In January, Nike will be hosting a day of speakers and discussions on topics at the intersection of Sport* and Artificial Intelligence. Delayed almost two years due to the global pandemic, we are excited to be able to assemble on this important conversation. Stay tuned for more details and invitations!
PANEL
What's happening with AI--whether tools, technology, or application--that has you most excited?
Moderator: Shawn Davis
VP, Commercial Data Science at Nike
Panelists:
Steve Essinger, Priya Ponnapalli, Alan Lee, and Shachar Ilan
Moderator: Jarvis Sam
VP, Global Diversity & Inclusion at Nike
Panelists:
Arjun Subramonian, Shine Thomas, Madeline Zamoyski, Kathy Baxter, and Brandon Donehoo
Moderator: Matt Levinson
Sr. Director, Sport Activity Data Science at Nike
Panelists:
Matt Nurse, Michael Newton, James Healey, Jack Clark, and Mike Vedomske
Moderator: Alan Vaughn
Sr. Director, Communications Data Science at Nike
Panelists:
Anne Bradley, Kipp Marcus, Patrick Hebron, Ani Flevaris, and Heidi Eggert
PANEL
How can Nike employees get more involved in AI, and what role might Nike play in the broader AI community?
Moderator: Jay Loveland
VP, Enterprise AI/ML Engineering at Nike
Panelists:
Kizmet Mills, Christie Blomster, Dave Huber, Maria Frushicheva, and Allen Wishman
Todd Holloway is Vice President of Consumer Data Sciences at Nike, which includes the teams building the AI models for targeted marketing, content planning, search, personalization, activity, SNKRS, Fit, LTV, churn, Innovation Direct, and more. In addition to his work at Nike, Todd enjoys teaching, and is currently a lecturer in AI Management and Strategy in UCLA’s MBA Program, and a continuing lecturer in the UC Berkeley Master of Data Science program. Todd previously led the data science team for Netflix’s studio, which built the models for deciding which shows and movies to make and buy. Prior to Netflix, Todd led data science for real estate company Trulia, which merged with Zillow.
Dr. Priya Ponnapalli leads the Amazon Machine Learning (ML) Solutions Lab, whose mission is to work with companies and organizations from all industries to solve their business needs using AWS’s cloud-based AI and machine learning solutions. Ponnapalli was featured in the Business Insider list of 100 people transforming business in 2021 in the Emerging Tech category. As leader for Amazon ML Solutions Lab’s sports business, she works with customers including the National Football League (NFL), Formula 1 (F1), National Hockey League (NHL), and sports organizations worldwide to enhance the fan experience and transform sports using ML. Viewers love seeing her team’s work integrated into game broadcasts.
Steve Essinger is the Director of Data Science for Personalized Experiences at Nike where he leads the team focusing on building models that power consumer facing digital experiences across Nike.com and Nike App in service of Nike’s global member base. Prior to Nike, Steve served as a Staff Data Scientist on Pandora’s Listener Science team focusing on developing models for personalized music and podcast recommendations. Steve has numerous patents and publications, was a publishing participant at ACM RecSys 2021, ACM RecSys 2017 VAMS workshop and has served on the scientific committee for the ACM FashionXRecSys workshops.
As a Principal Architect of Ethical AI Practice at Salesforce, Kathy develops research-informed best practices to educate Salesforce employees, customers, and the industry on the development of responsible AI. She collaborates and partners with external AI and ethics experts to continuously evolve Salesforce policies, practices, and products. Prior to Salesforce, she worked at Google, eBay, and Oracle in User Experience Research. She is the co-author of "Understanding Your Users: A Practical Guide to User Research Methodologies." You can read about the Ethics AI Practice Team's current research at salesforceairesearch.com/trusted-ai.
Arjun Subramonian (they/them) is a first-year PhD student and Cota-Robles fellow at the University of California, Los Angeles. Their research focuses on trustworthy graph machine learning and natural language processing, including fairness, biases, and ethics. They are a core organizer of Queer in AI, a NAACL 2022 DEI chair, and a co-founder of QWER Hacks (the first student-run collegiate LGBTQIA+ hackathon in the US). They previously taught machine learning and AI ethics at Title I schools in LA, and received the School-Wide Outstanding Bachelor of Science, Chancellor’s Service, and Student Welfare awards from the UCLA School of Engineering.
Jack Clark is the co-chair of the AI Index, an expert member of the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence, co-chair of the OECD's working group on classifying and defining AI systems, and a non-resident research fellow at the Center for Security and Emerging Technology (CSET). In his spare time, Jack writes Import AI, a newsletter about AI and AI policy read by more than 25,000 people around the world. Jack was formerly the policy director of OpenAI, an AI research company. Prior to that, he was a journalist, working for publications ranging from The Register to Bloomberg BusinessWeek.
Patrick Hebron is a designer, software developer, teacher and author. His work explores the intersection of machine learning, design tools, programming languages and operating systems and has specifically focused on the development of machine-learning-enhanced digital design tools. He is the founder and director of Adobe’s Machine Intelligence Design group, focusing on the design of new interfaces and interaction mechanisms for AI/ML functionality in Adobe’s creative tools. He is the author of Machine Learning for Designers, published by O’Reilly Media as well as numerous articles including “Rethinking Design Tools in the Age of Machine Learning.”
Adi Ben-Tsedef is leading the product in the TLV group which is focused mostly on innovation around size & fit. The group in TLV joined Nike following the purchase of a startup company named “Invertex” which had an interesting technology to scan fit for size recommendations. Adi joined Nike 4 months ago. Adi started her career as a developer and filled various technical roles before transitioning to the product world. Adi filled various product roles mostly with AI/ML products. One of them was at eBay, where she initiated a “fit.me” solution at a WW employees’ innovation contest – the suggestion won but ended up being too complicated to implement with the data eBay has.
As Nike’s first VP, Consumer Science & Insights, Sean leads Nike’s newly launched Global Consumer Insights function, bringing together teams specializing in consumer data science, marketing science, applied analytics, as well as consumer and market research. Sean joined Nike in 2013 to launch its digital analytics capabilities. Sean has been on the forefront of harnessing the power of digital data to create new, consumer-centric, data-powered and transformative business models. He recently completed a three-year term as the chair of the board of directors at the Marketing Science Institute, a source of scientific breakthroughs in marketing that convenes top scholars in every marketing discipline.
Jay is an accomplished leader with more than 18 years of experience in engineering advanced technology, specializing in data and analytics for defense and intelligence, sports media, and retail. He has worked for Jacobs Engineering, Lockheed Martin, The Walt Disney Company/ ESPN, and Nike. At Nike, he started the Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Engineering organization for Global Technology, enabling Nike’s digital transformation, and delivering tremendous business value. He established capabilities for Bot Detection, Demand Sensing and Optimization, Search, Personalization, Martech Automation, Product Innovation, and Athlete Performance AI/ML.
Shawn Davis is the Vice President of Data Science for Nike’s Commercial Analytics team. The team focuses on deploying data science techniques to inform decisions across Demand and Supply Management (DSM), Global Operations and Logistics (GOaL), Global Sourcing and Manufacturing (GSM) and Nike Direct. Models include demand forecasts, price optimization, fulfillment optimization, labor scheduling, allocation and replenishment optimization, sourcing and supply optimization and more. Prior to joining Nike 6+ years ago, Shawn led analytics teams at other retailers including Modcloth, Walmart and Sephora.
Matt Levinson leads consumer facing AI/ML for digital fitness and wellness at Nike. Matt has led a number of founding efforts in data science at Nike, including the delivery of the only homegrown personalization capability launched with the Nike App in 2016. Matt was a college athlete and has a lifelong passion for movement and sport, from baseball and golf to partner acrobatics and tango. Working to use the power of applied AI to help Nike members move and be well is Matt’s dream job.
Jarvis Sam is Vice President, Global Diversity & Inclusion at Nike Inc and recently named Forbes 30 Under 30 in Sports class of 2021 as well as Portland Business Journal’s 40 Under 40. In his current role, he oversees a team of people focused on driving diverse representation, inclusive leader and social justice education, professional development and the ecosystem of promoting and creating a culture of belonging inside and outside of Nike. Jarvis frequently liaises with the sports marketing function and product teams to execute on key initiatives with signature Nike athletes like Serena Williams and League partners like the WNBA and NFL.
Alan Vaughn leads data science efforts in support of marketing communications at Nike. Alan is motivated by helping Nike’s members identify the products and services that can help them live healthier lives. During his time at Nike, he has delivered various models to understand Nike’s members, the products they love, and the best marketing messages that will resonate with them. Alan has a Masters in Statistics from Virginia Tech and has also worked at Comscore, Inc. and The Walt Disney Company. Alan is passionate about sports and in his free time enjoys building models to help him do a little better in fantasy sports.
Join us for the whole day or just for the topics you are interested in throughout the day. Please be sure to register as there will be a maximum capacity.
For any questions or concerns, please email us at sport.ai@nike.com or Slack us on #nikes-sport-plus-ai-conference.
Looking forward to seeing you all on January 20th!
