The Professional Chapter

My career took me through some fascinating organizations and challenging assignments.

At Amazon, I led an AI transformation of the Accounts Payable platform, bringing large language models and automation into a substantial, real-world operation. Before that, I spent twenty years at NTT DATA, leading major technology and business transformation initiatives across industries and international organizations.

Earlier in life, I served as a Captain in the United States Army, an experience that shaped my views on leadership, accountability, and the importance of taking care of the people you’re responsible for.

Along the way, I earned an MBA from the University of St. Thomas and a degree in Economics from Marquette University.

I enjoyed solving difficult problems, working with capable people, and seeing ambitious ideas become something useful.

I also developed a healthy appreciation for the difference between making progress and making PowerPoint slides about progress.

Looking back, I’m grateful for the opportunities, the colleagues, and the lessons—particularly the ones I didn’t recognize as lessons at the time.

The Current Chapter

Retirement has given me something I’ve wanted more of for years: the freedom to follow my interests without having to justify them on a calendar.

Classical music has long been a favorite. I enjoy listening, exploring different performances and recordings, and learning more about the composers and the music itself.

I enjoy reading, playing chess, running, and cycling. I’m also discovering some new interests, including tabletop games and other pursuits that offer the appealing prospect of being a complete beginner again.

Family is central to my life. I’m fortunate to have a wonderful wife, three adult children, and four grandchildren. Spending time with them is one of retirement’s great pleasures.

I remain fascinated by technology, especially artificial intelligence and its implications for how we live, work, and think. These days, though, I can explore those questions without having to prepare an executive briefing afterward.

Why This Website?

I’ve had jackblair.com since 2021. It began as a professional portfolio and later became the home of my independent advisory work.

Now it’s simply my personal corner of the internet.

I may occasionally write about a book I’ve enjoyed, a piece of music that caught my attention, or something else I’ve been thinking about.

I’m not trying to build an audience or establish a personal brand. I’ve had enough branding for one lifetime.

Mostly, I like the idea of having a place to collect and share a few thoughts along the way.

If you’ve found your way here, welcome.