MBA in Entertainment, University of Southern California | Ex: Disney, JPMorganChase, KPMG, PwC

Fun fact: My LinkedIn isn't my resume. 

So don't come here looking to evaluate hiring me based on my LinkedIn. 

Or maybe you should look at my LinkedIn to realize I beautifully blend data and analytics with entertaining and educational storytelling. 

I always dreamed of being a television programmer. It never happened, so instead I live out my dream programming LinkedIn like my own TV channel. 

Over the past 5 years, I’ve logged 10,000+ hours on this platform. I’ve built a following of 100,000+ by programming my LinkedIn like my own TV channel. My content isn’t random. It’s strategic. Story-driven. Designed to drive real outcomes.

And it’s worked, generating $10M+ in deals for the companies I've worked. Read that one again. Not me, but my companies. The power of companies leveraging LinkedIn is the future of LinkedIn. 

In 2021, I launched a global  events company while working with a Mark Cuban and Ashton Kutcher startup, producing 40+ events in LA, NYC, Dubai, Paris, and London that drove millions of dollars in  revenue. I understand how to leverage LinkedIn so companies can drive real results. 

A few highlights:

-Closed a strategic partnership with CAA
-Raised $7M in funding for a Mark Cuban venture-backed startup
-Secured $4.13M in brand deals for one of the world’s top celebrities

My background spans banking (JPMorganChase), global advisory (PwC, KPMG), and a decade as CFO/COO in the luxury design world, managing 50+ people and overseeing $40M+ in ARR and $1B+ in real estate projects for icons like President Obama, George Clooney, and Cindy Crawford.

I’ve lived and worked in LA, NYC, and Dubai. I’ve built communities in tech, luxury, and now the creator economy. I’m obsessed with solving complex business problems through storytelling, partnerships, and scalable brand strategy.

Always open to meeting new and interesting people that love life, love to win, and love to make the world a better place.

John Kraski

Want to win on LinkedIn?

Talk about someone other than yourself.

My first post of 2026 is a shoutout.

To Nila Makhfi, M.S.

We both went to University of Southern California.
Same school. Same campus. Same Trojan pride. 
Never crossed paths.

Then LinkedIn happened.

We connected here.
Finally talked this past week.
And now we're teaming up.

We're putting together an event at USC. 
To teach students the power of LinkedIn.

Because in this job market?
A personal brand isn't a nice-to-have.
It's a necessity.

And Nila Makhfi, M.S. gets it.

She graduated with a 4.0 in her master's.
Consulted for Snap, LinkedIn, and Dunkin'.
Founded LinkedUp to bring creators together IRL.

The woman is a force.

That's the magic of LinkedIn.

It connects people who should've met years ago.
And turns strangers into collaborators.

So here's to 2026.
Here's to Nila Makhfi, M.S.
And here's to talking about someone other than yourself.

Trust me and Nila Makhfi, M.S. on this one.

Creator, Celebrity, and Brand Partnerships Executive I MBA in Entertainment, University of Southern California

I showed up to a conference with no friends.

Then Monica Khan saved my life.

Creator Economy Live in Las Vegas.
Hosted by my good friend Justin Johnson

Hundreds of creators.
Everyone already knew each other.
I knew no one.

I started having flashbacks of high school.

Was I going to be walking around like a lost little puppy dog?

With no friends that wanted to hang out with me. 

Then Monica Khan came to the rescue. 

I landed in Vegas around the same time as her.

She said, "Don't worry. Stick with me. I'll introduce you to everyone."

And she did.

I met so many amazing people including: 

David Neyman, Joe Sousa, Val Guerrera, Kimia Kalbasi, Gary Zucker, Garin Fons, Adrienne Fleming, MS, Erica Fieldman, Kenny Layton, Colin Duethorn, Meredith McLuckie, Grace Niu, Lisa Zlotnick, Courtney Buckhanon, Brendan Gahan, Keith Bendes, France Tantiado, Dylan Huey, Nila Makhfi, M.S., Oksana Kravchenko, Morgan Swinford, and so many more. 

Monica Khan took me under her wing.
Introduced me to her friends.
Invited me to her events.

She even got me into an amazing dinner hosted by Later.
Special shoutout to Tim Clarke, Scott Sutton, and Lyle Stevens. 

Think about that.

Most people at conferences network for themselves.
The best ones open doors for others.

That's the difference between a connector and a collector.

Collectors hoard relationships.
Connectors share them.

Make sure to follow Monica Khan.

Trust me and every person with no friends at a conference on this one.

Your degree won't get you hired.

Your network will.

21% of Duke MBAs were still job hunting 3 months after graduation.

15% at Michigan.

That's according to The Wall Street Journal.

These are elite programs.

And the job market is still brutal.

Here's the uncomfortable truth most students learn too late:

A degree gets you educated.
A network gets you employed.

That's why I'm heading back to the University of Southern California.

I got my MBA there.
Now I want to give something back.

I'll be on a panel about personal branding on LinkedIn.

With Nila Makhfi, M.S., Jessica Lam, and Dylan Huey.

We're breaking down how to actually build relationships that lead to jobs.

Because the students who crack this?

They're not sending 300 applications.

They're getting warm intros.
Recruiter DMs.
Offers before graduation.

LinkedIn isn't a resume database.

It's a relationship engine.

And right now, relationships beat résumés.

Register here: https://lnkd.in/gbzJREK4

Trust me and every student struggling to find a job on this one.

The best kept secret on LinkedIn?

Azzy Maizer✨.

Not going to lie.

I thought she was AI at first.

Her posts are seriously next level.

The pacing.
The energy.
The intelligence.

Then we got on a call.

Two hours later, I realized I was wrong.

AI has nothing on her.

She's just operating on a different level.

Goldman Sachs.
Now part of Deloitte's stealth venture arm.
Building relationships with Anthropic, OpenAI, and Neo4j.

She creates playbooks before the market even exists.

Her banner says it all: "Together makes progress."

She's not here to chase followers.

She's here to make the world a better place.

That's why I follow her.

I love connecting with people who don't think like me.

People who open my mind to new ways of thinking.

Azzy is one of those people.

Do yourself a favor.

Follow Azzy Maizer✨.

Trust me and the future of AI on this one.

CEO, #KeynoteSpeaker 🤖 #Futurist 💻 #C-Level Exec, #Tech & #Advisor

As a seasoned Business Angel, Startup Investor, and Senior Advisor, I collaborate with global talents to drive innovations, support dynamic startup founders, and provide strategic guidance to leaders navigating transformations.

In my former role as CEO at Prospitalia Group (now Vivecti Group) and Partner & Director at Boston Consulting Group (BCG), I advised C-level executives on procurement, supply chain, finance, shared services, post-merger integration, and digital transformation globally. At BCG, I specialized in digital transformation, new business model innovation, and restructuring with a focus on procurement, supply chain, business process intelligence and operations.

As Chief Innovation Officer at Celonis, I championed the concept of the "superfluid enterprise" through process mining, advocating for extraordinary experiences globally. In the capacity of Chief Digital Officer, I served as a 'Digital Ambassador' for SAP, assisting customers worldwide in defining and executing digital transformation strategies across industries.

Previously, as Chief Procurement Officer at SAP, I implemented a global category management organization, procurement shared services, and a hybrid model with Ariba, Fieldglass, and Concur. Later, as Chief Operating Officer and Senior Vice President of SAP Ariba, I dedicated my efforts to simplifying procurement and supply chain complexities through innovative software solutions.

My diverse roles have equipped me with a deep understanding of technology, compliance, and supplier networks, making me sensitive to the challenges faced by today's procurement leaders. I am passionate about leveraging my experience to drive impactful transformations, foster innovation, and contribute to the success of businesses globally.

Dr. Marcell Vollmer

This one really stopped me in my tracks.

A microsurgery robot just stitched up a corn kernel. 🌽
Not as a gimmick, but as a proof of millimeter-level precision.

Think about what that means:
→ Movements smaller than a grain of rice
→ Perfect stability with no hand tremor
→ Consistent accuracy humans simply can’t sustain at that scale

If a robot can suture a corn kernel, imagine what this unlocks in real surgery:
✔️ Safer procedures in confined spaces
✔️ Less invasive operations
✔️ Higher precision with faster recovery times

To me, this is a powerful reminder that robotics isn’t about replacing surgeons.
It’s about extending human capability where biology reaches its limits.

When machines can operate at this level of delicacy, the future of medicine stops being futuristic, it becomes inevitable.

What other areas do you think ultra-precision robotics will transform next?

Source 🙏  @sciencegirl

From a three-wheeled motor carriage to rolling supercomputers

Mercedes-Benz in 1885 was basically:
“Look, it moves!”

Mercedes-Benz in 2025 is:
“Look, it thinks, drives, updates itself overnight, and politely reminds you to take a break.”

What changed over 140 years?
• Speed turned into intelligence
• Horsepower turned into software
• Steering wheels started competing with algorithms
• And luxury evolved from leather seats to seamless digital experiences

The funny part?
The original goal never changed: move people better.
Only the definition of “better” did.

From inventing the car…
to redefining what a car even is.

Makes you wonder:
If cars evolved this much in one century, what will we call a “car” in 2040? 

Video Credit @Hoang_HQ

An engineer recently built an omnidirectional ball motorcycle, using Segway-style self-balancing technology to move in virtually any direction. From a pure engineering perspective, it’s a fascinating experiment in control systems, stabilization, and unconventional mobility design.

That said, from my point of view, its practical usability seems quite limited. Stability at higher speeds, safety, efficiency, and real-world applications remain open questions. It’s hard to imagine this replacing established mobility solutions anytime soon.

But where it truly shines is entertainment and inspiration. Projects like this push boundaries, spark curiosity, and remind us that innovation doesn’t always have to be immediately practical to be valuable. Sometimes, making people stop, watch, and smile is already an achievement.

Innovation needs room for experimentation - even (or especially) when it looks a bit crazy at first.

#Engineering #Innovation #Robotics #FutureMobility #CreativeEngineering #TechExperiments

Video Credit @Ronald van Loon

AI Vocabulary Every Team Should Speak

AI is no longer a niche topic for engineers.
It’s becoming a shared language across organizations.

Here are some core terms every team should understand, not to sound smart, but to make better decisions:

• Artificial Intelligence (AI) – Systems that simulate human-like thinking and action
• Machine Learning (ML) – AI that learns from data instead of fixed rules
• Deep Learning – Advanced ML using neural networks for complex patterns
• Neural Networks – Brain-inspired systems for recognition and prediction
• Generative AI – Models that create new text, images, code, or video
• Large Language Models (LLMs) – Systems like ChatGPT or Claude that understand and generate language
• AI Agents – Software that can act autonomously to complete tasks
• Agentic AI – AI that plans, reasons, and executes with minimal human input
• Chatbots – Conversational interfaces powered by AI
• Prompts – The instructions we give AI to guide outcomes

And this is just the foundation.
Concepts like fine-tuning, datasets, NLP, computer vision, and AI ethics define how these systems behave in the real world.

AI literacy isn’t about becoming technical.
It’s about being fluent enough to ask the right questions, set the right expectations, and avoid the wrong assumptions.

Because in the AI era, misunderstanding the language is already a competitive disadvantage.

What AI term do you see most often misunderstood in your organization?

Great Post from Denis Panjuta

The 2025 AI Landscape just released.

The key highlights of the year:

Matt Turck and the FirstMark team have been mapping Machine Learning, AI & Data for 11 years. This is their biggest redraw yet.

They cut logos from 2,000+ to ~1,150. Not because the space is shrinking, but because it's maturing. 

2025 is the year AI stopped being a demo and started being infrastructure. 

The hype is still there, but now there's real revenue and real deployments as well.

Here's what stands out:

𝗔𝗜 𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝘁𝗯𝗼𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸.
Agents with tools and memory. Wired into governed data. Powered by reasoning models. The paradigm moved.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗶𝗴𝗴𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗽 𝘄𝗮𝘀𝗻'𝘁 𝗮 𝗯𝗶𝗴𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝗺𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗹.
It was training models to spend compute on thinking. Reinforcement learning for reasoning moved the needle across math, code, and multi-step planning.

𝗗𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗯𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗯𝗲𝗮𝘁𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻.
Big companies win by adding AI into tools people already use. The real winners? Products that show up exactly when you're working: writing an email, coding, filling out a form. Being built-in beats being "better" in a separate app.

𝗩𝗶𝗯𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗶𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱.
Cursor and Claude Code are among the fastest-growing dev tools ever. The craft shifted from autocomplete to directing and reviewing. "Describe, then ship" is now a production loop.

𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗮 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗔𝗜 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗿𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴.
The era of separate, specialized data tools is ending. Major players like dbt and Fivetran are combining. Databricks keeps expanding. The old walls between "where you store data" and "where you run AI" are coming down.

𝗘𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗴𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗯𝗼𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗰𝗸.
Power, not GPUs, is the constraint. Datacenter decisions now follow megawatt contracts, water rights, and grid access. Kilowatts set the timelines.

𝗘𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗽𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝗔𝗜 𝗶𝘀 𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴.
They note we're past the "Accenture phase" to run AI pilots and assessments. Real deployments are happening now.

The path is clear: first AI assistants, then AI agents for specific tasks, then broader automation. Large enterprises are getting serious, just moving slowly.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗼𝘅 𝗼𝗳 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱: 𝗵𝘆𝗽𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗯𝗼𝘁𝗵 𝘂𝗽.
As they put it: "Bubbles can be silly. They also finance railroads."

The 1800s railroad bubble was full of hype. Many investors lost money. But it still built real railroads that lasted for generations. 

Same idea here: AI investment might be overblown, but it's funding real infrastructure that will stick around.

What's the biggest shift you've seen in AI this year?

Source 🙏 Alex Barády

Europe needs more entrepreneurs! 

My portfolio company Procuros is launching a program targeted at young talents planning to start their own company in the future. 

It's like a 24-month bootcamp of extreme learning in one of Europe's most talent-dense teams. You can find out more and apply via the link in the comments.

https://lnkd.in/dCk8qzmJ

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