Kathryn Guarini has been a leader in the technology industry for over twenty-five years, first as a research scientist and later as a business executive in various roles including development, product management, strategy, operations, and IT. Today, she serves on corporate advisory boards and teaches, writes, speaks, and consults about technology, innovation, and leadership. Kathryn is passionate about championing transformation, delivering impact, and inspiring the next generation of innovators and business leaders.
From 2021-2023, Kathryn served as IBM's global Chief Information Officer (CIO) where she led IBM's digital transformation with focus on adopting hybrid cloud and AI. Prior, she was the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of IBM Research, Vice President for IBM Impact Science, and Vice President of Product Management for IBM Systems. She began her career at IBM Research as a technical contributor to double-gate transistor fabrication, three-dimensional circuit integration, and semiconductor applications of self-assembling materials.
Kathryn is a Senior Fellow at Yale Engineering, teaches at the Yale School of Management, and recently served as a visiting lecturer at Cornell Tech. She is a member of the Board of Directors at Regeneron, the Board of Trustees at The New York Hall of Science (NYSCI), and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office's Council for Inclusive Innovation.
Kathryn earned a PhD from Stanford University and a BS from Yale University, both in applied physics. She holds over 65 U.S. patents, published more than 60 technical papers, is the author of the "Mother of Invention" blog, and has been recognized with various industry awards. She lives in New York with her husband and three children.
