Mary Purk

Mary Purk is the Executive Director of AI at Wharton, where she leads the AI academic research center that focuses on how AI tools can be utilized to solve business problems, customer journeys,  and discover the human impact of AI and smart technologies for consumers, firms, and society.

Through Wharton's experiential learning programs, she connects students, academics, and professionals across multiple industries to solve complex, real-world business challenges using machine learning, AI, and big data. She has over 20+ years of analytics, consulting, and business development experience in various industries, including retail and consumer packaged goods. 

Pat Sullivan

Pat Sullivan is a proud UIC graduate and leads EY’s Technology Consulting business globally.  Overall, Pat is responsible for growing EY’s market share by delivering dynamic business results through transformations enabled by technology.  Pat’s team is comprised of the world’s best business engineers who are experts in AI, Data, Cloud, Cyber, Software & Product Development.  Prior to joining EY, Pat ran Accenture’s Cloud business in North America.  

Throughout Pat’s illustrious 27 years in IT, he’s had the opportunity to work in over 70 countries, advise governments on technology & policy, motivate and inspire millions of people about emerging trends in tech & curate change that has helped to shape the future.  Pat’s proudest moments are when he leads people to success – personal and professional.

Pat graduated from UIC with a bachelor’s of science in Biology, Information Decision Sciences (IDS) and Marketing.  He also played basketball for the UIC Flames and is proud to be involved with the UIC School of Business and the Flames Consulting Group.  Additionally, Pat is a board member for Women in Cloud. 

Louise Keely

Louise is a leader in Bain’s Advanced Analytics practice. She has 25+ years' professional experience in advanced analytics and customer strategy, with a focus on retail and other consumer-facing industries.

She has advised clients on customer-led strategic transformations that incorporated significant use of data science and analytics to inform recommendations. She has guided clients on the strategy and design of data and analytics functions, including the demonstration of the use of analytics to solve critical business questions, the design of the organizational structure, the roles of the new function, and its commercial goals and KPIs. She has also worked with clients on their Engine 2 strategies, to build new businesses to serve their customers and were adjacent to core capabilities.  Most recently, Louise has advised clients on their Generative AI strategy, use case development, and implementation.

Before Bain, Louise was a principal and held leadership roles at other major consulting firms and in industry. Louise also spent several years as an economics professor and researcher. Louise started her career at Bain as an associate consultant.   

Louise has a B.Sc. in international economics from Georgetown University, a M.Sc. in econometrics and mathematical economics and a Ph.D. in Economics from the London School of Economics. 

Louise is a noted writer and speaker on the topic of global consumer demand shifts and their implications for business strategy and investment priorities, as well as on trends in consumer data and analytics strategy and business models to capture value for enterprises.

Robert Blackwell Jr. 

Robert Blackwell Jr. is the founder and chairman of Quant16 (formerly known as EKI-Digital), which helps large public and private sector organizations identify and capture billions of dollars in savings by discovering financial and performance improvement opportunities using quantitative models. He is also the founder and chairman of Killerspin LLC, the world’s leading table tennis engagement brand.

Robert has founded TESC.Love, which is a movement dedicated to proving that the free enterprise system works for everyone by advocating for large organizations to engage in business with black companies who, in turn, take on the responsibility for creating the social capital that lifts the black community from poverty to prosperity.

Other ventures founded by Robert include Urban Fishing Development (a Real Estate development company that helped to facilitate the development of economically and technologically integrated communities in transitional Chicago neighborhoods), Blackwell Consulting Services, and Bytewise International. 

Robert is a member of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange and Chicago Board of Trade. He is an advisory board member of the Illinois Tech School of Computing, Commercial Club of Chicago, Executive Committee of the Civic Federation (Chair of the Government Efficiency and Community Impact Committee), Chair of the Technology Committee for the Business Leadership Council, Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce, and until this year served as an advisory board member for US Bank and the Field Museum.

Robert studied math at the University of Illinois and started his professional career at IBM in 1981. He has helped a number of young entrepreneurs start businesses and enjoys reading and writing about math, economics, and history.