My guest for this episode is Kathleen Perley, Professor of AI at Rice University's Jones School of Business and a thought leader in the nascent field of the intersection of artificial intelligence with business strategy, marketing and advertising. Prior to joining Rice, she was the founder and CEO of DECODE, a healthcare-focused digital agency that was recognized as a company building the future on the Inc. 5000 list four years in a row. As CEO, she drove DECODE to impressive heights, achieving over $17 million in annual revenue and negotiating a high-profile exit via acquisition by private equity.

Prior to founding DECODE, Kathleen served as Vice President of Business Development at Local Search Group where she boosted revenue by more than 300+%. Post acquisition of DECODE, she served on the executive staff of the newly formed Unlock Health and implemented cutting edge AI solutions that resulted in increased efficiency and bottom line growth.

Kathleen was recently recognized by Medical Marketing & Media as one of the Women to Watch in 2024. She is an active member of the Agency Management Institute where she focuses on helping advertising executives integrate advanced technology into their operations. She also serves on MD Anderson's advisory committee and supports Ncourage, an investment fund aiding women-owned businesses. Her commitment to innovation spans her professional endeavors and community contributions, making her a dynamic force in the industry and in her community.

In our conversation, we talk about her professional journey, her thoughts on the future of AI and the intersectionality of AI with the healthcare and she shares her advice on navigating career and life. Let’s go talk to my friend Kathleen Perley.