Dr. Cecilia Dones

International Bestselling Author | AI Expert & Educator | Helping Leaders Navigate AI Under Ambiguity | Speaker & Advisor

New York, New York, United States

About

Organizations bring me in after significant AI investments deliver mixed results. The technology functions. However, results are not tangible in the business. Momentum slows while risk increases. These moments call for a shift in approach. Leaders benefit from shared decision language, practical judgment frameworks, and the ability to align people before accelerating systems. I work with organizations ready to change how leadership operates under uncertainty, using AI as the proving ground rather than the promise. If this reflects where your organization stands, we should talk. What I Do I design and deliver keynotes, workshops, and advisory engagements for leaders in HR, Marketing, Data and Policy and Governance who are navigating AI-driven change. My work helps organizations: - Strengthen decision-making when information arrives faster than alignment - Translate responsible AI principles into everyday leadership behavior - Build shared understanding across functions with competing incentives - Establish trust, accountability, and momentum during periods of rapid change This work centers on leadership behavior, organizational dynamics, and decision quality. AI serves as the context that makes these capabilities urgent. Why This Work Resonates Before focusing on leadership under ambiguity, I spent over a decade leading AI, analytics, and digital transformation efforts inside complex organizations. Across Fortune 500 environments in FMCG, Financial Services, Telecommunications, and Pharmaceuticals, I delivered more than $150M in realized value by aligning strategy, teams, and execution. That experience shaped how I approach leadership development today. Technical progress accelerates results when leaders share clarity, trust one another’s judgment, and move together under pressure. Where AI Readiness Comes In In practice, AI surfaces questions around accountability, fairness, speed, and trust. These questions play out in meetings, policies, hiring decisions, and strategic tradeoffs. Leadership behavior determines whether organizations move forward with coherence and credibility. My work sits at the intersection of: - AI readiness and responsible adoption - Leadership psychology and decision-making - Organizational trust and alignment I partner with organizations that choose to strengthen how decisions are made, how trust is built, and how responsibility is carried when conditions remain unclear. If your organization is ready to develop that capability, let's chat.

Experience

  • 3 Standard Deviations (New York, NY)
    • Founder, Chief Data Officer
      Jul 2024 - Present · 2 yrs

      Client Impact: 'The conversation with my peers went well. After I explained how we’re planning to generate the data, they were more open to the data augmentation approach. I appreciate you taking the time to explain the best way forward!' Director, Data Science - Financial Services Advisory Services: - AI and Advanced Analytics Strategy - Data-Driven Digital Transformation - Executive Analytics Leadership Development - Trust and Technology in Consumer Experiences - Marketing Analytics and Consumer Psychology

    • Founder, Principal
      Aug 2023 - Jun 2024 · 11 mos

      Advisory Services: - Marketing Research, Analytics and Optimization - Integrated Marketing Technology Solutions: - Consumer Insights and Segmentation - Digital Marketing Transformation - Cross-Channel Strategy Development

  • Faculty Lecturer at Columbia University SPS MS in Strategic Communication
    Jan 2026 - Present · 6 mos

    Teach graduate course in AI and the Future of Strategic Communication in the M.S. in Strategic Communication program examining how emerging technologies reshape information environments and organizational communication. • Bridge academic research and industry practice in how organizations communicate in AI-mediated information ecosystems • Design applied assignments analyzing how generative AI systems synthesize and present information about organizations • Guide students in evaluating strategic communication challenges created by algorithmic and AI-driven media environments

  • Faculty Lecturer at New York University
    Jan 2026 - Present · 6 mos

    Teach graduate course in Data-Driven Decision-Making in the M.S. in Management and Analytics program. • Bridge academic research and industry practice in how organizations use analytics and AI to support executive decisions • Design applied assignments examining failures in decision-support systems and analytics governance • Guide students in translating data analysis into managerial judgment and strategic recommendations

  • Advisor at Humma.AI, Inc.
    May 2025 - Present · 1 yr 2 mos

  • Contributing Editor at ANA Educational Foundation (AEF)
    Oct 2024 - Present · 1 yr 9 mos

    - Advertising & Society Quarterly Journal: Contributing to the section Perspectives from the Field (e.g., think pieces, interviews, and roundtables) - Bridging industry practice perspectives with academic interests to advance the marketing and advertising field. - Defining and curating section materials. Conducting interviews. Writing headnotes and highlights connected to the themes of the section.