Zurich · Switzerland

Tanja Rüegg

Business techie. Chief Operating Officer at Enerlytica, where I run the day-to-day operations and lead international IT projects.

About

Portrait photograph of Tanja Rüegg

At Enerlytica, an ETH Zurich spin-off specializing in data analysis for the energy market, I serve as the chief operating officer. Alongside that, I'm the operations lead at Modeling Cooperation, supporting the team working to mitigate risks from AI competition dynamics.

I lead the day-to-day operations across both roles, and also run international IT projects at Enerlytica. I prefer a hands-on approach and like taking on business analysis responsibilities to support efficient delivery.

Before studying business administration and computer science, I built and led a 20-person team that launched a popular initiative on plant-based nutrition. That same pull toward work with positive externalities draws me to today's work in the energy sector.

Outside work, I apply an evidence-based approach to three things: doing the most good for sentient beings, personal productivity (distilled into a productivity guide), and strength training.

Work

  1. 2017 – now

    Enerlytica

    Zurich & remote

    1. 2026 – now

      Chief Operating Officer

      Lead the day-to-day operations while managing international IT client projects, contribute to strategic planning, improve business processes, hire and supervise staff, and help shape technical delivery, quality assurance, and solution design

    2. 2023 – 2026

      Senior Project Manager

      Initiated, planned, executed, monitored, and closed international IT client projects, contributed to strategic planning, defined a project management framework, hired and supervised junior staff, and oversaw the customer service operation

    3. 2018 – 2023

      Project Manager

      Initiated, planned, executed, monitored, and closed international data analytics client projects, established and maintained stakeholder relationships, and oversaw the marketing and customer service operations

    4. 2017 – 2018

      Content Manager

      Designed and refined products, authored articles for high-circulation trade magazines, communicated technically complex topics in an appropriate manner to the target audience, and created, managed, and maintained web content

  2. 2016 – 2017

    Project Manager & Editor

    ETH Alumni Association  ·  Zurich

    Managed and edited two issues of a magazine with a circulation of 25,000, planned and executed the content creation as well as the selling of advertisements, maintained a job platform, and mentored new employees

  3. Jun – Dec 2016

    Scrum Master, QA Engineer & Sales Manager

    ESGroup  ·  Zurich

    Led an internationally distributed five-person team as Scrum Master, managed the successful release of an online shop, ensured software quality, and developed and implemented the marketing concept

  4. Feb – Jul 2015

    Sales Manager Online Marketing

    W & W Communication GmbH  ·  Basel

    Acquired new customers by phone and email, created advertisements including company portraits for prospects during the sales process, represented the company at trade fairs, and mentored new employees

Education

  1. 2015 – 2018

    Bachelor of Arts in Business & Economics

    University of Zurich  ·  magna cum laude

    Major in business administration, minor in computer science

    Thesis on influencer marketing and brand effects (highest grade)

  2. 2013 – 2014

    Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine

    University of Zurich  ·  incomplete

  3. 2009 – 2013

    A Levels Equivalent

    State College for Higher Education Wattwil

    Major in biology and chemistry

Nonprofit

  1. 2019 – now

    Modeling Cooperation

    Remote

    1. 2022 – now

      Operations Lead

      Support the team working to mitigate risks from AI competition dynamics by managing funding reporting, grant compliance, and communications, and supporting financial administration, stakeholder relationships, and product management

    2. 2019 – 2021

      Research Support Manager

      Supported the AI governance researchers by managing funding reporting, grant compliance, and communications, and supporting financial administration and editorial review of research outputs

  2. 2016 – now

    Animal Welfare Project Lead

    Independent

    Lead the production of a three-minute video on animal welfare, coordinate the distribution of 300+ plant-based nutrition kits, and continuously improve and maintain the website featuring the video

  3. 2018 – 2019

    Member of the Board of Directors

    Sentience Politics  ·  Zurich

    Provided strategic governance by ensuring the organization's activities aligned with the co-created mission and vision, hired and supervised the two executive directors, and provided financial oversight

  4. 2014 – 2015

    Project Manager Sentience Politics Zurich

    GBS Switzerland  ·  Basel

    Managed a team of 20 volunteers, coordinated and filed a popular initiative on plant-based nutrition resulting in a law being added to the highest constitutional level of the municipality of Zurich (population ~400,000)