How is partner alumnus Yvonne Brzesowsky-Ruys doing?

What did you do during your time at PwC?

'In 2015, I had the opportunity to establish the Energy, Utilities & Mining (EU&M) practice within Advisory, based on my experience in the energy sector before joining PwC. With EU&M, we achieved things that I am proud of. For example, we took the first steps with blockchain, which was a new technological innovation at the time. We set up a "crowd balancing platform" for the grid operator TenneT to balance the energy network and accommodate the irregular supply of renewable energy. This initiative was launched under the name Equigy. I also had the opportunity to further develop myself in organizational design and strategic management consulting.'

Why did you decide to leave PwC?

'I had learned a lot, but I wanted to move faster in terms of digital transformation than was possible at that time, and I wanted to delve deeper into technology. I took a sabbatical and went to university to pursue a master's degree in Information Management. During that master's program, I was approached by Microsoft. Under the leadership of Nadella, the company had just started its AI journey and was heavily investing in industry knowledge - I immediately felt at home. I was given the opportunity to lead a team of digital advisors for energy and utilities. After two years, I was asked to realize this at a corporate level with the global team for strategic partnerships in energy transition and innovation. I now work with that team on strategic partnerships with the largest energy companies for the energy transition.'

How is technology connected to energy at Microsoft?

'There are three areas where this applies. First, Microsoft is one of the largest energy consumers in the world. We want to use only renewable energy, so we have a great interest in accelerating the transition. Second, we invest in energy technology ourselves - think, for example, of battery technology and Small Modular Reactors (SMRs). Third, we help optimize the full energy network with technology and AI. In each of these three areas, we support through our technological knowledge, market power, and research capabilities. We are already approaching our net-zero target for 2030, and even now, as energy consumption by AI is increasing rapidly, we remain committed. By 2050, we want to have removed all the CO2 emissions we have produced since Microsoft started in 1975 from the atmosphere.'

What did you take away from your time at PwC?

'A deep understanding of organizational knowledge, which I could apply well in the transformation that Microsoft was going through at that time. I see in practice that most principles of organizational design still apply when it comes to the application of AI. The technology alone does not make the difference, but what organizations and people do with it does. That ultimately creates the superpower. I constantly bring these two worlds together. I am not a technician myself, but I have an economic background, and I find the intersection of technology and organization very interesting. Furthermore, through my direct access to the boards of companies at PwC, I gained a better understanding of the real strategic challenges and how to apply technology optimally. It is important to have the conversation about technology there as well.'

How do you apply AI in your professional life?

'I am thrilled with Copilot, which allows you to work within your own data environment. I use it a lot to support me in Teams, for example, when I join a meeting later and want to quickly catch up on what I missed, when I need to create a meeting summary, or when I need to generate powerpoints. The automatic agenda suggestions when scheduling a meeting are also very useful. Copilot takes care of many everyday tasks for me. It helps to learn how to create good prompts - there are various courses available for that. I also use ChatGPT a lot. For example, recently I used AI to create a comprehensive financial impact analysis of grid modernization and wind energy, all based on a few good prompts. I find that truly mind-blowing.'

What are the biggest challenges in technological developments?

'Cybersecurity has been identified as a top priority by Microsoft. When it comes to the power of AI and other digital technologies, I often use the analogy of fire. In the hands of those with good intentions, fire provides protection, warmth, and the ability to cook food. But in the hands of those with malicious intent, it becomes a dangerous weapon. The responsibility to protect data and digital tools is therefore significant. This is especially true for the energy transition, where automation and digitalization are necessary to address the complexity. Another challenge is the growing divide between early adopters and companies that are waiting and will have to catch up later.'

What advice do you have for alumni based on your expertise?

'Many concerns about technology come from ignorance. My call would be for everyone to work on staying informed and continue learning. At the organizational level, it is important for everyone to be able to keep up with the technological transformation of our time. Challenge yourself out of curiosity about the possibilities of technology and AI. Because those possibilities, with technology that is becoming increasingly intuitive to use, are currently endless.'