John K. Thompson, global head, AI, EY

My career started as a developer building operational systems for Fortune 500 firms. While obtaining my MBA, I discovered a company called Metaphor. I began a journey that has lasted for 35 years. At Metaphor, I was a consultant building analytics systems for Pillsbury, Coca-Cola, Cadbury-Schweppes, Coors and other global companies. From there, I moved into building analytics technologies. I was part of teams that built the first in-memory databases and early-stage predictive model portability software. My next role was to run the advanced analytics division of Dell. We built a global franchise based on the Statistica product. After Dell, I was executive partner at Gartner, working with CEOs on their most pressing data and analytics challenges. After Gartner, I worked at the second largest biopharmaceutical company in the world where I ran the AI, advanced analytics and rapid data labs teams. Currently, I am the global head of AI for EY, one of the top professional services firms. My focus has always been on helping organizations to leverage data and analytics to improve their - operations, strategic direction, profitability and to gain competitive advantage. Also, I am on the advisory boards of multiple universities and our local high school to help guide and improve STEM education related to data science. Over the past three years, I have played an active role with the Mark Cuban Foundation in running AI bootcamps to teach underserved high school students AI fundamentals.