Igor Karpachev

About

I am an energetic, hands-on innovation leader with over three decades of experience at the intersection of 𝘁𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆, 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁. My career spans global digital and technology leadership roles in Europe and Africa, and today I focus on humanitarian innovation in mine action and ammunition management.At the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD), I contribute to the Research and Innovation program, identifying emerging needs, evaluating technologies, and fostering partnerships that bring 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲, 𝗳𝗶𝗲𝗹𝗱-𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝘀𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 to life.Beyond GICHD, I serve as an 𝗮𝗱𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗿, 𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗼𝗿, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘁 to startups, scale-ups, and innovation ecosystems - including Founder Institute, Loyal VC, MassChallenge, EHL Innovation Hub, SICTIC, and Inovexus. This cross-sector engagement allows me to connect insights from 𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗽𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹, 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗽𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘆 with humanitarian innovation.I believe that people are at the heart of every success story. My leadership approach is rooted in 𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗰𝘀, 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆, and 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗰𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘀 𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀, 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀.𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀:
- 12+ years leading innovation and technology initiatives in Switzerland and Europe
- 50+ end-to-end digital and tech implementations across multiple industries
- Deep international exposure: EU, CEE, CIS, Sub-Saharan Africa, Asia
- Active contributor to humanitarian innovation, startup ecosystems, and global advisory networks

• Back

How I can help

I don't propose high-flying strategies. I execute 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀. Methodically, practically, and successfully.I am 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗲𝗿, 𝗮 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝗿, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮 𝘁𝗲𝗰𝗵 𝗽𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗲𝗿 with 30 years of experience under my belt.
My know-how is in connecting the dots between technologies that work and bring value.𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗜 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗱𝗼 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂:
- solve concrete problems by using the right combination of technology tools at the right time for the right budget
- deliver value by leading implementations of complex technology projects, from AI to digital platforms
- share my expertise by consulting on the best use of technology
- build practical and implementable innovation roadmaps
- coach digital transformation teams

• Back

Expertise & Certifications

𝗜𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽
Orchestrating multi-stakeholder projects, aligning technology with policy and field needs.𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗛𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗨𝘀𝗲
Applying AI, robotics, and sensors in demanding operational contexts.𝗖𝗮𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴
Supporting local innovation ecosystems, enabling knowledge transfer, and mentoring future leaders.𝗧𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽
Speaking, writing, and advising on the responsible adoption of AI and emerging technologies.𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻:
Master of Business Administration, MBA (INSEAD, France)
Master of Computer Systems Management, MSc (Creighton University, USA)
Bachelor of Science, Applied Mathematics, BSc (Moscow Research Nuclear University, Russia)𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝘂𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻:
Deploying AI for Strategic Impact - MIT, USA, 2025
GenAI Prompt Engineering - Google & Vanderbuilt University, 2025
PMP - Project Management Professional, 2024
Agile Project Management Professional, 2024
Business Model Innovation - HEC, France, 2024
Leading Digital Business Transformation - IMD, Switzerland, 2023
High Performance Leadership - IMD, Switzerland
Leadership Program - Harvard University, USA

• Back

Projects & Impact

𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵 𝗣𝗶𝗹𝗼𝘁𝘀
Supporting field evaluation of mechanical assets, sensors, and AI tools to improve safety and efficiency in clearance operations.𝗖𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘀-𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽𝘀
Building bridges between humanitarian organizations, startups, corporates, and research institutions to deliver scalable impact.𝗗𝗶𝗴𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻
Earlier in my career, I led large-scale technology initiatives across telecoms, education, and digital platforms in Switzerland, Eastern Europe/CIS, and Africa.

• Back

• Back

Contact

Let’s Collaborate!

Protected by reCAPTCHA — Google’s Privacy Policy
and Terms of Service apply.