friction through continuous feedback and tooling

Utilizing process mining and regular surveys streamlines internal workflows to maximize programming creativity.

#9 about 2 min

Leveraging generative AI and agents for executive productivity

Adopting large language models to prepare for meetings and retrieve institutional knowledge frees up time for critical tasks.

#10 about 6 min

Prioritizing continuous tech learning through executive reverse mentoring

Dedicating formal weekly time with innovation experts enables leaders to build hands-on skills with new automation tools.

#11 about 4 min

Driving software demand through increased developer productivity tools

Lowering software delivery costs via productivity assistants expands the market necessity for highly skilled technical talent.

#12 about 2 min

Advancing autonomous driving capabilities with specialized software talent

Experiencing high-speed autonomous systems on closed tracks underscores the critical safety role of embedded software engineering.

#13 about 4 min

Accelerating European technology ecosystems with increased strategic investment

Shifting from a conservative mindset to active regional venture funding prevents technical talent from migrating abroad.

#14 about 2 min

Encouraging underrepresented talent to pursue software engineering roles

Studying informatics and embracing advanced technical challenges empowers new professionals to disrupt static industry norms.

#15 about 3 min

Rapid fire perspectives on modern technology and habits

Quick reflections on daily preferences reveal an enthusiasm for the upcoming industry disruption caused by quantum computing.

Matching moments

3:16 min

Driving developer productivity with AI in automotive tech

Mike Butcher Mike Butcher +3 · World Congress 2024

2:59 min

Driving organizational change through clear engineering mandates

Brian Scanlan Brian Scanlan · World Congress 2026 Europe

2:23 min

Strategic goals for the Cariad automated driving division

Lukas Sucher Lukas Sucher +1 · World Congress 2024

1:34 min

Transitioning from traditional software development to artificial intelligence consulting

Patrick Schnell Patrick Schnell · Coffee With Developers

1:56 min

Scaling AI adoption to non-traditional enterprise developers

Neel Sundaresan Neel Sundaresan +1 · World Congress 2026 Europe

2:23 min

The transforming role of developers in the AI era

Mateusz Gren Mateusz Gren +1 · World Congress 2026 Europe

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September 25, 2026 · 16:10–16:40

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The Five Percent Club: The Culture and Technological Shift Behind Successful AI Deployments

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Building the AI Era Through Developer Communities: A Competitive Advantage for Engineers & Teams

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