Our analysts and thought-leaders empower global decision makers

About

Olaf has 30 years of experience as an executive and adviser building strategies, capabilities, programs and ventures across 35+ countries in North America, Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia with boards and senior executives in multinationals, consultancies, startups, VCs, foundations, governments and academia. He is the founding CEO of geotech futures analyst firm Cambrian Futures and of solution development studio Cambrian Labs. Olaf also serves a Professor of Practice for Global Foresight, Strategy, Innovation and Policy at UC Berkeley Haas School of Business, Adjunct Professor of Practice at Hult International BusinessSchool and Honorary Adjunct Professor at UT Malaysia’s. He is the Faculty Director for the Berkeley Executive Education program Emerging Technology Strategies, Sr. Adviser and Executive-in-Residence at Berkeley’s Institute for Business Innovation, Visiting Scholar at UC Berkeley’s Roundtable on the International Economy (BRIE), and a Startup Mentor at Berkeley Skydeck. He serves on the advisory board of Hayden.ai, has been a member of the Global Expert Network for the 4th Industrial Revolution, the Global Alliance for AI Governance (AIGA) at the World Economic Forum and frequent moderator at its Annual Meeting of the New Champions (AMNC “Summer Davos”) in China, and a contributor to IEEE’s Global Initiative on Ethics for Autonomous & Intelligent Systems.

About

Dr. Mark Nitzberg is a computer scientist and advisor to government and industry on AI and its impacts and governance. He serves as founding Executive Director of the Center for Human-Compatible AI at UC Berkeley. In industry, he has built technology ventures applying AI in health care, finance, education and development aid. He has worked at Bell Laboratories, Microsoft, and Amazon, and developed and run diverse programs in industry and academia. Co-author of The AI Generation — an examination of AI and how it reshapes human values, trust, and power around the world, Dr. Nitzberg engages regularly in the debates on AI developments.

About

Manu's career as quantitative analytics and data science professional, entrepreneur, consultant and finance executive spans 25 years in large public corporations as well as in garage-founded startups. His domain expertise covers optoelectronics, semiconductor IP, renewable energy development, smart-grid technology, and cloud computing.

About

Oliver is an executive technologist & serial entrepreneur with 20+ years experience in distributed embedded and mobile software architectures, full-stack applications, security, and digital content distribution. He has a track record in technical and business leadership roles taking ideas to prototypes to commercial products with great end-user experiences. His areas of expertise span a broad range of topics, from mobile and cloud services to infotainment solutions

About

Tobias Straube is a global analyst, advisor, and entrepreneur specializing in the intersection of DeepTech, business, and government. With over 10 years of experience, he has led and co-designed a wide range of international strategy and research projects for governments in the Middle East, Europe and Afirca and businesses in the US and Europe. Notable accomplishments include a comparative analysis of national AI strategies, development of AI governance frameworks for organisations, an assessment of the global data sphere, a case study on autonomous driving and concept designs in climate tech, Web3 and FinTech, amongst others. Tobias has also co-authored eight patents related to data privacy management and contributed to the National AI Strategy Framework and the Project for Responsible Technology of the World Economic Forum. Next to his role as VP Analysis at Cambrian, Tobias also holds a board member position at Digital Waves, a Swiss-based investment service provider, and is a co-founder of Scio Network, an advisory platform for economic development. Additionally, he is an assistant lecturer at UC Berkeley Executive Education and Hult International Business School. His articles and OpEds have been published in Wired, WirtschaftsWoche, California Management Review, ZeitOnline, and European Business Review, amongst others. He holds an Executive MBA from Hult International Business School and a BA degree in international Political Management from Bremen University of Applied Sciences, both with distinction. Tobias is also an alumnus of the German Merit Foundation.

About

Dan Zehr is the vice president and editor-in-chief at Cambrian Futures, where he helps research, write and edit books, white papers and reports on data privacy and data marketplaces, national AI strategies and policy, the Geotech economy and the influence of technology on strategic partnerships, conflict, land use and migration. Prior to joining Cambrian, he was an award-winning business journalist, author and editor whose breadth of reporting spanned most major industries and geographies. He has written or edited articles for HBR.org, the New York Times, Wired, the Austin American-Statesman and an array of other national and international publications. He has ghostwritten, co-authored or edited 12 books, focusing primarily on aspects of global business, technology and economic opportunities. Zehr received his master’s degree from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, and he serves as an instructor at the University of Texas at Austin Department of Journalism. He lives in Austin, Texas, with his wife and two children.

About

Ryan is a global strategist who is the leader for Cambrian Group’s business insights work, diagnosing and designing solutions for clients. His expertise lies in uncovering strategic insights through industry experience built at the intersection of business and technology. Ryan also serves as Google’s Global Head of Analytics for supply chain planning within Google’s Devices and Services business unit, responsible for bringing advanced analytics capabilities to enable sales and operations planning for Pixel, Fitbit, Nest, and all Google consumer hardware products. Before that Ryan served as a Strategy and Operations Leader in YouTube focused on emerging experiences and community for users working across data science, engineering, product management, and user experience. Prior to Google, Ryan worked for over a decade in management and technology consulting specializing in cybersecurity, enterprise risk management, privacy, and IT strategy serving clients in the Fortune Global 500. In addition, Ryan teaches at the UC Berkeley School of Information (I School) and Haas School of Business, including Berkeley Executive Education, across a range of subjects: cybersecurity, global strategy, and the future of technology. Ryan holds two Bachelors of Science (BS) degrees in electrical engineering and engineering management from University of the Pacific. He also earned his Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the UC Berkeley Haas School of Business while holding numerous professional certifications in cybersecurity and privacy (CISM, CISSP, and CIPP), and is a certified executive coach from the Berkeley Executive Coaching Institute. Ryan also serves as a mentor for Blue Startups, Hawaii's premier accelerator focused on emerging technology.

About

Ander is a global product builder with 18+ years of experience across developer platforms, e-commerce, payments, enterprise tech, ISPs, telecom, call centers and business consulting. He has led product development from conception through launch for customers across Africa, Asia, Europe, South America and North America. He brings experience diving deep to develop actionable insights on customers' problems, and leading multi-disciplinary teams to build tech-driven solutions.

About

​​Leea is driving innovation deliveries as a Strategy and Innovation Tech Lead in Commercial Banking for a Fortune 500 company. In the day to day, she is ensuring the front, middle, and back office are in sync and delivering value to the clients. In the last few years, she has empowered multiple women led businesses as an Organizational Change Management Consultant. Leea’s expertise covers Operations, Organizational Change Management, Technologic Change, and Digitization.

About

Lauren May Hildenbrand serves as the Senior Manager for Business Design and Innovation Strategy at Cambrian Futures. With a dual Master of Science degree in International Business and Disruptive Innovation from Hult International Business School, Lauren brings seven years of experience in Digital Transformation and Growth Strategy consulting. Her forte lies in adopting a Human-Centered Approach, excelling in uncovering innovative opportunities by deeply understanding customer needs and stepping beyond conventional business routines. Having resided and worked in cosmopolitan hubs like Shanghai, London, Hamburg, New York, San Francisco, and Copenhagen, Lauren has honed her cultural and global competencies to navigate diverse markets seamlessly. Lauren is a firm advocate for a collaborative/co-created approach that fuels innovation. Beyond her professional pursuits, she indulges her creative side in crafts, creative writing, and is a passionate golfer.

About

With a career divided across corporate strategy consulting and K-12 education, David’s work has been marked by his relentless curiosity and strong bias for practical solutions. As a former engagement manager at the Monitor Group and in his subsequent experience across both public and private sectors, his projects have addressed a range of industries and business functions, including technology implementation and analytics, industrial transformation and innovation, strategic growth, and scenario planning.

About

Stephen Goodman has been on the build, buy, and sell side of innovation. He is an expert in commercializing innovation, industrial transformation, and bringing advanced technology to market. Stephen Goodman served as global Vice President of Jabil ($35B supply chain and manufacturing solutions provider with +250,000 employees across 100 locations in 30 countries) where he led the innovation division reestablishing Jabil as a leader in intelligent supply chain innovation. He has also served as General Manager of Flex’s (Singapore-based, 2nd largest supply chain and manufacturing company in the world) Advanced Technology and Innovation Center. As an seasoned global executive, he's grounded in years of accountable revenue and operational roles, including guiding teams and P&Ls in Boston, New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Silicon Valley, Hong Kong, Seoul, Shanghai, Milano, and Munich In addition, Stephen has held leadership roles at notable Blue-Chip start-ups: Tulip Interfaces (a Industrial and Supply Chain AI/ML platform backed by NEA/Insights/Benioff Ventures), Paradigm4 (Turing Laureate Mike Stonebraker’s Decisions Science company), and Harvard's CodeBlue program. Stephen advises MIT Lincoln Lab's Technology Venture team. Stephen has structured and managed dozens of strategic ventures, commercial partnerships, and product integrations with industry giants such as Amgen, Apple, Autodesk, AWS, Bain, Capital One, Disney, DuPont, Ford, GE, Google, GSK, Intel, iRobot, J&J, MasterCard, McKinsey, Microsoft, Oracle, P&G, Rockwell, Schneider, Siemens, and Tesla. His policy and industry leadership include managing Economic, Trade, and Technology Policy for a senior U.S. Senator, serving the Bay Area Council, MIT Media Lab, and Business for Diplomatic Action, and being an inaugural member of the Public Policy Institute of California's leadership advisory group. As the Managing Director of Madrone O/A, a global boutique firm, Stephen specializes in the Strategic Business Development and Go-to-Market needs of Executive, Private Equity, and Venture teams. Stephen completed graduate studies in Economics at Tufts University's Fletcher School and conducted research at MIT.

About

Katherine is a third-year J.D. Candidate at UC Berkeley School of Law specializing in privacy and data security law. She has worked with leading technology attorneys in private and public practice, including at Morrison Foerster, the ACLU of Northern California, and Berkeley’s Samuelson Law, Technology & Public Policy Clinic. She is a 2023-2025 Fellow at the Internet Law & Policy Foundry.

About

Rehan is a Principal at BT based in Dubai. His expertise includes: consulting, executive education, customer experience, strategy, innovation, sales and marketing, and product management. Rehan has worked across several industries including: telecoms, media, technology, real estate, and academia. A trained social scientist, he holds a Master’s degree in applied social and market research, as well as an MBA in strategy. He was a visiting professor at HULT International Business School (2013-16). He is currently a feature writer for Gulf Business and was a business columnist for The National newspaper (2009-10). He is also a published author, his recent novels include A King's Armour (2020); as well as the Carnegie Medal nominated A Tudor Turk (2019).

About

Dr. Adam Tatarynowicz is a researcher, educator, and data science enthusiast. He currently holds the position of Associate Professor of Strategic Management at Singapore Management University’s Lee Kong Chian School of Business. Adam joined SMU in 2015, following previous roles as an Assistant and later Associate Professor at Tilburg University in the Netherlands. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of St. Gallen in Switzerland in 2008, and subsequently held postdoctoral positions at Maastricht University and Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management. Over the years, Adam has also assumed various visiting appointments, including a Visiting Professorship in Strategy and Marketing at Thammasat Business School in Bangkok, Thailand, a Visiting Professorship of Management at the University of Warsaw in Poland, and a Visiting Professorship in Digital Innovation at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Adam’s academic research lies at the intersection of strategy, innovation, and data science. His articles delve into the role of AI in shaping new business models and the implications of machine learning algorithms and tools for driving innovation and growth. Adam is also the founder of DataScienceBeat.com, an innovative insight & foresight platform that focuses on the integration of data science into strategy and innovation research, exploring the transformative and disruptive potentials of these new technologies.

About

Kirthi Kumar is a research associate at Cambrian Futures, and currently a senior at UC Berkeley in the Management, Entrepreneurship, and Technology (M.E.T.) Program, studying Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Business Administration, and minoring in public policy. Outside of classes, she serves as the President of the UC Berkeley Society of Women Engineers and is a teaching assistant for the Introduction to Robotics course. Kirthi has interned at various tech startups, including Replit, Substack, and Sisu Data, as well as worked on tech policy at the National Security Innovation Network, the Center for Global Security Research at the Lawrence Livermore National Lab, and the Tech Talent Project. Kirthi has also created two student-led courses, and been on teaching staff for the intro to Artificial Intelligence course, computer ethics course, and Future of Technology Executive MBA class. In her free time, she enjoys travelling back to northern Virginia to spend time with her family.

About

Dr. Burkhard Schrage oversees the EMBA, MBA, and undergraduate Management programs at RMIT University Vietnam. Prior to this, he was a Professor of Strategy and Organizations at Singapore Management University. His award-winning teaching and acclaimed research are in the areas of corporate strategy, empirical aspects of privatization and deregulation, and political economy. He recently co-authored an influental book on the Political Economy of Vietnam and advised the government on privatization. Burkhard was a Senior Fellow at the Wharton School and has lectured at the Harvard Business School. In addition to his academic pursuits, Burkhard is the Managing Partner at Explora Capital, a boutique early-stage investment firm. He holds non-executive director and advisory positions across industries including biotech, high-end hospitality, and healthcare. Burkhard has amassed extensive experience working at renowned investment banks, where he has provided advisory services to governments and major corporations in France, Brazil, and Australia on privatization initiatives and transformative corporate transactions. Burkhard received the Ph.D. and MALD degrees from the Fletcher School at Tufts University. There, he studied International Finance and Business Law. He also obtained degrees from from Institut d'Etudes Politiques de Paris, and the International Business School in Germany.

About

Sr. Adviser for Privacy and Data Protection at Mercator Foundation, former Fellow at Mozilla, former Consul for Communication at German Foreign Service

About

About

J. Nicholas (“Nick”) Gross is a 35-year Intellectual Property law veteran with deep knowledge and experience in all aspects of patent monetization, ranging from procurement to enforcement. He has worked with diverse innovative clients in the computing hardware and software space, including individual inventors at NRL (spin devices) to multibillion-dollar electronic multinationals (UMC Taiwan, Hitachi, Seiko Epson). In his career he has written or prosecuted thousands of patent applications with the USPTO and enforced/defended patents in litigations spanning multiple countries and multiple fora, including U.S. Federal Courts, Federal Appellate Courts, and the International Trade Commission. His experience includes stints at several large law firms (including Wilson Sonsini et al. in Palo Alto) but is now practicing solo.

About

Pamika is a trilingual entrepreneur who has lived in China, Thailand, and the UK. With more than 8 years of experience in digital landscape, she is a trusted advisor in fueling startup growth through strategic branding, digital marketing, and product development initiatives. Recently completing her MBA at HULT International Business School, she has further honed her skills. Now firmly rooted in San Francisco. Pamika is dedicated to using her knowledge and passion to help businesses succeed in today's fast-changing digital world.