Shawn Olds Keynote Speaker

Fractional Chief AI Officer; Co-founder & Founding CEO, boodleAI
Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army; AI Expert Witness
Co-author, Entrepreneurship & Small Business Management

Shawn Olds's Biography

Shawn Olds is a technology and communications thought leader who helps organisations adopt AI with clarity, confidence, and purpose. Appointed in October 2020 as Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army for Virginia (North), he brings a rare blend of civic leadership and real-world operating experience to every audience.

Shawn began his career as a U.S. Army officer in the 82nd Airborne Division, then moved into consulting and international leadership roles spanning operations, technology, and strategic sourcing. After September 11, 2001, he joined the U.S. Department of State’s Office for Counter-Terrorism, working across Southwest Asia and Africa. He later served as Chief Procurement Officer at TAQA in Abu Dhabi and co-founded The Belleau Wood Group LP, a merchant bank headquartered in Dubai.

Since co-founding boodleAI, Shawn has focused on building practical, secure ways for teams to work with AI first in predictive analytics for mission-driven organisations, and now through BoodleBox, a collaborative GenAI platform designed for education and workforce readiness. BoodleBox is described as FERPA compliant and SOC 2 certified, with adoption across hundreds of colleges and universities. In 2026, Georgia State University’s CETLOE selected BoodleBox for its Spring 2026 Generative AI pilot, highlighting responsible use in the classroom.

A long-time nonprofit board leader, Shawn has served as a Trustee of the Code of Support Foundation and supports veteran and youth-focused causes. On stage, he is direct, engaging, and outcome-driven translating fast-moving AI change into actionable strategy, governance, and culture.

Leadership and how leaders successfully implement AI

Responsible GenAI adoption: education, workforce, and policy

Building secure, collaborative AI teams and workflows

AI for fundraising and nonprofit growth: practical use cases

Leading through disruption: strategy, culture, and execution

Public–private leadership, service, and civic trust

He has led teams from the 82nd Airborne Division to U.S. State Department counter-terrorism work after 9/11, bringing calm, high-stakes decision-making to leadership audiences.
He translates generative AI collaboration into practical playbooks as co-founder and CEO of boodleAI and creator of BoodleBox, helping organisations adopt AI with stronger trust, governance and outcomes.
He connects public service and business leadership as Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army for Virginia (North) since 2020, giving leaders a clear view of how mission, culture and accountability scale.
He draws on global operating experience across Abu Dhabi and Dubai to sharpen execution, helping executives align strategy, people and technology across borders.
He brings a values-led perspective shaped by long-running nonprofit board service supporting veterans and youth, helping audiences turn innovation into measurable