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Kathrin’s AI odyssey: from childhood dreams to inspiring young minds

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Meet Kathrin Kind Trueller, Chief Data Scientist and AI Director for Cognizant’s global growth markets. With more than two decades of experience across industries and geographies, she’s a foremost thinker on AI and quantum computing. She’s seen machines evolve from simple systems to intelligent companions—and her career has evolved in tandem. Let’s hear from Kathrin about how technology has shaped her career journey.

A talking car and a childhood dream

My fascination with machines began when I was four. I’d see pictures of ship engines and ask my father, what’s that? He’d say it’s a machine. And since I didn’t know the word “engineer,” I told him that I wanted to create machines when I grow up.

Then came the sci-fi television series Knight Rider. It had a car with a system called Kitt. I fell in love with Kitt, an autonomous driving car that could talk.

That’s when I decided to pursue education in electronics, software engineering and machine learning. My education set me up for a highly fulfilling career in automation and AI. 

My global journey in automotive AI

I started my career building communication systems, networks and topology before venturing into automobiles. I worked with top German automakers and engineering companies, working primarily on safety systems, autonomous cars and quality for self-driving technologies. I’m from Germany, and my work allowed me to travel to different parts of the world, giving me exposure to new cultures. All of this helped me at Cognizant, where innovation spans across industries and geographies. 

Reinventing myself from delivery to sales

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Analyst and Advisor Day at Cognizant Switzerland

I joined Cognizant almost three years ago, leading AI and analytics delivery for the Nordics. My team built custom AI/ML applications for industries such as fish farming, aqua engineering, oil extraction and mining across Nordic countries.

After some time, I felt ready for a new challenge and landed an opportunity on the sales team. From my past experience, I knew how delivery worked, but working in sales allowed me to think differently, to make better offerings and have deeper conversations with clients.

“Working in sales taught me that innovation amounts to nothing unless it translates to value for our clients.”

Wearing multiple hats: Scientist, professor and speaker

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Speaking at the Cannes Lion Festival of Creativity

Cognizant gives me the flexibility to pursue my passion for teaching and mentoring creative minds. I teach AI and quantum computing at the Swiss School of Business and Management in Geneva and speak at global forums. This lets me bridge research and practice, and come back to Cognizant with a fresh perspective.

Beyond academia, I represent Cognizant on global stages—from the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council to UN-led initiatives, shaping conversations on data, ethics and the future of AI. 

Responsible AI and the human side of innovation

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A dialogue on responsible AI at WEF 2025

I believe that AI or any new technology should serve people, which means that the AI tools and systems we build should be fair, transparent and trustworthy. Bias in AI can have far-reaching consequences. It can shape our decisions in hiring, healthcare, finance and many more fields without us realizing. That’s why responsible use of AI must go beyond compliance. For me, it’s a design principle and not a checkbox. Because true innovation should balance speed with responsibility.

Advice for women in tech

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Sharing about my career in AI at VolksWagen

I often tell my students the difference between a career in AI and a career with AI. One is about creating the technology, algorithms, models and systems. The other is about reimagining every profession with smart tools that amplify creativity, decision-making and leadership. Both paths matter, and both need women’s voices at the table. We need diverse perspectives to make any innovation successful.

My advice to women in technology is simple:

  • Believe in yourself even when no one else does. I taught a couple of students who came from underprivileged backgrounds in India, but they worked hard to educate themselves and landed jobs at leading organizations. That’s the power of self-belief and determination.

  • Never stop learning. It’s the most powerful way to move your career forward. With so many educational tools at our fingertips, you can learn a skill any time; all it takes is the courage to start and the drive to keep going.

  • Build your tribe. Surround yourself with friends, mentors and colleagues who lift you up. Regardless of the career path you choose, the journey will never be simple. Relying on your tribe will help you overcome any challenge. 

My career began with a love for machines and over the past 25 years it’s been all about people, ideas and possibilities. At Cognizant, I’m proud to keep pushing the boundaries of technology for our clients and mentoring young minds around the world to make technology safe, accessible and inclusive.

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