Former Amazon Chief Scientist Andreas Weigend to Give Next University Lecture

Andreas Weigend, former chief scientist at Amazon and founder of Social Data Lab, is the next speaker in the 2014-15 University Lectures series. His presentation, “We Are Our Data: Harnessing the Power of Social Data,” is Tuesday, March 3, at 7:30 p.m. in Hendricks Chapel.

Andreas Weigend

The event is free and open to the public. American Sign Language interpretation and Communication Access Real Time are available.

An expert on the future of big data, social-mobile technologies and consumer behavior, Weigend teaches at Stanford University, the University of California-Berkeley and China’s CKGSB. He also advises innovative startups and regularly consults for large corporations—including Alibaba, GE, Lufthansa and MasterCard—on how to leverage the Social Data Revolution. As Amazon’s chief scientist, Weigend helped create the firm’s data strategy and customercentric culture. His Social Data Lab connects faculty and students with companies looking to find new forms of engagement with their customers.

A highly sought-after speaker, Weigend focuses on the untapped power of data and its irreversible impact on individuals, business and society.

Upcoming Events

Two more events are coming up next month in the University Lectures series:

• On Wednesday, March 18, WNBA President Laurel J. Richie will speak about “The WNBA: Showing the World What’s Possible,” describing her experiences in her three-decade career of developing award-winning campaigns that transform brands and drive business results. Prior to joining the WNBA in 2011, Richie was senior vice president and chief marketing officer for Girl Scouts of the USA, where she was responsible for the organization’s brand, communications, publishing, marketing and Web-based initiatives. Richie also spent more than 20 years at the Ogilvy & Mather advertising agency, where she worked on a series of campaigns for prominent clients, including American Express, Pepperidge Farm, Pond’s, Huggies and Kotex.

• On Tuesday, March 24, National Geographic photographer Annie Griffiths will share vignettes of her experiences photographing across the globe in “From Photojournalist to Photo Activist: The Ripple Effects Image Project.” Along with her award-winning photography work, Griffiths is the executive director of Ripple Effect Images, a collective of photographers who document the programs that are empowering women and girls in the developing world, especially as they deal with the devastating effects of climate change.

The Office of University Lectures welcomes suggestions for future speakers. To recommend a speaker, or to obtain additional information about the University Lectures series, contact Esther Gray in the Office of Academic Affairs at 315-443-2941 or eegray@syr.edu. More information can be found on the series’ website and on Facebook.