Corporate Strategy & Innovation, Entrepreneur, & 4th Industrial Revolution Keynote Speaker
2019 J.T. Tai Fellow
2018 Zhi-Xing Eisenhower Fellow
2x Washingtonian Tech Titan
40 Under 40
Adjunct Professor at University of Maryland
Innovation subject matter expert
Supporter of startup ecosystems
As an entrepreneur, attorney, and MBA, I’m a subject matter expert focused on the impact and implementation of future-facing technologies, often at the intersection of enterprise growth, non-profits, and startups. Since early 2020, I’ve led new market entry and business development activities at a venture-backed cleantech company developing micro-nuclear power plants for rapid global deployment.
With a diverse knowledge base, I frequently engage on projects related to digital process transformation, go to market and customer acquisition strategy, strategic partnerships, government affairs engagement, and strategic planning. I am especially interested in the Fourth Industrial Revolution and how organizations can position themselves for future success.
Formerly, I was Director, Ventures & Innovation at the world's leader in real life entertainment, Discovery, Inc. My role was often described as the company’s global intrapreneur and futurist, responsible for identifying new technologies for implementation, investing in startups, and serving as the primary contact for startups. I created and maintained the company's Consumer Experience Lab, led strategic investments in startups returning 1,500%+ gain in three years, spearheaded the company’s global shift to cloud platforms (including Box.com and Docusign), and was responsible for the company's first Alexa and Google skills (in 2015).
I am also a 2018 Zhi-Xing Eisenhower Fellow (spending a month in China studying blockchain, AI, and the future of work), an adjunct professor teaching innovation strategy at the University of Maryland, and the founder of Fosterly, an organization that connects innovators and entrepreneurs as they start and scale their endeavors in the greater Washington, DC region.
With a diverse background that spans many industry verticals of various scope and size (including energy, finance, non-profits, startups, and Fortune 500 companies) I serve as advisor to several organizations, provide keynote presentations for events around the world on the future of marketing and technology (including leading global creative agencies such as Carat, Havas, MediaCom, Mindshare, Ogilvy, Publicis, and Zenith), and have been a guest analyst on the topic of business and technology on CNBC.com nearly two dozen times.
Just a few of the brands I’ve collaborated with include Amazon, Anheuser-Busch, Box.com, Discovery, DocuSign, Google, Microsoft, NASA, Pfizer, and Verizon.
Born just outside of Washington, DC in Potomac, Maryland, I returned to the DC region in 2007 after receiving my BA in Political Science, JD, and MBA from Washington, University in St. Louis. I’ve climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro, biked the "death road" in Bolivia, built homes in rural Peru, raise honeybees, assembled bicycles to help improve access to education, healthcare and economic opportunity in Zambia, and completed multiple marathons, triathlons, and 100+ mile bike rides.
Recognizing that event organizers are busy, the headshots and bios below is intended to place the majority of the information you might need about me in one place. Don’t hesitate to reach out if you need anything else.
Short Bio
As an entrepreneur, attorney, and MBA, Adam is a subject matter expert focused on the impact and implementation of future-facing technologies and the fourth industrial revolution, often at the intersection of enterprise growth and startups.
With a diverse background that spans many industry verticals (including energy, finance, non-profits, startups, and Fortune 500 companies) he serves as advisor to several organizations, keynotes events around the world, have been hired to present on the future of marketing and technology to leading global agencies (e.g.; Carat, Havas, MediaCom, Mindshare, Ogilvy, Publicis, Zenith, and others). He is also an Eisenhower Fellow, adjunct professor at the University of Maryland, and has been a guest analyst on the topic of business and technology on CNBC nearly two dozen times.
Long Bio
As an entrepreneur, attorney, and MBA, Adam is a subject matter expert focused on the impact and implementation of future-facing technologies and the fourth industrial revolution, often at the intersection of enterprise growth and startups.
Adam currently leads international development at the Energy Impact Center, a Washington, DC based research institute focused on Deep Decarbonization that is spearheading several research, advocacy, and engineering projects focused on drastically reducing the cost of nuclear energy.
Formerly, he was Director, Ventures & Innovation at the world's leader in real life entertainment, Discovery, Inc. His role was often described as the company’s global intrapreneur and futurist, responsible for identifying new technologies for implementation, investing in startups, and serving as the primary contact for startups. He created and maintained the company's Consumer Experience Lab, led strategic investments in startups returning 1,500%+ gain (unexited) in three years, and was responsible for the company's first Alexa and Google skills (in 2015).
He is also a 2018 Zhi-Xing Eisenhower Fellow (spending a month in China studying blockchain, AI, and the future of work), an adjunct professor teaching innovation strategy at the University of Maryland, and the founder of Fosterly, an organization that connects innovators and entrepreneurs as they start and scale their endeavors in the greater Washington, DC region.
With a diverse background that spans many industry verticals (including finance, non-profits, startups, and Fortune 500 companies) he now serves as an advisor to several organizations, keynote events around the world, and has been hired to present on the future of marketing and technology to leading global agencies (e.g.; Carat, Havas, MediaCom, Mindshare, Ogilvy, Publicis, Zenith, and others). He has also served as a subject matter expert for various media outlets on the topic of business and technology, appearing on CNBC nearly two dozen times.
Just a few of the brands he’s collaborated with include Anheuser-Busch, Box.com, DocuSign, Google, Microsoft, NASA, Pfizer, and Verizon.
Born just outside of Washington, DC in Potomac, Maryland, Adam returned to the DC region in 2007 after receiving his BA in Political Science, JD, and MBA from Washington, University in St. Louis. He’s climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro, biked the "death road" in Bolivia, built homes in rural Peru, assembled bicycles to help improve access to education, healthcare and economic opportunity in Zambia, and completed multiple marathons, triathlons, and 100+ mile bike rides.
Social
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/adamz
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/adamzuckerman
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamzuckerman
Education
- Washington University in St. Louis: Olin Business School (MBA)
- Washington University in St. Louis: Anheuser-Busch School of Law (JD)
- Washington University in St. Louis: (B.A., Political Science)