Personal notes from Reiner Gärtner in Newcastle, Australia

My journey into the depths of AI: From data to evaluation

rg@reinergaertner.de (Reiner Gärtner) — Fri, 02 May 2025 00:00:00 +0000

In my previous article, I discussed the irreplaceable value of human experts and the challenge we face as many knowledge bearers retire. I proposed that rather than simply replacing human expertise with AI, we should seek optimal ways to combine the strengths of both. Here, I’ll share my technical journey into understanding AI systems from the inside out.

I developed a roadmap for myself. When we look at the major elements in artificial intelligence, there are various questions:

The irreplaceable value of human experts

rg@reinergaertner.de (Reiner Gärtner) — Thu, 01 May 2025 00:00:00 +0000

I love people who know something; not just anything, but really quite a lot about a topic that might seem rather boring at first glance. But the deeper it goes, the more interesting it becomes for me. In conversation, new insights unfold, connections to other topics emerge.

To me, experts aren’t grey, bloodless people with an isolated talent - most of them are enthusiastic, have a fine sense of humour and are curious. But only when they feel appreciated and respected. And since they probably can’t talk much about their favourite topic with friends and family in everyday life, because nobody really listens or engages, experts are happy when someone listens to them and asks deeper questions. I love exactly this role. And yes, I am a sucker for nerds!

AI-based smart glasses: Co-pilot or work drone?

rg@reinergaertner.de (Reiner Gärtner) — Thu, 17 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000

I recently listened to an interesting podcast interview with an expert from the Fraunhofer Institute, a German excellence research institute much like our CSIRO here in Australia. He spoke about the application of AI and particularly smart glasses in industrial settings. His explanations were quite interesting, especially the possibility of using these glasses in many production areas to support workers who might not be skilled tradespeople.

The approach is interesting: experts are interviewed to gather and prepare information (a role I’d love to be in). This knowledge then flows into a model that captures the context of the work using smart glasses. This allows users to ask questions or receive instructions about what to do, what was done incorrectly, and how to fix it.

When the boss discovers ChatGPT, everyone else burns out

rg@reinergaertner.de (Reiner Gärtner) — Sat, 12 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Until now, the CEO has often been the most important decision-maker in a company. In the past, these were predominantly older men with secretaries and limited technical knowledge.

But today’s CEOs, who are younger yet somehow look older than they are, can’t resist AI. It’s the trend they feel compelled to ride, like a surfer catching the perfect wave at Bondi. This transformation raises important questions about what sort of tools businesses will truly need in this new landscape.

Despite AI: James, Sarah and David are staying. Only Liam needs to worry

rg@reinergaertner.de (Reiner Gärtner) — Sun, 06 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000

James is the boss. He’s worked his way up over the years and has been the decision-maker for six years. For a big project, he needs information by tomorrow. He calls Sarah, with whom he has been working very trustfully for a while and can rely on her to deliver the desired information accurately, correctly, and comprehensibly. As usual, James has no time. He only throws a few keywords at Sarah—like ordering a flat white with one sugar. But because Sarah has worked so well with him, she knows pretty much exactly what he wants and how he needs it. This human expertise, even in a world increasingly dominated by AI, remains irreplaceably valuable.

From vision to code: Building an AI toolkit

rg@reinergaertner.de (Reiner Gärtner) — Mon, 20 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000

People often ask me, “Hey, Reiner, what exactly are you doing with AI?” It’s a tricky question to answer directly, because I don’t start with solutions—I start with listening. When someone tells me about a tedious task they’re facing or a process they wish worked better, that’s when the ideas start flowing. I get this hunch about how we might solve it, and that’s where the journey begins.

In my previous article “My AI Journey (So Far): Real Projects, Real Impact”, I shared my thoughts on AI as a tool for empowerment rather than replacement. Today, I want to show you what that journey looks like in practice—the actual tools and scripts I’ve been building along the way.

Reverse content creation: Using AI conversations to unlock better writing

rg@reinergaertner.de (Reiner Gärtner) — Sun, 12 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Remember the hype around Google Notebook LLM? When it was released a while ago, the AI community’s reaction was unanimous: Podcasts, and so, wow! I immediately created a podcast based on an article for my employer at the time. It was fascinating because you could have AI models discuss a text. Two AI “talking heads,” typical podcast hosts, would exchange thoughts about the article’s content. And it was amazing! It was more than just text reproduction.

My AI journey (so far): Real projects, real impact

rg@reinergaertner.de (Reiner Gärtner) — Sat, 11 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000

It’s been a busy couple of years exploring the exciting possibilities at the intersection of AI and content. You might think I’ve just been creating and managing content all this time, but behind the scenes, I’ve been immersed in something much bigger - finding ways to empower people and technology to work better together, both at work and in my own time.

The bottom line? After all my experiments and real-world projects, I’m more convinced than ever: AI isn’t here to replace us - it’s a powerful tool to enhance what we’re already good at. My hands-on experience has shown me countless ways to use these technologies to amplify human expertise, not eliminate it. And this is exactly why I’m now moving deeper into Responsible AI - because making these tools work for people, not against them, isn’t just a technical challenge, it’s our responsibility.

Which AI model to use? (here's a list and recommendations)

rg@reinergaertner.de (Reiner Gärtner) — Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Last updated: 1.1.2025

Are you still using the web version of ChatGPT? You’re missing out on a lot! In the realm of AI usage and application, the focus has shifted from simply asking “Will it do what I want?” to “Which model can I use to achieve results with consistent quality at the best price?” This is because costs are now determined by token usage rather than a flat rate.

Test

rg@reinergaertner.de (Reiner Gärtner) — Sun, 14 Jul 2024 13:23:23 +1000

Book note: 'The Noise: A Battle Cry Against the Sounds of Our Lives' by Theodor Lessing

rg@reinergaertner.de (Reiner Gärtner) — Sun, 29 Oct 2023 00:00:00 +0000

I absolutely love rummaging through the Project Gutenberg Library, unearthing literary gems from bygone eras. Recently, I stumbled upon a fascinating historical document from 1908, penned by the writer and philosopher Theodor Lessing: “The Noise – A Battle Cry Against the Sounds of Our Lives”. Unfortunately, the book is only available in German language.

The term “Battle Cry” might sound a bit warlike at first. But who could have guessed back then, just six years before World War I, the weight this term would carry later on? Today, we’d probably describe Lessing’s work as an expression of bourgeois discontent. And that’s exactly how it comes across. This becomes clear right from the first sentence: “Monstrous unrest, horrific loudness weighs down all earthly life.”

Embracing Differences: Learning from Those You Disagree With

rg@reinergaertner.de (Reiner Gärtner) — Fri, 27 Oct 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Learn how to learn from those you disagree or even offend you. See if you can find the truth in what they believe.

This gem is from the brilliant book “Excellent Advice for Living” by Kevin Kelly. I’ll delve deeper into the book later, but for now, I’m drawing inspiration from its many wise snippets to fuel my thoughts and writings. Plus, inspired by my piece “Being Human (01): Discovering Handwriting”, I’m jotting down most of my notes longhand. I use Goodnotes on my iPad, convert my handwritten notes to text, and publish them as they are (well, I do weed out the utter nonsense). You can find the first handwritten paragraph right here.

Being human (01) - Rediscovering Handwriting

rg@reinergaertner.de (Reiner Gärtner) — Wed, 25 Oct 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Recently, while rummaging through boxes under our house, I stumbled upon a folder of old documents. To my surprise, I found several boxes filled with black Moleskine notebooks of various sizes. These notebooks, spanning from 1997 to 2015, were like a handwritten snapshot of my past.

Back in the day, I’d spend hours in cafes, people-watching and jotting down anything that caught my fancy. I’d dig deep into my soul, trying to understand my desires, my lacks, and my aspirations – probably overthinking it most of the time. These notebooks were filled with meeting notes, endless lists of tasks, and financial musings.

The Presentation Mix-Up

rg@reinergaertner.de (Reiner Gärtner) — Sun, 27 Aug 2023 00:00:00 +0000

I got a call the other day. My phone displayed “No Caller ID”, which was a bit odd. Usually, these anonymous numbers are either robotic voices claiming I owe money or bored telemarketers trying to sell me something.

On the other end was a woman whose name I couldn’t quite catch. She spoke rapidly, and the background noise was deafening. It sounded like she was in the middle of a McDonald’s kitchen with all the frying and beeping. I was about to hang up but decided to give her a chance.

ChatGPT Communication Strategies

rg@reinergaertner.de (Reiner Gärtner) — Tue, 28 Mar 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Until yesterday, I thought that using ChatGPT was just about giving commands and waiting for a result from a black box. But today, I learned that ChatGPT has its own communication strategies to understand and execute our commands. You can define general and specific rules in these strategies and even train ChatGPT for special use cases.

Firstly, you might want to know if there’s already a communication strategy stored in your API or not:

Leveraging AI to Create Meaningful Content: Experience, Curiosity and Creativity Are Key

rg@reinergaertner.de (Reiner Gärtner) — Wed, 22 Mar 2023 00:00:00 +0000

As I delve further into the subject of Artificial Intelligence and apply it myself, it becomes increasingly clear that AI will not replace everything, but will rather drastically change the requirements for many professions.

In my case of content creation, many clients will expect that, with the help of AI, content creation will be much faster and therefore cheaper. However, I do not believe it will be faster, unless you only want to quickly produce a generic sauce. But we will achieve much better results with a similar amount of time.

Challenging 'I have X, so I can't do Y': The Power of 'I Can'

rg@reinergaertner.de (Reiner Gärtner) — Mon, 20 Mar 2023 00:00:00 +0000

I have X, so I can’t do Y.

I identify with X, so Y is out of the question.

I have X and therefore I feel pressured by Y.

Nowadays, we identify with many attributes. This is good, as it marks the diversity of life and an increased inner awareness.

At times, it seems that we take shelter behind our numerous identifications as X. This diminishes our self-confidence, leading us to rely on convenient, socially acceptable excuses. Consequently, we become more sensitive and vulnerable than intended. The purpose of embracing our identities should be to liberate and expand our horizons, paving the way for personal growth.

A Brief Evening with Garry Disher, an Australian Crime Writer

rg@reinergaertner.de (Reiner Gärtner) — Thu, 09 Mar 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Recently, I attended a book presentation here in Newcastle featuring an Australian crime writer whose books I’ve been devouring for some time: Garry Disher. A few days before the event, I chatted with a mate in Germany. We talked about plans for the coming days, and I mentioned that I would be seeing an author probably unknown in Germany. It turned out that Disher is quite well-known in Germany, and my friend was currently reading one of his books. It was in a surprise book box from his local bookseller (great idea!).

Fearless Aging: Finding Tranquility in Animal Dignity

rg@reinergaertner.de (Reiner Gärtner) — Sun, 19 Feb 2023 00:00:00 +0000

At the beginning of our lives, we are dominated by the childlike expectation that everything will go well in life. We don’t even consider the possibility that it could be otherwise.

However, at some point, things no longer go smoothly. Things change.

Something happens. Something crashes. Something goes awry. We become afraid.

And I don’t mean fear of a vicious dog, a house fire, or a burglar, but rather the fear of the unknown. There’s something big, clumsy, and incomprehensible. Something dark.

The Optimal White Paper for Your Customers

rg@reinergaertner.de (Reiner Gärtner) — Sun, 19 Feb 2023 00:00:00 +0000

When it comes to communicating complex ideas, hastily thrown together information just won’t cut it. That’s where the trusty “white paper” comes in. But what if I told you there’s a better way to create white papers? By using an agile approach and AI-assisted tools, we can quickly and deeply understand complex topics, allowing us to create top-notch white papers that provide nourishing substance for your audience.

The white paper is the original form of long-form content. Once resembling thick phone books (hence the name), dominated by dense blocks of text with dreadful passive constructions, white papers have become more modern and accessible in recent years. Offering a good white paper that presents content in an appealing manner, at the appropriate level of depth for the target audience and in a clear and understandable language, sets you apart from competitors and facilitates the decisions of potential customers.

How Content Creation Is Changing With the Use of Artificial Intelligence

rg@reinergaertner.de (Reiner Gärtner) — Sun, 22 Jan 2023 00:00:00 +0000

How will content creation be changed with the help of many AI tools such as ChatGPT and Co.? I believe it will have huge consequences - not tomorrow, but now. It is now important to combine the strengths of AI with the strengths and experiences of humans - not only to save time and costs (which is of course important), but to produce something that is ultimately better, more meaningful, more helpful and more effective. Here is an initial interim report of my thoughts on this.

Is the Role of a Scrum Master as Process Enforcer a Contradiction to the Agile Manifesto?

rg@reinergaertner.de (Reiner Gärtner) — Wed, 14 Dec 2022 00:00:00 +0000

This question refers to the Agile Manifesto, in which people are put before processes. So, if the Scrum Master’s role is to enforce processes, isn’t that a contradiction to the values in the Agile Manifesto? Let us detangle this: “People over processes and tools” does not necessarily mean that processes and tools are unimportant. People are just more important than processes and tools. But without the processes, all that people power will evaporate quickly. In my view, a Scrum Master is always about people and processes.

My Lessons on the Way to the Next Scrum-Mastership

rg@reinergaertner.de (Reiner Gärtner) — Tue, 01 Feb 2022 00:00:00 +0000

In the last months I had the privilege to accompany a local startup as Scrum Master. The CEO wanted to make his small company more agile.

But what does “agile” even mean? In a first video call I led him from the old, rigid world, where plans are worked on stoically and deadlines are met, only to end up late, over budget and with a product that does not meet customer needs, to an agile world, where something is created that stakeholders really need and that has value. This of course had big consequences for collaboration and also for the prioritization of work.

Yes, Yes, Yes — from doer to spectator

rg@reinergaertner.de (Reiner Gärtner) — Sun, 12 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Yes, Yes, Yes, keep going. All I do now is tap Yes. The plan? Skimmed it. The output? Glanced at it. Because it has to keep moving. Yes, next. This is the AI stampede I’m caught up in - and I’m supposed to keep up. But why, exactly?

It started harmlessly enough. The AI eats the tedious routine work first. Before long you’re handing over more and more complex tasks, running them in parallel. The agents take over, but you still have to sit there, following along, making sense of every step — if you can be bothered, or even understand what just happened in the time you’ve got.

When the API goes down, everyone's out of a job

rg@reinergaertner.de (Reiner Gärtner) — Wed, 18 Mar 2026 07:50:23 +0000

How hooked are we already on Claude Code and other coding agents? Here in Australia we’ve got a real advantage — there are hours when the US and Europe are asleep. It’s only a few hours, but you notice straight away when there’s more room to breathe on the internet. Claude Code just clips along during those windows. The model feels sharper. Less under the pump.

But with the runaway success of Claude Code comes the overloads and the API errors. Everything grinds to a halt. Pull back the curtain and it’s pure dependency underneath — in a coding world where even solid developers can barely keep up with what Claude Code has knocked together in the blink of an eye.

100% Human - Written by a human, not AI

rg@reinergaertner.de (Reiner Gärtner) — Wed, 14 May 2025 00:00:00 +0000

After spending years exploring AI capabilities, I want to be crystal clear about something important: Everything you read on this site was written by me, a human being with real experiences, not by AI.

While I use AI as a powerful tool in my work (and write extensively about it), there’s a fundamental difference between using technology as a tool and letting it generate content on your behalf.

My cross-language journey

German is my native language, and much of what you read here started as German thoughts on my German website that I’ve translated into English. This translation process occasionally involves digital assistance, but the ideas, experiences, insights, and perspectives are authentically mine.

Test Page for H1 Headings

rg@reinergaertner.de (Reiner Gärtner) — Tue, 15 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000

This is a test H1 heading that should become H2

This is some text to test if the H1 heading above will be rendered as an H2 tag in the HTML.

This is an H2 heading that should stay as H2

Some more content to test the heading structure.

Another H1 heading that should be converted

And some final text to verify the conversion is working properly.

Google's AI Summaries: What It Means for Website Owners and SEO

rg@reinergaertner.de (Reiner Gärtner) — Fri, 11 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000

I recently had Gemini Deep Research generate a report on how Google Search is reshaping the SEO world. It’s happening through those smart, auto-generated summaries sitting right at the top of the page. The upshot? Many users never bother clicking through to the actual websites anymore.

The impact on website owners

First off, it matters whether your site even gets mentioned in these summaries — and which bits of your content Google decides to surface. But the bigger problem is simpler: people stop visiting. Traffic drops. It’s already happening, and you can feel it.

Goodbye Photo Chaos: How AI Can Sort Your Image Library

rg@reinergaertner.de (Reiner Gärtner) — Wed, 15 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000

When people talk about AI, they have different things in mind. Some think it generates text out of thin air. Others imagine it sifting insights from mountains of data. Then there’s the intelligent robots crowd, and the automation lot. But hardly anyone really knows what automation means in practice — or how to actually do it.

When I hear “automation,” my brain conjures up invisible digital hands that can grab things, move them around, maybe even look at them, and place them somewhere else. Perhaps even reshape them into something new. It’s all very abstract, and I reckon that’s exactly why everyone talks about automating things but nobody actually does it.

AI — My Last Peep

rg@reinergaertner.de (Reiner Gärtner) — Sat, 08 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0000

This is the last time I write about artificial intelligence. Promise. If you look at my recent posts, you’ll notice I seem to have forgotten every other topic. It’s alarming. Even my family and anyone who mentions the subject in passing has to endure my endless monologues about the many changes AI will bring. It’s dreadful — I can barely stand listening to myself.

The excitement and the challenges

I’m increasingly noticing that I’ve turned into a wound-up robot, wide-eyed, going on about all the exciting new possibilities and the enormous challenges. One thing’s clear: I haven’t been this stirred up in a long time about the implications of AI. Maybe because it’s hitting me head-on, with full force.

Choose Your AI Intern Wisely

rg@reinergaertner.de (Reiner Gärtner) — Fri, 26 May 2023 00:00:00 +0000

I keep hearing that AI will wipe out loads of jobs. Maybe. But it could also go differently. Perhaps the tasks just shift and new roles emerge. Take the graphic designer who creates logos for clients. Will they be out of work because AI logo tools are just as good — or even better? Depends. Without a precise brief, the result won’t be what the client wants. If all the client cares about is pretty pictures — and those clients exist — the designer should already be looking for new clients who actually value the craft.

AI Can't Touch You

rg@reinergaertner.de (Reiner Gärtner) — Tue, 02 May 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Artificial intelligence may possess many abilities, but it can’t be kind to other people. Smiling at someone, giving them a reassuring touch, making them feel seen — above all, making them feel that they’re only human and that it’s perfectly fine to feel the way they feel. That’s something AI simply cannot do.

When a machine cheers me on, it’s a different feeling than when a person I care about does it. When you encourage someone or simply show up for them, listen — that does them more good than any amount of time spent in front of a screen, no matter how intelligent the device on the other side might be.

AI and Middle Management: Future or Threat?

rg@reinergaertner.de (Reiner Gärtner) — Mon, 01 May 2023 00:00:00 +0000

You know the type. Those managers somewhere in the middle of the org chart who get paid to sit in meetings all day, either nodding in agreement or offering criticism while remaining untouchable and unapproachable. They’re all terribly stressed because they’re constantly rushing from one meeting to the next.

The human touch as a strength

In between, there’s barely time to read or learn anything, because they’re constantly dealing with their teams. So what happens to them as artificial intelligence becomes more prevalent?

AI and the Future of Work

rg@reinergaertner.de (Reiner Gärtner) — Thu, 20 Apr 2023 00:00:00 +0000

If artificial intelligence relieves us of so much and takes over the tedious work, people can focus on the harder tasks that require human skills. That’s the usual argument in favour of AI.

It assumes people don’t want to do boring work and are looking for challenges instead. That might be true for the overachievers in your LinkedIn feed, but plenty of people work to make ends meet. They accept boring work so they can go out on the weekend, do something fun, and take a holiday once or twice a year.

Artificial Intelligence Scares Me

rg@reinergaertner.de (Reiner Gärtner) — Sun, 16 Apr 2023 00:00:00 +0000

For all the enthusiasm and sense of new beginnings, I have to say it: artificial intelligence scares me. Not because I’m old school and demonise everything that smells like change. Quite the opposite — I’ve been right up close to every major tech shift for the past 30 years.

I’ve written about technological change, celebrated it, commented on it, and watched it critically. But most of the time I believed you can’t stop change anyway. And it’s no different with AI. But that’s exactly what frightens me — because it threatens so powerfully and so quickly across so many levels everything that should matter to us as humans.

How AI Is Changing Working Life

rg@reinergaertner.de (Reiner Gärtner) — Wed, 22 Mar 2023 00:00:00 +0000

The more I engage with artificial intelligence and apply it myself, the clearer it becomes: AI won’t replace everything. What it will do is radically change the requirements for many professions.

In my case — content creation — many clients will expect that AI makes the work much faster and therefore cheaper. I don’t think it’ll be faster, though. Not unless you’re happy with a quick generic slop. What we will get is significantly better results in a similar timeframe.

On AI, One Last Time (Kayak Edition)

rg@reinergaertner.de (Reiner Gärtner) — Sun, 05 Feb 2023 00:00:00 +0000

I Will Not Interrupt You

rg@reinergaertner.de (Reiner Gärtner) — Tue, 01 Nov 2022 00:00:00 +0000

What would it feel like if you were able to keep talking? If you spelled out all the thoughts you’re thinking over and over in your head and then get new, exciting thoughts to think about? Just like that, because someone is sitting next to or in front of you and is listening to you, but won’t say anything and won’t interrupt you.

How would it feel if you could finish your own thoughts without being interrupted? And if you were then given no advice, tips, compassionate ramblings, or other comments, but were simply asked at the highest level a quick question, “What else are you thinking or feeling right now?” with no agenda of your own.

How Mature is Your Agile Team?

rg@reinergaertner.de (Reiner Gärtner) — Sat, 15 Oct 2022 00:00:00 +0000

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about maturity in agile teams. And I also revisited an earlier note “Communicate like adults". When I ask people how mature their agile team is, they usually refer to the team’s technical competence or understanding of agile methodologies. It’s good to have people on board who know how to scrum hard and who have figured out that it’s all about building better products people actually need.

Professional Profile

rg@reinergaertner.de (Reiner Gärtner) — Tue, 01 Mar 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Professional Profile

As a seasoned professional with over 30 years of experience, I have developed a strong foundation in communication, consulting, coaching, media production, and project management. My recent certifications in Professional Scrum Master (PSM) and Professional Scrum Product Owner (PSPO) are a testament to my commitment to adapt and drive change across a diverse range of industries and projects.

Core Skills

Business: Proficient in media consulting, social media coaching, user stories, customer journeys
Communication: Storytelling, writing across formats and channels, editing, and translation, AI prompting
Organization: Skilled in Scrum, project management, productivity optimization
Analytical: Adept at research, systemic thinking, rapid learning, testing, and quality assurance.
User experience: Experienced in design thinking, sketching, UX, and SEO.
Technical: Knowledgeable in web technologies, CMS, Trello, JIRA, and audio/video production.

Career Summary

Consultant, Coach, PMO, Author (08/2019 - present) - Jewells, NSW

Consulting and editorial services to German clients, focusing on content strategy and copywriting
Developed a B2B Social Media ambassador coaching program for insurance cyber-crime experts.
Created a multi-channel cyber insurance campaign/community, including strategy and coordination.
Published a book on “LinkedIn articles for topical experts.”
Acted as a Professional Scrum Master for startup companies

Developed and led group coaching/training sessions in B2B, targeting advanced to expert levels.
Worked with CEOs, CFOs, and top management in personal/corporate positioning.
Led a Social Media Ambassador program with top executives and subject-matter experts.
Ghostwrote LinkedIn articles on various topics, including technology, insurance, finance, emerging technologies, and political lobbying (Non-GMO in the EU)

Media Consultant, Copywriter, Producer, Project Manager (08/2008 - 09/2019) - Wangen, Germany

Facilitated purpose and value proposition design thinking sessions, including documentation.
Managed and edited several corporate responsibility reporting initiatives of a large financial B2B company.
Served as development editor and project manager in multiple corporate website relaunches.
Created content and social media strategies for various campaigns and projects in all media, channels and formats.
Established all social media channels for a German DAX30 company, including concept, coaching, and posting.

Presentation Storytelling (10/2016 - 12/2018) - Wir-Präsentieren, Wangen im Allgäu, Germany

Collaborated with an art director/PowerPoint expert to create targeted presentations with compelling storytelling elements that captivated audiences and encouraged a “call to action.”

Journalist, Copywriter, CMS Specialist (08/2007 - 08/2008) - Canberra, Australia

Researched and reported on “solar thermal cooling” technology for German outlets and maintained a “SolarAirCon” wiki.

Journalist and Copywriter (08/2003 - 08/2007) - Munich, Germany

Contributed articles, managed website relaunches, and provided copywriting services for a large B2B financial sector company while continuing to write columns and articles as a journalist (technology, business and energy sector).

North America Correspondent (02/2002 - 08/2003) - Vancouver, Canada

Expanded journalistic portfolio to include fuel cell technology in automotive and marine industries
Reported on technology and green tech developments for German, US, and Canadian publications, including Redherring Magazine and Adbusters.

US Foreign Correspondent (05/2001 - 02/2002) - Portland, Oregon

Shifted to sustainability and green tech, incl. articles on wind and solar energy to Wired News.

US Foreign Correspondent 06/1997 - 05/2001) - San Francisco

Covered dotcom, technology, business, and social aspects for various German technology and business outlets in print and online, including authoring a monthly column in “Internet Professional” from 1999-2007, discussing the social impacts of dotcom.
Wrote and revised the Marco Polo travel guide for San Francisco.

PR Account Manager 12/1994 - 06/1997) - Munich, Germany / London, UK / Paris, France

Managed PR accounts for a pan-European technology public relations company, with CompuServe as a primary client.
Collaborated with technology journalists and news/business outlets to communicate technological advancements and business impacts.

Editor, Computer Magazines (11/1991 - 12/1994) - Düsseldorf, Germany

Worked as an editor for “PC Praxis,” “Data News” (Germany’s first Internet Magazine 1993) and “PC Intern,” covering hardware, software, and telecommunications, focus on telecommunications, CompuServe, telnet, gopher, and early internet since 1992.

Education

Certified Professional Scrum Master (PSM1 - scrum.org), 2021
Certified Professional Scrum Product Owner (PSPO1 - scrum.org), 2021
Certified Solar Technician (Chamber of Skilled Craft; Munich, Germany), 2006
Business Administration (unfinished), University of Düsseldorf, Germany, 1991-1994

Need more?

About Reiner Gärtner

rg@reinergaertner.de (Reiner Gärtner) — Mon, 31 Jan 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Welcome, Willkommen!

Reiner Gärtner - Media expert and AI consultant

Projects

rg@reinergaertner.de (Reiner Gärtner) — Mon, 01 Nov 2021 20:08:29 +0800

Co-Creation Workshops

A B2B company collaborated with key clients globally through design thinking to develop insurance solutions for future scenarios.

Corporate Responsiblity Reporting Project Management

A B2B company faced the challenge of compiling and publishing a comprehensive Corporate Reporting (CR) in a tight deadline and resolved it through an agile approach focusing on important contents first.

From Purpose To Value

A B2B corporation underwent restructuring in its IT unit, which prompted an approach of enabling teams to develop their own value proposition through design thinking workshops and communication measures.

Scrum Parent

rg@reinergaertner.de (Reiner Gärtner) — Thu, 03 Jun 2021 00:00:00 +0000

I have been thinking a lot about the role of a Scrum Master. What I know is that I do not want to fill the role mechanically, as learned from a book. There is much more to it: I want to be a parent of a team. Emphasis is on “parent“ and on “team“.

Obviously, each parent has a different parenting style. Young parents have to find themselves in their role, some do what their parents did (and they hate themselves for flipping back to the old style but can’t help), others try several parenting styles in a more or less agile way (they receive lots of feedback from their kids and external stakeholders such as schools). Eventually, we all find our feet - and hope for the best.

Just W.A.I.T.

rg@reinergaertner.de (Reiner Gärtner) — Sun, 02 May 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Although I haven’t worked as a journalist for a while, there will be always a strong journalist heart pumping in my body. I love to learn, understand topics, grasp the essence and to find out what makes people tick.

In the early days as a journalist I prepared many questions for my interviews. I believed in the power of smart questions. But I wasn’t experienced — or agile — enough to change my interviewing plan. While listening to my interviewing partner with half an ear, I was already rehearsing the next question. I am sure I missed many nuances and interesting things to dive into. When I got older, I decided to only have a list with some key topics to discuss. I still took detailed notes and was in total control of the interview. After all, it feels good having some power in such a situation, doesn’ it? I was busy listening and processing the answers at the same time.

Smile, Breathe, And Think Slowly

rg@reinergaertner.de (Reiner Gärtner) — Sun, 25 Apr 2021 00:00:00 +0000

There are times for fast thinking and rapid decisions. And there are also times for slow thinking, for letting things develop over time, like good wine, vinegar or cheese. People who are fast talkers and fast thinkers do not see any value in digging deeper. Slow is the new black (or orange?) Let’s explore the “Slow Thinking Manifesto“, which I recently signed.

Sometimes slow thinking needs another space, maybe a chat with a friend about something else or a long walk at the beach (my favourite way to come up with some creative ideas). I like to walk and talk, to dictate text into my smartphone. My walking speed is in direct correlation to my thoughts: The slower I walk, the deeper my thoughts.

Communicate Like Adults

rg@reinergaertner.de (Reiner Gärtner) — Thu, 15 Apr 2021 00:00:00 +0000

A few years ago, I helped an executive in pitching his product to his clients at a conference. Together, we examined his clients’ situation, problems and needs, and weaved a compelling story line leading to a strong call-to-action. There was only one tiny problem: The software wasn’t released yet. But the executive really wanted to show a demo of the solution to get feedback and maybe a buy-in. So, we had a meeting with the product manager…

One Less Project Manager

rg@reinergaertner.de (Reiner Gärtner) — Sun, 11 Apr 2021 00:00:00 +0000

One reason for becoming a Scrum Master was the absence of a project manager in the Scrum framework. See, I grew up in a cold waterfall world, and I worked with a lot of project managers (and occasionally, I was also in the role as a pm). Many project managers acted as scribes, protocol writers, gant-chart sketchers, and fierce budget watchers. Their entire focus was on following the BIG plan. We all know that planning is essential, but plans are often useless — so what about the project manager?

The Value Of Your Stakeholder

rg@reinergaertner.de (Reiner Gärtner) — Sun, 28 Mar 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Almost 30 years ago, I worked as an editor for a German computer magazine called “PC Praxis“. With a monthly circulation of about 200,000 copies, it was the top-selling magazine. In these days, you could be a know-it-all, we were exploring and writing technological history in real-time: I disassembled huge desktop computers and tested graphic cards, hard disk drives and modems; installed, tested and reviewed software (on DOS 3.1) and games, wrote how-to-articles and experimented with the Usenet.

Why I Don't Like The Sprint

rg@reinergaertner.de (Reiner Gärtner) — Mon, 01 Mar 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Wait a second: How can a Scrum Master not like sprinting? Well, I like the concept, but not the word: In Scrum, a sprint is an event and container for all other scrum events such as the sprint planning, daily scrums, the sprint review and the sprint retrospective. Depending on the stage of the project and risks involved, a sprint could last up to one month. So, what is wrong with that?

Smart But Not Helpful

rg@reinergaertner.de (Reiner Gärtner) — Fri, 06 Nov 2020 00:00:00 +0000

Take the future of a city full of autonomous cars (a technologist’s dream come true): The natural “enemies” of these smart vehicles will be cyclists and pedestrians as they are unpredictable human risks who will suddenly rule the streets (neatly programmed, autonomous cars will stop and obey when pedestrians stand in the middle of the road).

In consequence, and to keep traffic flowing, a “smart system” needs to take care of all subjects disturbing that flow. So, basically, cyclists and pedestrians not behaving well get identified by ubiquitous smart cameras with face recognition and be fined. So, while the system might be “smart” and state of the art, somehow cool, the consequence for society could be less appealing. Do we want this?

Contact

rg@reinergaertner.de (Reiner Gärtner) — Sat, 27 Jun 2020 17:39:21 -0700

Let’s connect

Communication is always a matter of trust and personal preference. Ultimately, it’s not just about professional qualifications and experience, but whether we can “connect” and are on the same wavelength.

I look forward to hearing from you: info@reinergaertner.au

And feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn. I would be happy to welcome you to my network!"

Mein Leben in viel zu vielen Worten

rg@reinergaertner.de (Reiner Gärtner) — Fri, 28 Feb 2020 00:00:00 +0000

Reiner Gärtner

In den letzten 20 Jahren habe ich in acht Städten in vier Ländern (USA, Kanada, Australien und Deutschland) auf drei Kontinenten gelebt. Als selbständiger Journalist und Auslandskorrespondent durfte ich oft in der ersten Reihe sitzen und über globale Themen aus lokaler Sicht berichten – oder umgekehrt.

Aus San Francisco berichtete ich von 1997 bis 2001 über die “Dot-Com-Revolution”. Unter anderem dokumentierte ich als Kolumnist in insgesamt 100 monatlichen Kolumnen die Geschichte des frühen Internets. Für deutsche Magazine und Zeitschriften schrieb ich über die Entwicklungen aus dem Silicon Valley, später auch für amerikanische Publikationen wie Wired News und Red Herring Magazine in englischer Sprache. Zudem aktualisierte ich mehrmals den Marco Polo-Reiseführer San Francisco.

Why the What matters

rg@reinergaertner.de (Reiner Gärtner) — Sun, 08 Dec 2019 00:00:00 +0000

It is easy to “start with why”: You sit down, walk, brainstorm or meditate, and eventually you will come up with a lofty “why statement”, which will be your favourite mantra for the next few days. But what will you do with it?

Many people then skip or only lightly touch the “what” because it is much more fun to explore the “how”: it is all about learning and acquiring knowledge, skills needed for future success; networking, talking, fiddling with technologies and figuring out perfect workflows for quite unlikely scenarios.

How to DoIt