Thomas Kronawitter
Making Data Matter
Karlsruhe, Germany
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Thomas is Head of Data-Driven Applications & Services at GRENKE in Baden-Baden.
GRENKE is a financial solution provider, offering services in more than 30 countries around the world.
His department aims to deliver business value through data and data-related services and applications.
He has spent the last 20 years with data, databases, IT services, and related infrastructure. Before that, he was a paramedic with the German Red Cross.
When he is not pretending to work, you will probably find him on his motorcycle, as far away from paved roads as possible.
Area of Expertise
Topics
If Your Disaster Recovery Plan Doesn't Cover Panic, It's Fiction
Every DR plan I have seen boils down to two numbers, RTO and RPO. Both objectives assume the people executing the plan are calm and actually reading the runbook.
At 3am during a real incident, none of that is true. Ask me how I know!
Twenty years ago, before I stumbled into data, I worked as a paramedic with the German Red Cross, where I learned about Crisis Resource Management. Aviation built CRM after a run of crashes where the airplanes worked and the teams didn't. Medicine had similar problems and adopted the concepts wholesale.
In this session we will explore what happens to a human brain under incident pressure, and why runbooks written for calm people fail the moment panic arrives. We will also look at what teams owe each other during and after. We will tackle how to keep the person in charge and the team around them functional when everyone is scared, tired, and can barely see past the next step.
Whether you carry the pager or own the DR plan, you will leave with a different way of reading it and a handful of named techniques borrowed from a line of work where crisis is daily business. You can start using them Monday morning.
Navigating the Database Landscape in 2026: The Fight for Control
As organizations have chased speed through AI, multi-platform estates, and Cloud, database complexity has outpaced the practices needed to manage it. Flexibility has increased, but oversight, confidence, and control have weakened.
So how do you regain control in increasingly complex database landscapes?
Join industry experts Monica Morehouse, Matt Gordon, Thomas Kronawitter and Grant Fritchey in discussion with Redgate’s Louise Domeisen, to unpack the key findings from the 2026 State of the Database Landscape report.
You’ll hear first-hand experience and actionable tips from the panel on the key report topics including:
• The defining tension of 2026: organizations are losing control as everything accelerates.
• Structural complexity is rising again, making control harder than ever.
• AI adoption is exploding, landing on top of unstable data, security, and governance foundations.
• Risks are shifting from technology to ownership, structure, and decision-making.
• To regain control, organizations must fix the data foundations that everything else depends on.
You'll walk away with a clearer understanding of where your organization sits in this landscape and practical steps you can take to start regaining control.
There is no talent shortage in Data & Analytics!
It is widely agreed that the talent shortage is one of the greatest challenges for businesses everywhere.
Data & Analytics teams especially struggle to find highly skilled professionals. With the need for more advanced analytics, new cloud technologies and machine learning, demand has skyrocketed.
In this session, I will argue that the talent shortage might be a misconception and how a people-centric approach to recruiting and talent development can fix that.
We will also explore how every team member can help create an inclusive workplace that everybody is happy to work in.
Breaking the Silence: The Impact of Microaggressions on Mental Health
Microaggressions are often dismissed as minor offenses or unintentional actions, yet their cumulative impact can have profound effects on mental health. Drawing from my unique perspective as a data technology leader and former paramedic, I will uncover the hidden trauma caused by these subtle actions and words. We'll explore what microaggressions are, how they inflict real psychological harm, and the ripple effect this trauma has on mental health and workplace culture.
This session will equip attendees with a more profound understanding of these issues and actionable strategies to mitigate microaggressions in the workplace. Together, we'll examine how creating a culture of awareness, empathy, and inclusion can foster not only a healthier work environment but also more innovative and collaborative teams. Let's reshape the narrative and work toward a data-driven industry where everyone feels valued and welcomed.
From Data Swamp to Strategic Asset - Crafting a Purpose-Driven Data Strategy
Organizations sit on mountains of data, yet without a strategy, they risk sinking into a swamp of disorganized information, where potential insights are lost. Many companies treat data as a commodity rather than a strategic driver, leaving untapped potential on the table.
This session explores how organizations can move beyond reactive data management and establish a forward-looking strategy that aligns with business goals. Whether you're a DBA, data scientist, or manager, the first step is asking why your data matters, what value it brings, and how it can empower decision-making.
We will identify why data initiatives fail and data strategies fall short. You'll see how defining a clear vision anchors your strategy. We'll discuss how to build a culture that embraces data as a strategic asset, not just a technical tool. Crucially, we will explore the human side of data because data is only as valuable as the impact it creates for the people who use it.
Discover why your data strategy might be doomed before it starts and what you can do about it before you're knee-deep in the swamp.
Redgate Summit London 2026
Closing Keynote: From Data Swamp to Strategic Asset - Crafting a Purpose-Driven Data Strategy
dataMinds Connect 2024 Sessionize Event
DataGrillen 2024 Sessionize Event
Redgate Summit 2024 - London
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