Visiting Forward Deployed AI Scientist Intern

Johannesburg's Pride of Africa Month 2026 blends culture and activism. Pride of Africa is marking October with a month-long programme of events designed to bring Johannesburg's LGBTQ+ community and its allies together through culture, entertainment, dialogue and creative expression. 2 Oct 2026 Running throughout October, Pride of Africa Month 2026 combines social events with an empowerment summit and the return of The Queer Met, culminating in Johannesburg Pride March on 31 October. The programme is built around connection and visibility, with each event offering a different way for the community to engage, from rooftop cocktails and an inner-city party to conversations around leadership, inclusion and opportunity. Kicking off Pride Month. The programme begins on 3 October with Pride of Africa x Rush: Pride Month Kickoff at Level 3. Starting at 6pm, the event will bring guests together for a rooftop cocktail experience intended to provide a social space for reconnecting and meeting new people. The opening event sets the tone for the month, with Pride of Africa positioning the programme as an opportunity for community members and allies to celebrate together. On 10 October, the celebration moves into Johannesburg's inner city for the SECRT Venue All-White Party at Carvo Lounge. Running from 12:00 until late, the event will combine fashion, music and socialising, with the all-white dress code forming part of the experience. Empowerment takes centre stage. The Pride of Africa Empowerment Summit on 16 October shifts the focus from celebration to dialogue, with discussions centred on the lives, ambitions and opportunities of LGBTQ+ people, particularly young people. The summit will explore issues including identity, inclusion and leadership, as well as barriers affecting participation in society and the workplace. The event aims to provide a platform for participants to exchange experiences, build networks and consider how their voices and potential can translate into opportunities beyond Pride Month. The month's creative focus continues on 24 October with the return of The Queer Met, themed African Archives for 2026. Positioned as a networking event for influencers, creatives and community leaders, the evening will combine a tasting menu with fashion, performance and storytelling. An exhibition runway will showcase emerging queer designers, while music and spoken-word performances will add further creative perspectives to the evening. The theme places African queer experiences and creative expression at the centre of the event, creating a platform for stories, talent and cultural heritage to be shared. Pride Month culminates in Johannesburg. The programme concludes on 31 October with Pride of Africa Day and the Johannesburg Pride March. The event is being co-hosted by the City of Joburg, in collaboration with Mercedes-Benz, BCG, Wilson, Google, Ernst & Young and Baker McKenzie, alongside beverage partner Heineken. Further details on the Pride of Africa Day programme and Johannesburg Pride March are expected to be announced in a separate release. Together, the October programme positions Pride of Africa Month as more than a series of social events, combining celebration with conversations around representation, empowerment and the continued visibility of Johannesburg's LGBTQ+ community.

Bain hires AI specialist from BCG to Zurich. Bain & Company strengthens its Swiss leadership team with a proven technology and finance expert. After more than 17 years at the Boston Consulting Group, Jürgen Rogg is moving to the management consultancy and also brings experience from UBS. Thursday, October 1, 2026 17:56 The management consultancy Bain & Company is expanding its expertise in artificial intelligence and technological transformations at its Zurich location. Since October 1, 2026, Jürgen Rogg has been strengthening the partner group in Switzerland, as finews has learned. Rogg is to advise clients in particular on AI topics and technological transformations. His work extends beyond Switzerland and the DACH region to European and global mandates. Focus on the financial industry For the Swiss financial center, Rogg's many years of experience in the financial services sector are particularly relevant. His focus areas include company-wide AI strategies, technology-driven transformations, and the use of artificial intelligence to redesign customer, processing, and software development processes. In this role, he advises banks, wealth managers, and insurers on the development and implementation of AI solutions. The use of autonomous AI agents is also part of his area of work. "Artificial intelligence is fundamentally changing the financial industry," says Massimo Lusardi, head of Bain in Switzerland. Rogg combines technology and AI expertise with many years of experience advising financial services providers and will strengthen the leadership team accordingly. More than 17 years at BCG Rogg comes from the Boston Consulting Group (BCG), where he worked for more than 17 years. Most recently, he led the Digital & Technology practice for financial institutions worldwide and was also responsible for the Technology & Digital Advantage Practice in Central Europe. Before his consulting career, the now 51-year-old worked at UBS as global head of digital channels & business integration. There, he was responsible, among other things, for e-banking as well as platforms for client advisors and institutional clients. Rogg began his professional career at T-Systems. He was also a co-founder and CEO of a start-up. On the topic. So you don't miss anything: the most important news daily and free of charge.

Gridiron welcomes two Vice presidents across investment and Digital Growth teams. Additions Expand the Firm's Resources for Founders and Management Teams * September 2026 * Gridiron, People NEW CANAAN, CT, September 29, 2026 - Gridiron Capital, LLC ("Gridiron Capital" or "Gridiron"), an investment firm focused on partnering with founders, entrepreneurs, and management teams, is pleased to welcome Brynn Jackel back to the firm as a Vice President on the investment team, and to welcome Melissa Levy as Vice President in the firm's Digital Growth Accelerator. These new team members bring a breadth of investment, consulting, and operating experience, accelerating Gridiron's ability to drive growth for the founders and management teams it partners with across the portfolio. Tom Burger, Co-Founder and Managing Partner, and Kevin Jackson, Managing Partner, said, "We're thrilled to welcome Brynn back as a Vice President following business school. She's a proven performer and a central member of the investment team, and we're looking forward to seeing what she'll accomplish in this elevated role. We're equally excited to welcome Melissa to the Digital Growth Accelerator. Her strategic mindset and digital growth expertise will be a real asset as she rolls up her sleeves alongside management teams across our portfolio." Brynn Jackel rejoins Gridiron as a Vice President after earning her M.B.A. from Harvard Business School. While at HBS, she served as co-president of the Women in Investing Club. Brynn was previously a Senior Associate at Gridiron, and prior to joining the firm in 2020, she worked as an Investment Banking Analyst at Wells Fargo Securities, where she focused on the industrials sector. At Gridiron, Brynn focuses on new investment opportunities, due diligence, and value creation at current portfolio companies, including Colibri Group and Health Monitor Network. Melissa Levy joins Gridiron from Boston Consulting Group, where she advised private equity, consumer, services, and technology clients on due diligence, growth strategy, and value creation. She previously worked at American Express on the Membership Rewards team. Melissa earned her M.B.A. from The Wharton School, with majors in Finance and Entrepreneurship & Innovation, and her B.A. in International Relations from the University of Pennsylvania. At Gridiron, Melissa will partner with portfolio company leadership and the investment team to identify and drive digital growth opportunities across the portfolio. About Gridiron Capital Gridiron Capital is an investment firm focused on partnering with founders, entrepreneurs, and management teams, and creating value by building middle-market companies into industry-leaders in business services, consumer products & services, and industrial growth segments in the United States and Canada. We help transform growing companies by winning together through hard work, partnerships grounded in shared values and a unique culture that comes from hands-on experience building and running businesses. As a team led by former operators and entrepreneurs, we know what it takes to run successful businesses on a day-to-day basis. Additional information is available on the firm's website: www.gridironcapital.com.