Dipanjan Chatterjee is an expert brand strategist and thought leader who connects the dots between consumers, brands, technology, and society to help companies achieve sustained growth and competitive advantage. Frequently featured on CNN and NPR, Dipanjan has also been quoted in prominent publications such as Business Week, Financial Times, The New York Times, The Guardian, and Vogue. He contributes to influential outlets like the MIT Sloan Management Review and AdAge and is a sought-after speaker at global events including SXSW, Mobile World Congress, and Harvard Business Review forums.

 

With extensive experience advising business and marketing leaders across diverse industries—including consumer products, financial services, automotive, retail, pharmaceuticals, technology, and more—Dipanjan has collaborated with leading brands such as AARP, AstraZeneca, Bloomberg, Banco Santander, Johnson & Johnson, Kimpton Hotels, Lexus, Mastercard, Microsoft, Nestlé, Patagonia, Pfizer, Quicken Loans, Shiseido, Verizon, and YouTube.

 

Currently leading the brand strategy, experience research, and client advisory practice at leading global market research company Forrester, Dipanjan has spent over seven years building the practice into a recognized thought leader in the field. His award-winning research spans topics like consumer behavior, brand strategy, customer experience (CX), employee experience (EX), digital touchpoints, growth strategy, and race and gender equity.

 

Dipanjan holds a B.A. in Economics (magna cum laude) from Amherst College—where he was elected Phi Beta Kappa—and an MBA from the University of Chicago.

Hamed Namavari, PhD, is the Chief AI Officer and Co-Founder of LAZR LLC, where he leads cutting-edge initiatives in data analysis, machine learning, and artificial intelligence. A recognized expert in these fields, he has established a reputation for developing innovative AI-driven solutions that bridge the gap between theory and practical application.

 

Dr. Namavari earned his Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Cincinnati in 2019, where his research focused on the intersection of econometrics and advanced machine learning methodologies. His academic journey began with a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering from the prestigious Sharif University of Technology in Tehran.

 

With a passion for both innovation and collaboration, Dr. Namavari remains deeply involved in the academic and professional communities. He frequently presents at conferences, sharing his insights on topics ranging from Bayesian econometrics to AI-driven decision systems. Additionally, he actively engages in collaborative research projects, contributing to the advancement of econometrics, artificial intelligence, and data science.

 

Dr. Namavari’s work reflects a steadfast commitment to advancing the boundaries of machine learning and AI, while fostering partnerships between academia and industry to drive impactful, real-world solutions.