CEF2026 Trust the Machine? Why Ethics Must Lead When AI Enters Coaching

Christian Thiele is a leading voice on Positive Leadership, workplace wellbeing, and the future of human-centered leadership. He helps forward-thinking leaders build resilient, high-performing workplaces by translating proven psychological science into practical tools—because doing good and doing well are not mutually exclusive.

As AI transforms coaching and leadership development, Christian brings a critical perspective: technology must and can serve human flourishing, not replace it. His evidence-based, down-to-earth approach has earned the trust of organizations such as Allianz, Amazon, BMW, Johnson&Johnson, SAP, and Siemens.

Christian is the author of books including Positiv führen für Dummies, a LinkedIn Top Voice, and a board member of the German-speaking Association for Positive Psychology (DACH-PP). He teaches at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology and the German University of Health and Sports (DHGS) and has been interviewed by and featured in media such as the Financial Times, Spiegel, die Zeit etc. Terrible, but passionate climber, avid skier, devoted father, husband, brother, friend.