James Gray is a seasoned technology executive with a rich 30+ year career traversing data, AI, product management, and IT. His diverse roles spanning CIO, CPO, Head of Data Operations, Data Engineering Leader, and Data Scientist developed breadth and depth within the tech sector. Gray runs a private practice, James Gray Innovations LLC,  a strategic technology consulting and coaching firm focused on accelerating business outcomes through data, artificial intelligence, and human potential. As a coach, he champions professionals and executives to discover their true potential, increase performance, and achieve ambitious goals.

Previously as CIO at Reef Technology, Gray ran a global IT organization responsible for internal applications and technology infrastructure that powered parking operations and ghost kitchens worldwide. During his decade at Microsoft, he operated as a data scientist and Director of IT, where he honed his technical and leadership skills in building and operating data platforms to deliver actionable, analytical, and predictive insights for major business lines. Gray held key product management roles, including Chief Product Officer at Products That Count, Director of Data Products at Phunware, and Director of Product at Aspen Technology. Earlier in his career, Gray was a systems engineer at Chevron.

Gray extends his data knowledge to academia as a learning facilitator for data strategy and artificial intelligence at the renowned Berkeley Haas School of Business. He also coaches at the Gies College of Business, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, nurturing the next generation of business analytics professionals.

He earned a BS in Electrical Engineering from Union College, an MBA from the University of California, Berkeley, Haas School of Business, and an MS in Information and Data Science from the University of California, Berkeley, School of Information. Gray earned a Leadership and Performance Coaching certification from the Brown University School of Professional Studies.

COMPETencies & EXPERIENCES

Product Management

Chief Product Officer (CPO) at Products That Count, Director of Product at Phunware, IT Solution Management at Microsoft, Director of Product Management @ Aspen Technology.

20+ years of experience in building products and driving go-to-market activities to grow market share.

Leadership

Won multiple awards at Microsoft for people leadership. Managed product management team of 50+ people with indirect responsibility of 200+ engineers. Held consulting P&L roles of 10M+. Deep experience in strategic planning and overseeing execution.

Coaching

Extensive experience running career workshops over 7+ years at Microsoft. Acted as a mentor and coach to hundreds of Microsoft colleagues.

See testimonials for more information.

Data Platforms

While at Phunware, I shaped the evolution of our data platform using cutting edge technology including a 1 billion mobile device knowledge graph and a data exchange for targeted advertising.

At Microsoft, I ran the Enterprise Data Warehouse program and managed a $50M budget for data platforms that ran the company.

Data Science

As a data scientist at Microsoft, I used data to optimize customer support experiences using online experiments. This was an experience to measure the UX at scale and use data to objectively inform the product features we deployed into prod.

I earned a master’s degree in Data Science at UC Berkeley and won the top capstone project at graduation.

IT Operations

As an IT leader at Microsoft, I envisioned, built and operated data analytics platforms that were critical to operations across the company. I also led projects for the partner.microsoft.com platform that managed engagement with Microsoft’s global partner ecosystem.

Through running IT, I gained expertise in mission-critical systems to service a global user base.

Technology Consulting

At AspenTech, I ran a practice delivering software solutions to manufacturing clients. During this role, I led a team that developed the data platform for the largest chemical supply chain optimization solution.

Deploying products in the field reinforced how to use services to fill gaps in product-market fit and contribute ideas to the product team.

Software Engineering

I have hands-on experience developing software with Python, R, SQL, Java, .NET, HTML and JavaScript.

Experience as a developer has shaped how I articulate product requirements and collaborate with teams that build, test and support my products.

Personality / Behavior Types

Myers-Briggs

ENTJ: Natural leaders and organization builders – conceptualize and theorize readily and translate possibilities into plans to achieve short-term and long-term objectives.

Source: Myers & Briggs Foundation

Extended DISC

C-Style: Analytical, detailed, exact, systematic, cautious, thorough, private, logical.

Source: Extended DISC

Enneagram

Type 3 – The Achiever: effective, competent, adaptable, goal-oriented, ambitious, organized, diplomatic, charming, into performance, and image-conscious.

Source: Discovering Your Personality Type by Don Richard Riso and Russ Hudson

Copyright

Unless otherwise noted the ideas and content of this website are the copyright and ownership of James Gray Innovations LLC.

Disclosure

The content, views, and opinions on this website are those of James Gray and do not necessarily state or reflect those of his current or past employers.