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Kieran N. Blanks, MBA
Former Vice President @ Cortex | Championing a Future-Ready Workforce through Strategic Innovation, System Transformation & Human-Centered Design | MBA
Kieran N. Blanks, MBA, is a seasoned professional with over 14 years of experience in growth and innovation. Specializing in ecosystem building, capitalization, and systems-level work, Kieran excels in leading large-scale projects that integrate people, systems, and technology. His areas of expertise include workforce development, Fourth Industrial Revolution skills, and careers, where he incorporates human-centered design and UX principles.
Currently serving as the Vice President of Workforce Systems at Cortex Innovation District, Kieran oversees a significant state investment aimed at enhancing technology and AI-focused workforce development initiatives. His role involves fostering workforce partnerships within key industry clusters like advanced manufacturing, geospatial, bioscience, and cybersecurity, thereby advancing training and placement opportunities in regional and statewide innovation ecosystems while championing AI-enabled workforce strategies.
Kieran has actively engaged in influential dialogues about the future of work with policymakers and dignitaries, including discussions with the U.S. Deputy Secretary of Commerce on the CHIPS and Science Act. His contributions extend to sessions on Capitol Hill with Congress and the Senate, emphasizing the need for nationwide system enhancements. Additionally, Kieran has been invited by the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs to share his insights on leveraging emerging technology and entrepreneurship to support Foreign Policy, Refugees, and Migration integration development in the Middle East.
Recognized as a thought leader, Kieran has shared his expertise at prominent events and publications, such as VentureBeat, Revolution’s Rise of the Rest (ROTR), IBM, Salesforce, Blackbaud, CompTIA’s ChannelCon, and NVIDIA’s GTC 2024 Conference. His diverse educational background includes an MBA in Marketing/Marketing Management from the University of Rochester - Simon Business School and a B.A. in Business Administration and Management from Morehouse College.
In his previous roles, Kieran has held positions as a Board Member at Global Center for Cybersecurity @ Cortex, an Official Forbes NonProfit Council Member, an Industry Thought Leader at Forbes Nonprofit Council, an Advisory Board Member at World Technology Games, the Founder & CEO of The Blankslate Group, and as the Vice President, Workforce Systems at Cortex Innovation Community.
With a passion for driving impactful change and advancing the world, Kieran N. Blanks, MBA, welcomes connections via LinkedIn or email to engage with individuals dedicated to making a difference.
