IKNS Seminar - Navigating Enterprise Transformation: Data, People, and Strategy in Action

In an era of rapid technological acceleration, executing a true enterprise transformation is an existential imperative that goes far beyond deploying sophisticated AI tools. It requires shifting from an engineering-led culture to a customer-first growth engine, breaking deep-seated organizational silos, and aligning technology directly to strategic outcomes. Join Michael Raj, Vice President of Strategic Modeling & Analytics at Verizon, for a deep dive into the digital transformation underway across Verizon’s enterprise as part of Columbia University’s Information & Knowledge Strategy (IKNS) Seminar Series. This in-person event at Columbia University's Faculty House will be followed by a networking reception. Livestream also available.

Sitting at the center of Verizon’s Transformation Command Center (TCC), the Strategic Modeling & Analytics team acts as the cross-functional connective tissue—equipping cross-functional Tiger Teams and business units with the evidence-based analytics, ground-truth modeling, and decision frameworks required to turn strategic intent into measurable value. Drawing from active execution across multiple strategic transformation pillars, Michael Raj, Vice President at Verizon, will walk through how Verizon is building a Single Source of Truth (SSOT), scaling an AI-First workflow architecture, and accelerating execution cycles across the enterprise.

The presentation will explicitly tie these transformation initiatives back to the three core pillars of the IKNS curriculum:

· Data & Analytics: Moving beyond theoretical hype to ground-truth analytical models that drive tangible P&L impact—from machine-learning models predicting voluntary churn and lifetime value (LTV) to AI-driven automated work intelligence for CapEx/OpEx allocation and propensity modeling for network risk.

· People & Networks: Driving holistic change management and cultural transformation to overcome internal inertia and build broad-based buy-in across the enterprise.

· Integration & Strategy: Architecting an intelligent, customer-first infrastructure that replaces siloed departmental metrics with unified business scorecards. Michael will share how the TCC bridges Network, Supply Chain, Finance, and Customer Experience to establish clear ROI, optimize capital allocation, and align executive leadership across the enterprise value chain.

For questions, please email Amy Newhall at an2933 [[at]] columbia [[dot]] edu.

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To obtain additional information about program offerings at Columbia University’s School of Professional Studies, please contact an Admissions Counselor at inquire [[at]] sps [[dot]] columbia [[dot]] edu.

If you require closed captioning, sign-language interpretation, or any other disability accommodations, please contact Disability Services, disability [[at]] columbia [[dot]] edu, at least 10 days in advance. Services requested less than 10 days in advance cannot be guaranteed.

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This event is open to individuals irrespective of identity and sex.