Closing panel – What Customers Expect from IoT Providers
Abstract:
The relationship between suppliers and their customers is a crucial element in the successful adoption and deployment of IoT solutions. The panel will be exploring how suppliers and customers exchange information to explore the problem and solution space that IoT offerings and technologies address. The spotlight will be on how the complexity of IoT ecosystems can be overcome to efficiently reach a consensus view and accelerate the time from first contact to final commitment by customers. At the heart of this is establishing the “comfort level” with both financial and strategic outcomes that execution will meet customer expectations. The focus will be on the impacts on the customer in three areas: selection of technical solutions; the implications for the business and business models; and the consequences and outcomes for the customer workforce.
Speakers:
Dr. Adam T. Drobot is a technologist with over forty years of experience in industry, the public sector, and in research. Today his activities include strategic consulting, start-ups, and participation in industry associations and government advisory bodies. He is the Chairman of the Board of OpenTechWorks, Inc. a company specializing in open source software. Previously he was the Managing Director and CTO of 2M Companies in Dallas, TX, from 2010-2012, and President of the Applied Research and Government Business Units at Telcordia Technologies and the company’s CTO from 2002 to 2010. Prior to that, Adam managed the Advanced Technology Group at Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC). He also served as the Senior Vice President for Science and Technology as part of his 27 years of service at SAIC from 1975 to 2002.
He has published more than 100 journal articles, and is a frequent contributor to industry literature. He currently holds 26 patents. Adam is a member of Several Corporate Boards, and the FCC Technology Advisory Council. He is on the Board of the Telecommunications Industry Association where he has Chaired the TIA Technology Committee. He is the 2007 recipient of IEEE’s Managerial Excellence Award. For the IEEE he has Chaired IEEE Employee Benefits and Compensation Committee, the IEEE Awards Recognition Council, served as a member of the IEEE Awards Board. During 2017 and 2018 he chaired the IEEE IoT Activities Board that oversees the multi-society IEEE IoT Initiative. He holds a BS in Engineering Physics from Cornell University and a PhD. in Plasma Physics from the University of Texas.
Jason Guss, CEO & Co-Founder at Iterate Labs. Jason is an advisor to startups at Cornell eLab Accelerator, and received his PhD in Biomedical Engineering focusing on human performance, biomechanics, and orthopedic disease. Jason is now focused on wearables and artificial Intelligence for Factory Workforces. Prior to Iterate Labs, Jason was one of the first engineers at a robotics company in the hospitality industry called Maidbot.
Abha Kumar is a business strategist, transformation leader, and global thinker. She has extensive global operational experience leading digital and organizational transformations. She serves on the board of Notify.io, an enterprise SaaS company, and the advisory board of Shopelier an eCommerce startup. As a believer in the value of education, she serves on the advisory board of Shanti Bhavan, a nonprofit organization providing education to children from disadvantaged communities. As CIO of Corporate and International, at Vanguard (~8 trillion AUM), she led the creation of the digital experience, transforming communication and collaboration. She was the head of Vanguard’s international shared services group, which she launched and grew to eight global development centers to fuel Vanguard’s growth strategy with global talent and innovation. She has also held senior leadership positions at Dow Jones & Co, The New York Times and Morgan Stanley. Recognized for cultivating talent and developing the next generation of leaders, she founded Leadership and Engagement for Asian Professionals (LEAP), which has over 2,000 members. She is a thought leader and has spoken globally on diversity, innovation, and the future of work. She received the 2018 American Business Association’s Gold Stevie® award for “Visionary for Creating Ecosystems of Tomorrow.” In 2019, she received the “Inspirational Women Leaders” award by Roshni Media, and in 2021 she was selected for The Agenda Diversity 100, a Financial Times’ publication for corporate board directors.
Todd McGuire has been a project leader for over 25 years of experience across an array of project types ranging from IT systems, Six Sigma, international operations, heavy equipment, and most recently, ML and Advanced Controls systems. Todd has been with John Deere for 22 years, most recently in the Enterprise Program Management Office for Product Development. Presently his current role is with John Deere-owned Blue River Technology in Sunnyvale, CA. Todd has worked with global teams to establish operations in China, India, Thailand, and Chile and product development programs in China, Brazil, Europe, and the US. Todd served active duty in US Army Intelligence and later the Iowa Army National Guard. He maintains his military connections by mentoring Veterans entering the workforce at John Deere and serving as a mentor volunteer for American Corporate Partners to assist active duty personnel transition to the civilian workforce.