My Story

Here’s a little about me.

Academic Excellence

I serve as Professor of Business Analytics and Machine Learning at Hult International Business School, where our MBA program ranks in the top 20 for entrepreneurship according to Bloomberg Businessweek and holds the #1 spot in the USA for ESG according to the Financial Times.

My research focuses on understanding why high-potential corporate management teams underperform and developing data-driven interventions to optimize their effectiveness.

I hold a PhD in Machine Learning from MIT and am an Amazon bestselling author, bringing both academic rigor and practical insights to every project I undertake.

Entrepreneurial Success

My entrepreneurial journey began in the 1990s when I founded three companies, including AnswerFriend, which merged with Electric Knowledge to form Inquira – ultimately acquired by Oracle in 2011 for its natural language processing capabilities.

I also served as VP of Corporate Strategy at Softricity, where I worked directly with CEO Harry Ruda on the critical transition from a B2C to a B2B business model, positioning the company for Microsoft’s acquisition in 2006.

These experiences taught me firsthand how strategic pivots and data-driven decision-making can transform struggling companies into valuable acquisition targets, insights I now apply both in my academic research and investment decisions.

Investment Portfolio

As founder of Immaculate Conception Ventures since 2011, I’ve built a portfolio that includes four unicorn investments from seed stage: Astranis, Boom, Rappi, and Relativity Space. My most significant exits include GitPrime and ThriveHive, both delivering 10x returns on invested capital.

Beyond my own fund, I serve as a Techstars mentor and Tiny Capital scout, working with entrepreneurs at the earliest stages of company formation.

My current portfolio spans 25+ companies across sectors, from fitness gamification (Fitocracy) to AI-powered marketing optimization (Orita), demonstrating my ability to spot transformative technologies early.

Enterprise Consulting

I’m one of approximately 100 Scrum Alliance Certified Enterprise Coaches worldwide and have guided digital transformations at industry leaders including PayPal, eBay, Visa, Salesforce, State Street, and Symantec.

My approach combines agile methodologies with performance analytics, helping organizations not just adopt new processes but fundamentally improve how they measure and optimize team effectiveness.

I’ve authored “Agile Coaching: Wisdom from Practitioners” and regularly speak on the intersection of organizational psychology and data science.

Personal Competitive Edge

Outside of academia and investing, I compete as a master’s long jumper and currently rank in the top 25 in the USA for my age group.

This athletic pursuit isn’t just a hobby – it embodies my approach to business: rigorous data-driven training, calculated risk-taking, and the understanding that peak performance requires both technical precision and the courage to leap when the moment is right.

Whether I’m analyzing underperforming teams or perfecting my approach speed, the principles remain the same: measure everything, optimize continuously, and never be afraid to jump.

Social Media Links

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The End

To keep reading, visit my blog here for my latest articles.