Retail Observer

RETAILOBSERVER.COM JANUARY 2020 36 2019 HONOREES BRIDGET KARLIN Humanitarian Award As Executive Global Chief Technology Officer and VIP of IBM's Global Technology Services, Bridget Karlin is responsible for driving IBM's corporate and client digital transformation by leveraging AI, Automation, and Cloud and Security technologies, and by developing the IBM Services Platform with Watson, the industry's first AI open standards-based IT services platform built on the cloud for next-generation intelligent infrastructure services. Karlin provides the leadership that keeps IBM Services at the forefront of the industry by offering advanced technology and building IBM technical communities to flourish in thought leadership, innovation and business value to clients and ecosystem partners, offering them increased security, efficiency, flexibility and control for their digital business. She also leads innovation across the entire services delivery lifecycle to facilitate the adoption of hybrid, multi-cloud, composable services and IT as a Service. Karlin also continues to work closely with U.S. government policymakers to influence legislation ranging from Industrial IoT to national cybersecurity, to next-generation 5G communications and autonomous driving, advocating that policy keeps pace with innovation to enable business, environment and social transformation across a global marketplace. Prior to IBM, Bridget was managing director of the Internet of Things (IoT) strategy and integrated products division at Intel Corporation, responsible for Intel's IoT strategy, platform and product portfolio marketing and commercialization of IoT partner-branded offerings, leveraging Intel's silicon, software and services to enable edge-to-cloud analytics, digital services and advanced communications. While at Intel, Bridget also served as general manager for the Intel Hybrid Cloud business where she built and managed Intel's first hybrid cloud subscription-based service, expanded delivery with a new global multi- channel ecosystem, and was first to market with purpose-built hybrid cloud packaged offerings. Bridget was also responsible for driving Intel's Data Center software portfolio synergies to deliver more complete customer solutions. Before Intel, Bridget held executive positions as VP of CompuCom Systems, VP of KPN/Getronics, as a venture capital investor with Redleaf Ventures, VP of Product Management for Union Bank, and was president and co-founder of Thinque Systems, a pioneer in mobile software deployed in 43 countries. Bridget currently serves as Vice Chairman on the Executive Board of Directors of CTA/CES (Consumer Technology Association) and on the advisory board of Zynstra, a UK-based hybrid cloud software company. Bridget is a recipient of the 2018 Women in Consumer Technology Legacy Award, the 2016 Industrial IoT 5G Innovators award, the Malcolm Baldrige Software Quality award, is listed in the top Fast 50 Tech CEO's, and is a recipient of the BellSouth Technology Innovator award. ANNUAL TRIBUTE AWARD DINNER

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