TechFace – Changing the Face of Tech

Robots aren’t coming “someday", they’re already building the world around you. In this final episode of our Tech Inspired Physical AI & Robotics series, Andie Zhang joins Priska Burkard for a grounded, eye-opening conversation on the real future of robotics - beyond the viral humanoid headlines. From collaborative robots assembling your everyday products to AI-powered automation transforming factories, labs, and logistics, Andie takes us inside the world where physical AI is already driving impact at scale.  And spoiler - the future of robotics isn’t just about machines, it’s about people.    In this episode, we unpack:  - What physical AI actually means beyond the buzzwords  - Why industrial robots are evolving faster than most people realise  - The hidden challenges behind “smart” robots - from precision to trust  - How AI is changing manufacturing, automation, and the future of work  - Why diversity and human-centred design are critical to building better technology    And perhaps most importantly:  👉 Automation is not only about replacing tasks.  👉 It’s about empowering humans to focus on more meaningful work.  👉 And building technology that works with people - not against them.    Andie also shares her own unconventional path into robotics - from engineering to business, product strategy, and global innovation leadership - proving there’s no single way into tech. Whether you're curious about robotics, exploring a future in AI, or wondering how physical AI will reshape industries over the next decade, this episode gives you a sharp, realistic, and surprisingly human perspective on what’s next. 🎧 Tune in for a conversation that cuts through the hype and gets real about the opportunities, challenges, and responsibilities of building the future:https://lnkd.in/eBnjbjAy 🔗 Connect with Andie Zhang and follow her work.    🤖 This episode closes our focus series on Physical AI & Robotics.  Over the past weeks, we’ve spoken with leading experts, founders, researchers, and innovators shaping the future of intelligent machines - bringing you the hottest takes, practical insights, and real-world perspectives on what comes next. Did you catch the previous episodes? 

AI does not end the talent conversation. It intensifies it. Right now, every team is being pushed to move faster. New tools appear every week. Everyone talks about productivity, automation, and efficiency. But beneath all of that, a harder question is sitting there: who is going to build, connect, challenge, and carry the work when the AI glow fades? Because the real issue is not only whether companies adopt AI. It is whether they have the people who can turn it into something useful, reliable, and lasting. CTOs feel this in delivery pressure and technical depth. CHROs feel it in workforce planning and retention. Product leaders feel it in speed, quality, and trust. The companies that will stand strong after the AI rush are not simply the ones that move first. They are the ones who keep investing in the talent that can make change real. That is the conversation we want to bring to this year’s #wetechtogether conference, the biggest conference for diversity & inclusion in tech and AI in Switzerland. If you are thinking about the talent gaps your company is starting to feel, let’s talk. Priska Burkard

🤔 Did you nominate your Hidden Figure yet? The Hidden Figures Awards 2026 are open - and we're looking for the women+ in STEM who innovate, lead, and uplift without ever seeking the spotlight. Nominate them! They deserve to be seen. 👇 🔗 https://lnkd.in/e6xPPe32 🏆 Categories: 🚀 Startup / Innovation 🌍 Non-Profit Organisation 💪 Empowered Woman 🤝 Diversity Ally - open to everyone, voted by the public 📅 Nominations close 10 August. Don't let their story go untold. More info about the Awards: https://lnkd.in/ev8wNJCC

🚀 #wetechtogether 2026 is officially ON. Switzerland's leading conference for diversity and inclusion in tech is back - and this year, we're tackling the conversation that matters most: retention. Because building an inclusive industry isn't just about who walks in the door - it's about making sure they stay, grow, and lead. 🎟️ Early Bird tickets are now on sale - and seats are limited. Grab yours now for the best price + first access to the agenda and workshop bookings. 👉 https://lnkd.in/emDjaMHA

🎉 We're happy to welcome back Fossil Group, Inc. as a Prize Sponsor of the Hidden Figures Awards 2026 - our celebration of the extraordinary women and allies in STEM. Fossil Group has been with us since day one in 2020, gifting our incredible finalists and winners with beautifully crafted timepieces to mark their achievements. It's a meaningful gesture that reflects their belief that every trailblazer deserves to be recognised - and remembered. This support is no coincidence. At the heart of Fossil Group's mission is a belief that together, we are capable of even greater innovation, collaboration, creativity, and growth - and a commitment to creating an environment where everyone is welcome and given the tools to learn, lead, and succeed. That's exactly the spirit the Hidden Figures Awards were built on. Thank you, Fossil Group, for seven years of celebrating our Hidden Figures alongside us. 💙 Katja France H. Priska Burkard

#wetechtogether 2026 Early Bird tickets are LIVE! 🎉 📅 Mark your calendars - 25–26 September at TECHNOPARK® Zürich. Switzerland's leading conference for women in tech returns for its 8th edition - bringing together forward-thinking companies, diverse female-led communities, and passionate allies for two days of learning, empowerment, and celebration. Here's what's waiting for you: 🏆 Hidden Figures Awards - celebrating the unsung heroines of tech 🎤 Keynote speakers sharing inspiring, real-world stories 🧐 Knowledge sessions on emerging trends and cutting-edge tech 🔧 Hands-on workshops led by industry experts 🤝 Networking with like-minded professionals and allies 💸 Early Bird pricing starts from just 39 CHF - a limited-time offer! 🎓 Student rates available with valid enrolment 👫 Bring an ally and get 50% off your second ticket Seats are limited - grab your Early Bird ticket now for the best price and first access to the agenda and workshop bookings. 👉 https://lnkd.in/emDjaMHA Learn more about #wetechtogether: https://lnkd.in/g3PZ3U6 See you in September!

𝐃𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐢𝐝𝐝𝐞𝐧 𝐟𝐢𝐠𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐦 𝐢𝐬? There is one person in almost every team who quietly keeps things moving. They solve problems before others notice them. They hold the context. They lift the people around them. They rarely ask for the spotlight, and that is exactly why they are so easy to overlook. And here is the uncomfortable truth: the moment they feel invisible, you start losing them. 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐀𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 Take 5 minutes this morning and ask yourself: who in my team deserves more recognition than they are getting right now? Then do two things. 1️⃣ Tell them. Directly. Make it specific, not "great job" but "here is what I see you doing and why it matters." 2️⃣ Nominate them for the Hidden Figures Award 2026, the first award in Switzerland that puts the spotlight on women in STEM whose contribution and dedication shape teams, products, and futures, often without anyone saying it out loud. Nominations are open now until 10 August. The award celebrates extraordinary women in STEM whose work shapes teams, products, and futures, often without anyone saying it out loud. The award ceremony takes place on 25 September. If someone already came to mind reading this, you already know what to do. 👉🏼 Nominate your hidden figure here: https://lnkd.in/eqswW4My Because appreciation is not a nice extra. It is how you keep your best talents growing, and staying.

🎉 They've been making moves behind the scenes - it's time to bring them into the spotlight. The Hidden Figures Awards 2026 nominations are officially open. Over the past 7 years we've celebrated the women and allies who are quietly shaping the future of tech - and this year we want to recognise even more of them. Know someone who deserves a moment in the spotlight? Nominate them across one of our 4 categories: 🔹 Non-Profit Organisation 🔹 Innovation / Start-up 🔹 Empowered Woman 🔹 Diversity Ally 👉 Submit your nomination at: https://lnkd.in/e4MVmw_8

Tomorrow, nominations open for the Hidden Figures Awards 2026. ✨ We do this because too many women in STEM change the game without the world ever noticing. Like the Black women behind NASA's moon landing whose contributions were hidden for decades - brilliant, world-shaping work that almost went unseen. Think about the women around you - the colleague who led a groundbreaking project and never asked for credit, the founder solving a problem nobody else dared to touch, the volunteer using tech to lift up her community. They are not in the spotlight - but they should be. That's exactly who this award is for. Starting tomorrow, you can nominate in four categories: 🦸♀️ Empowered Woman 💡 Start-up / Innovation 🌱 Non-Profit Organisation 🤝 Diversity Ally - open to everyone, not just women A few things worth knowing before you nominate: anyone can put someone forward - including the nominee herself. Nominees must be first-time awardees, and the contribution must connect to STEM. The nomination form drops tomorrow! Follow this page so you don't miss it - and start thinking about who deserves their moment. 👀

👋 A new connection - welcome SBB CFF FFS to #wetechtogether 2026! We are so excited to announce a brand new partnership - and this one feels very close to home. 🇨🇭 SBB is joining us this year as a Workshop Sponsor for the very first time - and we couldn't think of a more fitting addition to our #wetechtogether community. With 35,569 employees and countless journeys made every single day, SBB is the backbone of Switzerland's public transport system - connecting people, goods and places across cities, cantons and rural regions alike. Reliably, safely and on time. Beyond the infrastructure, SBB's mission is fundamentally human. It's about making sure that everyone - regardless of where they live, who they are, or where they're going - has a connection and can reach their destination. That no community is left behind and that the system works for all of Switzerland. 💡Sound familiar? At #wetechtogether, that's exactly what we fight for every day - a tech industry built by everyone, for everyone, where innovation includes the people. This year, SBB steps into our workshop spaces, ready to spark real conversations at the intersection of technology and inclusion. New sponsor, shared mission and a whole lot of potential ahead. Welcome aboard, SBB, we are so glad you're here! ✨ Priska Burkard Nicole Pongracz-Schüpbach Jana Suvajac