6 Years of Transformation: Reflections on AI, Leadership, and the Journey Ahead

The AI Revolution: Then and Now

Six years ago, the AI landscape looked drastically different. Deep learning was beginning to shift from academic circles to enterprise solutions, but adoption was slow, infrastructure was expensive, and real-world applications were scarce. Today, AI has become a business imperative—transforming industries, automating complex processes, and redefining how we interact with technology. Large language models have changed the way knowledge work is done, cloud computing has made AI scalable, and regulatory discussions around Responsible AI have become just as important as the models themselves. The last seven years have been a whirlwind of innovation, disruption, and adaptation, and I’ve had the privilege of witnessing it all firsthand.

From Deloitte to Startup Grit: The Maven Wave Chapter

Leaving a high-visibility role at Deloitte—where I was surrounded by brilliant teams—was not an easy decision. But the opportunity to become an equity partner at Maven Wave was too compelling to ignore. I had grand ambitions—who wouldn’t dream of buying a small island with the revenue from the sale? Yet, what I found at Maven Wave was something far more valuable than financial success: a culture built on grit, resilience, and an extraordinary group of people. The founders, the delivery team, the leadership—I was blown away by the talent and dedication of the team.

I had the joy of bringing in friends from my past, like Nicholas Beaudoin and Jose Ochoa , and building something together. But it wasn’t all smooth sailing. At the time, there wasn’t a robust team of data scientists to lean on—there wasn’t even a small team. We had half a data scientist, and we needed to scale that to 60, fast. Scaling an AI practice from the ground up taught me invaluable lessons in leadership, mentorship, and execution. To the young, ambitious leaders out there, I have plenty of insights to share on how to make it happen.

The ATOS Acquisition: Growth, Change, and the Netflix Special

ATOS saw the value in what we built and made the move to acquire Maven Wave. The integration was a shift—especially for those coming from a nimble startup culture suddenly navigating a massive global organization. Change is never easy, and ATOS itself went through turbulent times, some of them very public. There were moments when colleagues would say, “We are living in a Netflix special.”

But through it all, we endured. The reality is, leadership changes, industries shift, and transformation is never a straight path. As Nelson Mandela wisely put it,

“Do not judge me by my successes, judge me by how many times I fell down and got back up again.”

This journey hasn’t been easy, but we showed up, adapted, and took on the challenge. Don’t judge me for my wounds—respect me for my perseverance.

Finding Our Place at the Center of the Universe

At every major industry event, I’ve worked the ATOS / Eviden booth as if it were the center of the universe. And sometimes, it really felt like it was. Every few seconds, someone we knew would walk by—partners, clients, former colleagues, future collaborators. It was a constant cycle of explaining, showcasing, and demonstrating what we’ve built. And in the end, that’s the legacy: the relationships, the trust, and the impact we’ve made.

Three Decades of Professional Services: The Road Ahead

This milestone also marks nearly 30 years of delivering professional services. I still remember being in college, working on digital printing and prepress—transforming the way data-driven communication changed the world. When I pivoted to internet technology, people thought I was foolish, yet that revolutionized everything. Now, with the third wave of GenAI, I find myself ahead of another transformation, and I’m having an absolute blast.

I’m grateful for the mentors I’ve had—both inside and outside of this company. I value the friendships I’ve built with colleagues, clients, and partners. And I welcome the battles ahead—not just to build a business, but to solve real problems. Yes, the market is reactive, and the road is challenging, but our customer relationships are strong, and the future is bright. I remain cautiously optimistic.

“The phoenix must burn to emerge.”

– Friedrich Nietzsche

I've recently survived many fires and happy to have made it my 6 year milestone. Here’s to seven years. And to everyone who has supported me along the way—thank you.