Ruan Schutte

Ruan Schutte

Ruan Schutte

Innovation Specialist

Ruan Schutte is an innovation specialist with a special focus area on applying Artificial intelligence in the corporate and start-up environments, from agriculture to financial services.   He is also helping to shape AI strategies and organisational AI capabilities to support the outcomes of these strategies. He is the host of the Flame Station podcast show where he speaks to thinkers, tinkerers and though leaders on various AI topics.   He also facilitates workshop on how to apply AI in problem solving, innovation and design thinking.

Ruan is a practical generalist, deep thinker, and specialist facilitator with expertise in innovation and AI consulting. He has contributed to numerous initiatives across various industries, ranging from banking to agriculture, and is known for his dynamic approach to strategic management and innovation.

In 2024, Ruan was a speaker at the Chatbot and Conversational AI Summit and served as the AI Strategy, Use Case, and Community Lead at Standard Bank IAM. He also sat on the National Advisory Committee on Innovation, contributing to the National AI Strategy, and facilitated workshops on AI in design thinking. His other key contributions in 2024 include designing a course on aeroponics for kids and creating a short explainer series on Responsible AI.

In 2023, Ruan expanded his reach into responsible AI and innovation, creating a Responsible AI Guardrails Framework, releasing a CPD-accredited Design Thinking for Sales course, and motivating interns and new hires through speaking engagements. He co-developed a vertical farm, led AI “Lunch and Learn” sessions, and started a podcast series on AI. His technical work includes building a Python web app with GitHub AI Co-Pilot and collaborating with AI tools like ChatGPT and D-ID for ideation workshops and persona creation.

Ruan’s innovative work also extends to the metaverse and NFT space. In 2022, he created a gallery in spatial.io for FlameStation’s launch, transferred the first NFT to Liberty’s innovation team, and produced AI-collaborative artwork for the Liberty office. His technical achievements include creating a machine learning model prototype using AWS Rekognition for strawberry disease detection and leading cloud-related initiatives as an AWS and Azure Skills Guild Champion.

His career includes working in leadership, innovation, and design thinking facilitation roles at organizations such as Barclays Bank, Toyota, Eskom, Exxaro, and Liberty. He has won several accolades, including 2nd Runner Up for the IT Golden Blazer Achievement and Liberty Hackathon Leader.

Outside of his professional work, Ruan has completed endurance events such as the Duzi Canoe Marathon, Iron Man, and an Africa Expedition, demonstrating his passion for both mental and physical challenges. His career has taken him across South Africa, Mauritius, Botswana, London, Singapore, and Kenya.