Professor
Carnegie Mellon University
Ari Lightman is a Professor of Digital Media and Marketing at Carnegie Mellon University's Heinz College, where he is widely regarded as a subject matter expert on AI strategy, data analytics, and digital transformation. His work spans teaching, applied research, and executive advising — bridging the gap between emerging technology and real-world organizational impact.
He is the founder of Measuring Social, a pioneering experiential learning program now in its 16th year, which has engaged over 150 global organizations — including Nvidia, Microsoft, Sony Pictures, the NFL, The New York Times, and L'Oréal — in applied data and digital strategy projects.
Ari advises Carnegie Mellon's AI and Healthcare centers on strategy and commercialization and leads executive education programs for senior leaders across industries. He is the co-author of Monster Transformation, which offers a story-driven framework for navigating the human and structural challenges of AI adoption at scale.
Thursday Jul 23
8:30am - 9:15am
Retail transformation rarely fails because of technology; it fails because of organizational barriers. Misaligned incentives, cultural resistance, legacy processes, and leadership blind spots can quietly undermine even the most promising digital and AI initiatives. For senior retail leaders, these hidden obstacles often prevent AI pilots from scaling, stall transformation efforts, and limit the return on innovation investments. This session introduces a practical framework for identifying and addressing the internal challenges that hold transformation efforts back. Attendees will hear strategies for aligning teams, modernizing decision-making, and building organizations capable of turning AI and digital initiatives into sustained, measurable business impact – moving beyond experimentation toward enterprise-wide change.
