We are delighted to welcome Dan Shust to Parallel Path as our Director of AI and Experience Innovation. In this role, Dan will be working closely with our clients to leverage AI and other emerging trends and technologies to innovate and enhance their customer experiences and drive growth and efficiency opportunities for their organizations. His vision and dedication to pushing the boundaries of what’s possible will undoubtedly enrich our clients’ experience with Parallel Path.
A graphic designer by training, Dan’s career includes pivotal roles leading teams through every major advertising and marketing technology sea change of the last 30 years from the origins of interactive media and the world wide web to ecommerce, mobile, spatial computing and now artificial intelligence, Dan thrives on bringing new and never-been-done-before solutions to his clients.
As Chief Innovation Officer at Resource/Ammirati, Dan directed the company’s strategic positioning and investments in emerging technologies and tools. His leadership led to significant advancements and growth within the company. He oversaw the Innovation Lab team, which achieved recognition with patents for a Dynamic Digital Music Engine and Distributed Shopping Technology. Additionally, Dan and his team led the charge on testing, piloting and developing new customer experiences leveraging early stage technologies to leapfrog existing norms.
As Executive Director of Experience Strategy & Innovation at IBM iX, Dan spearheaded the integration of Resource/Ammirati’s Innovation Lab, Innovation Framework, and Digital Trend Offerings into the IBM iX ecosystem and led teams through client sponsored innovation prototypes and pilots.
His career has also included health and wellness experience in the cardiology department of the Cleveland Clinic as well as roles in radiology system design and sales.
Dan’s impressive client portfolio includes collaborations with industry giants and pioneers such as Apple, Barnes & Noble, Burton Snowboards, Ford Motor Company, Home Depot, Nike, P&G, Sherwin Williams, and Walmart. He has spent the last 4 years as a solopreneur cultivating all business aspects of 3 global direct-to-consumer “active lifestyle” ecommerce brands.
Outside of his professional achievements, Dan is an avid golfer, fly fisherman, hiker, skier and mountain biker. He finds inspiration in the tranquility (and challenges) these outdoor pursuits offer.
“Dan is one of those people you just want to pull into your business as he is one of the most innovative thinkers and doers I’ve ever come across,” says John Kadlic, CEO of Parallel Path. “Dan’s not a shiny object kind of guy or someone who jumps on the latest AI craze of the moment. He’s a thoughtful and practical innovationist – someone who can strategically separate real opportunity from false promises or chasing crazy ideas that aren’t grounded in substance. I’m delighted for him to lead our clients to new frontiers alongside the rest of our talented team.”
Excited to get started? Here are some ways you can engage with Dan immediately:
- Customer experience assessment – assess and identify strategic opportunities in your organization for AI to help improve and enhance how your customer’s experience your brand at each step in the journey with you.
- AI and future trends education briefings – briefing presentations for your teams and executives on the latest in AI and emerging technologies and relevant considerations and implications for the future of your organization.
- AI technology evaluation – getting pitched by all of your technology platforms that say they have the latest and greatest AI embedded in their solutions but aren’t really sure what to believe? Let us help sort out the reality from the puffery as an AI “truth teller” and help advise and make recommendations on what is most appropriate for your goals.
- Facilitated “Dreamer” workshops – engage your team in actively moderated workshops where internal team members and Parallel Path experts ideate and roadmap together around a specific opportunity area in your business (think new products/services, expanded audiences, innovation opportunities, etc).